To reinforce what they've learned. Repetition and having to do something oneself are good ways to get the concept into the long-term memory.

I've asked this question several times, and often I simply wouldn't do my homework. In fact, up until grade 10, I was known as "that guy who never does his homework" . Around grade 11 however, I realized that my rebelliousness wasn't cool, it was just self-deprecating, and ultimately bad for myself. . So I picked up the books, started reading much more, working harder on projects, taking initiative in class, and my average went up from 55% in grade 9, to 94% in grade 12 - and now, as the saying goes, "the world is my oyster"

To practice and reinforce the things they learn in the classroom; and as training for the workaday world...

Because teachers are evil!

Practice, practice, practice. Kids usually are more interested in sociaizing in school rather than doign their work. At home, they have their parents to help out & make sure that they understand because the schools are so overcrowded that teachers cannot help all the kids at the same time. It is our jobs as parents to make sure that our children succeed. The teachers are there to lay the foundation...parents have ot make sure that they get it right. Plus it is a great bonding experience.

To help prepare them for the work world after schooling. I'm 42 and am constantly learning. My job/career requires that I keep up on current technology as well as be able to work from anywhere I am. When I hear kids ask this type of question, I think back and I asked the same thing. But in real life, to be successful (my opinion) you do need to know math and proper language skills. I was up late last night working from home (home work) to make sure several computer systems were able to run cleanly so that others lives would be a little better.

Presumably, to practice and reinforce what they have learned during the school day. However, recent studies are showing that homework for children under high school age may actually be counter-productive and not be doing what originally thought.

practice makes perfect :)

To let them apply what exactly they learn in school, to boggle up their mind. And of course to make them busy so that they will not spending too much time in front of the computer or other trivial matters.

To get smarter

It's a way to practice lessons at home that they learned in school that day. Practice always helps improve skills. However, if too much homework is given, it has the opposite effect.

To teach them how to pay the rent on time when they get older.

To be honest i am not sure. I dont agree with homework, i dont mind doing it with them when its reading and writing but as they get older the pile gets bigger and bigger. I think they learn at school and after 6/7 hours, 5 days a week should be enough. When they get home that should be there time to relax and get away from school. Anyone agree?

As a teacher, that used to teach high school, it was a) reinforce the topic being taught. However 90% required reading since it was a history class. After a couple of years, I tired of expecting the majority to students to read when needed. Most crammed for the test and forget most of shortly there-after. Thus, I moved to hands on activities to reinforce lectures so it would sink in more. The students would retain more, but still waited the last minute to cram. As a parent of two young boys, it is all about repetition, site words, memorization, but I also try to enforce connections. I have often found that as a parent, if I do not work with my kids for one week, they have forgotten the majority covered in class and at home. And then, you have to start over ... but not completely from scratch, but it is still frustrating. My oldest is 6 years old and is being recommended for gifted, along with his buddy in his class. Most of my girl-friends who have children of the same age, believe their genes will make up for the extra work, torment and complaints from my children at this age thus, they feel no need to work with their children after school. Who knows? But from my experience, I have seen some not so smart kids come from incredibly bright parents.