Well, we’ve made it through our first full week of home school / remote learning or whatever you want to call it. As I mentioned last week the boys are relatively happy to get on with the work that their teachers set each day but they both need a lot of help with most things – I’ve no idea how parents who are trying to work themselves are managing it, because for me it’s almost a full time job!
Most days we have managed to get through pretty much all the school work by lunch time. It takes a lot of reminders from me that if they just get it done they will have more time to watch TV and play on the Switch – there’s nothing like a bit of bribery to get things done!
Toby is in Year3 now and although he is being given more work to do than Gabe he is generally good at just getting it done – he’s like a jack in the box though and can’t sit down for more than about 30 seconds which drives me mad!
Gabe is in Year 1 but having missed half his Reception year and then only having a term of this year it feels like he’s been at home more than he’s been at school. He’s definitely struggling more with this lockdown than the last one, mostly because he’s expected to do a lot more work than last time. It takes quite a lot of cajoling and encouragement from me but we’re getting through it.
I actually took this picture yesterday but this is definitely Gabe in his happy place, playing on the Switch. He drives me crackers asking if it’s Switch time yet from about 10 in the morning but I’m kind of glad he enjoys it so much because the promise of extra time playing is a great way to motivate him with the school stuff!
This picture of Toby was taken yesterday too. One of the mums from school suggested we set up a Zoom call for some of the kids to have a chat with each other. They aren’t having any live lessons so don’t get to see each other during the week. I don’t really know what they did or what they talked about because I just set him up in his bedroom and left him to it. I think they were doing some sort of scavenger hunt and playing games. He was on there for an hour and a half though so he must have been having fun!
How strange though that our 7 and 8 year olds are having to socialise on video calls. A year ago it would have seemed like a ridiculous thing for them to be doing! They seem to be taking it all in their stride though and I’m just happy he got to chat to his friends for a while. As much as Toby and Gabe love each other and get on well most of the time, I do think Toby needs that interaction with children his own age sometimes. Hopefully we can set another one up in a few weeks and make it a regular thing.
Anyway, considering we haven’t done anything this last week I seem to have found plenty to waffle on about so I’ll leave it here. I hope you are all surviving our latest lockdown, like I said last week, we’ve just got to hang on now…there is an end in sight!
This is my ninth year taking part in this linky celebrating childhood, based on a poem by Kahlil Gibran, “You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth” .
If you’d like to see the rest of my Living Arrows posts you can find them all here.
Sounds so very similar. Zach is in year 3 but requires so much guidance else he just looses focus and then we have to go through it all again! He too is into computer games now so I try to get his work done early so he can have free time. Totally easier said than done though – he didn’t finish until 4pm today! #livingarrows
My two are in Year 1 and I’m finding exactly the same – the expectations are so much higher this time round! It’s quite intense. I’m also finding it like a full time job and have no idea how anyone is managing to work at the same time!! Hope this week is going ok xx #livingarrows
I love the idea of kids hanging out with their friends on Zoom! I can’t begin to imagine how hard it must be having to explain to little ones why they can’t meet up and play with their friends.
Love that picture of Toby with his teddy, although you’re right, it is so bizarre that this is how they’re having to socialise at the moment! x
Ours have been loving their video calls will teachers and classmates. It’s such positive time for them amongst the constant monotony of school work. Our two love the Switch too – love Gabe’s happy face! x
We are the same they always need a bit of bribery and it tends to be the Switch here as well. The boys are not having live lessons either so it is tricky. Will have to suggest this to our classes.