How to get DS to like to color?

[KrisM]

Originally Posted by egoldber

Yes, you can. Let her know that this is frustrating for your son, you are concerned about setting up a negative cycle regarding school and homework so you are going to opt out of this for now. Tell her that if it is a concern that he show that he master the skill in question (identifying colors, shapes, objects), then you will make sure that he identifies them in another way.

It is NOT worth setting up a negative dynamic re school and homework in K. I think many kids like those coloring papers and it probably doesn't occur to her that it's an issue.

Does it potentially set up him up as a problem kid though - not doing what everyone else is doing?

And, do they really let you "opt out" of it? This is my first experience with school as a parent. Will that cause problems?

Otherwise, I like this answer!

[egoldber]

Well, our K did not have homework at all. But I've done it in the past in first and second. I don't necessarily even present it as an option, just an FYI, here's what we plan to do. All done in a super friendly, happy, team player kind of way.

I am well resigned to being "that parent" so I am over that bothering me. As far as him standing out to other kids, I don't think most kids pay attention at that age. I know that when we opted out of the Book It reading program in second grade that Sarah mentioned to me that at least one other kid in her class also did not participate, so at older grades they do start to pay attention, but I would not worry about K.

Also, if you are like me, you think that all the other kids and families are following the instructions, doing the homework completely and perfectly and on time. I can assure you that nothing is farther from the truth. Kids are forgetting their homework, families are busy and homework gets put aside or forgotten until it is too late.

In addition, I was always told by Sarah's teachers that she should spend no longer than 10 minutes per grade. I took them at their word, which meant that some nights we did not finish. As she got older, her perfectionism about these things made it take on a bit of a life of it's own, but that is a different problem.

[KrisM]

Originally Posted by egoldber

Well, our K did not have homework at all. But I've done it in the past in first and second. I don't necessarily even present it as an option, just an FYI, here's what we plan to do. All done in a super friendly, happy, team player kind of way.

I am well resigned to being "that parent" so I am over that bothering me. As far as him standing out to other kids, I don't think most kids pay attention at that age. I know that when we opted out of the Book It reading program in second grade that Sarah mentioned to me that at least one other kid in her class also did not participate, so at older grades they do start to pay attention, but I would not worry about K.

Also, if you are like me, you think that all the other kids and families are following the instructions, doing the homework completely and perfectly and on time. I can assure you that nothing is farther from the truth. Kids are forgetting their homework, families are busy and homework gets put aside or forgotten until it is too late.

In addition, I was always told by Sarah's teachers that she should spend no longer than 10 minutes per grade. I took them at their word, which meant that some nights we did not finish. As she got older, her perfectionism about these things made it take on a bit of a life of it's own, but that is a different problem.

Thanks for your thoughts. It is only homework because he didn't do it at school. Most kids do it at school and don't bring anything home to do. I hope we don't get any true homework for a while yet.

[lhk777]

My DD didn't like to color either. We would always end up arguing about her not wanting to color.

What I found out was that it was too boring and easy for her so she didn't want to do it.

When we switched schools, they actually gave less coloring work and did more phonics and writing letters and she should would sit down by herself and do her work - even the coloring work that they sent home.

Maybe he thinks it is too easy/boring and needs something more challenging?

[egoldber]

It is only homework because he didn't do it at school. Most kids do it at school and don't bring anything home to do.

Then I would communicate with the teacher that this is an issue for your family, it is setting up a very negative dynamic and is there an alternative way for him to demonstrate this skill.

Honestly, I would be a bit miffed at the teacher. If this work to be done in school, it is her job to engage him at school. Sending it home and letting you deal with it is certainly easier for her, but not really the dynamic you want to set up. I would very much push back.

[o_mom]

Originally Posted by KrisM

Thanks for your thoughts. It is only homework because he didn't do it at school. Most kids do it at school and don't bring anything home to do. I hope we don't get any true homework for a while yet.

Do you have to send it back in?

If DS brings something home that isn't finished we aren't expected to send it back in. We can do it or not do it, but they don't really expect homework at this age.

I guess I would question the teacher about the purpose of the coloring and how it relates to the academic standards. A bunch of coloring just to color isn't really teaching him anything.

[noodle]

Originally Posted by egoldber

Yes, you can. (snip)
It is NOT worth setting up a negative dynamic re school and homework in K. I think many kids like those coloring papers and it probably doesn't occur to her that it's an issue.

ITA with Beth.
I wish I had told DS's K teacher earlier that he would not be doing the coloring.
Going into K, he loved to draw, but after a few days of forced coloring (which he didn't like to begin with), with insufficient time (in his opinion, at least) to do it "just right," he burned out.
His fine motor skills were great, and the only purpose the coloring served was to kill the love of drawing for him. It took a couple of YEARS for him to get it back (I wish I were exaggerating).
I despise "busy work," and for my child that is what coloring amounted to.
His K teacher was willing to work with us on alternatives, as he didn't NEED coloring. I took preemptive strikes with his first and second grade teachers.
Good luck!

[Ceepa]

I would work with the teacher to identify exactly what it is she's trying to accomplish with the coloring assignment (fine motor work?) and determine an alternate activity. This way DS will still have an assignment for which he's responsible and the teacher's goals for the students can be met. I wouldn't just not do it.

[Globetrotter]

I found this thread I posted last year! HTH
http://www.windsorpeak.com/vbulletin...oesn%27t+color

[KrisM]

Originally Posted by o_mom

Do you have to send it back in?

If DS brings something home that isn't finished we aren't expected to send it back in. We can do it or not do it, but they don't really expect homework at this age.

I guess I would question the teacher about the purpose of the coloring and how it relates to the academic standards. A bunch of coloring just to color isn't really teaching him anything.

She expects it back. It says at the top "please finish and return ". I briefly talked to her on curriculum night, which was a joke, and told her DS really has never liked coloring. She said they will color every day and she figures he's still learning the school routine and that's why he's not doing it and why she's sending it home.

The one we got Friday is a worksheet with objects. The top says Red in dotted letters and he wrote over that. He colored in the apple, but nothing else that should also be red. I am guessing it's about learning the things that are red.