[JavaBrewer]

My son is in 5th grade and has 1.5 hours of homework nightly. Daughter is in 3rd grade and has 1 hr nightly. We also enforce a mandatory 1 hr reading period each night before dinner.

I agree that the pressure is on for little kids these days. I don't recall ever doing homework in elementary/middle school. We just played till dusk and went home for dinner. I know folks are panicking that the Asian kids are passing us by but I'm wondering how many of them are going to flame out really early in life.

A strong work ethic is important but they will only be kids for a while. Once they reach H.S. the pressure really builds and never goes away. Balance is key...