Is homework good for children?

Homework has a positive effect on academic achievement as long as the amount of homework isn't too much, according to a research study led by Professor Harris Cooper of Duke University. The findings indicate that homework is more beneficial for middle and high school students than for elementary school children.

All kids should have homework, says Cooper, but the amount of homework and the type of homework that children have should be based on developmental levels and other factors, such as the home situation. Too much homework leads to stress, health problems and social isolation, according to Denise Pope, a researcher at Stanford University School of Education.