converting separate strings into datetime python

I am writing code that will add staff shifts into a shift schedule. the part I am trying to get to work is one that adds shifts in that recur every week (ie work every Monday at 5). I thought I had a good way of doing it until I started getting error messages regarding the datatype. I am new to the datetime module so I apologise if there is a simple explanation

here is the relevant part of my code:

def addWeekly(STAFFID,SDAY,SMONTH,SYEAR,STARTTIME,ENDTIME):
    DATE = datetime.date(SYEAR, SMONTH, SDAY)
    conn = sqlite3.connect('test.db')
    cursor = conn.cursor()
    count = 0

    for records in cursor:
        count += 1
    SHIFTID = count

    for i in range(100):
        cursor.execute('INSERT INTO SHIFT VALUES (?,?,?,?,?)',
            (SHIFTID,STAFFID,DATE,STARTTIME,ENDTIME))
        DATE += timedelta(days=7)

and here is the error:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:/Users/360491/Documents/Coursework/Prototypes/calendar fix.py", line 36, in <module>
addWeekly(STAFFID,SDAY,SMONTH,SYEAR,STARTTIME,ENDTIME)
  File "C:/Users/360491/Documents/Coursework/Prototypes/calendar fix.py", line 16, in addWeekly
DATE = datetime.date(SYEAR, SMONTH, SDAY)
TypeError: descriptor 'date' requires a 'datetime.datetime' object but received a 'str'

i have tried using integers. any help would be greatly appreciated