Italian pediatrician urges ban on summer homework for children

Pediatrician Italo Farnetani is calling on families across Italy to refuse summer homework, arguing that the practice harms children’s physical and mental health. He urges parents to submit a written justification to schools, citing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which guarantees the right to rest and leisure. Farnetani stresses that high temperatures and accumulated school fatigue make summer an essential period for recovery, socialisation and outdoor activity, and that compulsory homework can lower attention, resilience and overall learning outcomes.

Educators are also suggesting alternatives to maintain mathematical skills without formal assignments. Proposals include game‑based activities such as treasure‑hunt challenges that integrate arithmetic, geometry and problem‑solving in a playful, outdoor context. These methods aim to keep logical thinking sharp while preserving the restorative nature of the vacation period.