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New Study Finds Elementary Students May Be Doing Too Much Homework

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Do children do too much homework in elementary school?

About 500 parents in Rhode Island took part in a survey for a study in the American Journal of Family Therapy. It shows first graders usually spend a daily average of 30 minutes on homework.

The amount goes up every year, peaking in 10th grade at 54 minutes.

"It seems to be a little bit more than what I'd expect," said Dr. Michael Petrosky with the Allegheny Health Network.

The National Education Association recommends first graders do 10 to 20 minutes of homework a night, with 10 minutes for each additional year in school.

The study points to teachers' assignments exceeding that recommendation.

It's something this pediatrician hears about, sometimes from stressed out parents.

"If it gets to where they're having too much homework, and it's taking away from things they need and want to do to be a child, they tend to sort of resent that," said Petrosky.

Resentment that can interfere with doing homework in high school when the stakes are higher.

But not everyone thinks it's too much.

"At most, 20 minutes of homework a night, and that's pretty easy for them to get through," said Petrosky. "We actually give them a little extra sometimes."

There's no physical harm that comes from too much homework, but it can be stressful on a family – especially parents who are trying to juggle work, a household and kids. Kids can also pick up on that stress.

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