Lockdown (And Beyond) Hatchlings

[smalex]

Oh I see, yeah. 3 weeks after the 8th of March. I'm still assuming we'll be after Easter, then back in time for the summer . Time is truly losing all meaning.

[Little My]

Cancel spring break in favour of going to school?

Yes, as a public health measure to stop people travelling over the break (on a normal year, it's a very popular week to go somewhere not frozen). They have in fact announced that March break will become April break. The more cynical people think that's because cases will go back up and they will be remote learning again by then..

It came to light today that R has mixed coats up with someone else in her class, so they each went home in the wrong (identical except for size) coat yesterday. R is stuck wearing it at recess because the other girl is not in school today, and I am REALLY hoping she isn't off sick.

I'm glad it's looking hopeful for more classes going back in the UK.

[smalex]

Ah I see. There was talk here this week (or last, can't remember) about extending the school term into the summer holidays to help them 'catch up'. WHich is bloody ridiculous. Anyone that thinks tired children taught by tired teachers for an extra two weeks in the holidays are going to catch up on the(at least) 20 missed weeks of schooling they've had has clearly never tried to teach a kid anything. Or possibly even met a child.

[Kleio]

I’m really against the idea of them losing any holiday to ‘make up’ for what they’ve lost. It gives the idea that the kids are dicking around at home and not doing anything.

My 3 are knackered and I’m so glad it’s half term now (it was a PD day for all 3 of them today) and I can’t wait for next week off. Yes, we’ll be in the same 4 walls but hopefully I can reduce screen time a bit and we can get out in the fresh air more.

It’ll be the same come the 6 weeks holidays. They’re going to need a break and so will the teachers!

[Loralei]

Mine won't be doing any extracurricular catching up. J's teacher mentioned some after school clubs that will be optional and (apparently ) fun, and I will steer him towards those and possibly even bribe him to give them a go, but I won't force the issue. I'm furious that it should be expected of teachers.

[Luce]

The catch up stuff that mine will be doing will all be social stuff. Theo, in particular, will need a proper programme of re-integration. He doesn’t want this to end. He doesn’t even miss friends

[Ismee]

TBL is similar Lucy. He says he misses his friends but I think it's just words. He isn't interested in zoom calls with them or anything (he is too shy for them really and finds them overwhelming.

He would happily stay at home in his PJs with just us forever.

[Cerise]

Mine won’t be doing any academic catching up as they’ve worked bloody hard and done everything that has been asked of them. As have their teachers.

[Kleio]

Elf is the same. He says he only has one friend at school and isn’t missing him particularly. He just wants to spend d all day sitting on my knee or cuddled up to me.

[F'Artiste]

V is the same; it’s a battle to get her out of her pyjamas and she wants to spend most of the day sitting on my lap or right against me. So any catch up she has will be purely social integration.

And sorry smal, yes, I was working on the assumption they’ll be back in early March. I think I’ll go completely loco if it’s after Easter.

[Ruby]

People who think we should cancel the holidays clearly don't know any parents, any children or any teachers.

My school had a "wellbeing Wednesday" this week where we told the children to get off devices for a day. They sent us loads of photos of them reading, going for a walk, making biscuits etc. It was lovely and not a single parent kicked-off - which is a miracle. The key worker children made buns & Valentine's Day cards in school and, again, had a really good time.

They need social time and co-operative stuff - not hot-housing into doing more maths and English.

[smalex]

I think KS1 will be, F'arty.

I (aged 39 and a 1/3) feel really weird about friendships atm. Since the beginning of the pandemic really. And quite often overwhelmed by the idea of things being 'normal' again. Given time stretches much more for small children I can quite imagine how they might all feel really distant from the idea/memory of being with other kids or going to social things away from home.
I was thinking about my little nephew the other day (nearly 3) who just has no memory now of anything that isn't 'home with mum/dad/brother' or nursery (which he cries every day about). No concept that he ever went to anyone else's house, let alone spent the night somewhere his parents weren't. I'm sure in time he'll adjust but its a really strange thought. Normal life must feel like such a distant memory for loads of kids now.

[Demelza]

Our school sent out end of term effort reports for each subject and I’m annoyed about it. At the risk of sounding like one of those parents, D was in the second category (good not very good) where the criteria were attends most lessons/does most work set. He’s attended every single lesson, handed in all work and has been given effort points for all subjects (including the two he was put in the satisfactory category for). Criteria for the top include ‘going above and beyond the work set for them’ but I don’t think that’s an appropriate thing to encourage at the moment and contradicts their ‘do your best with the work you’re set, don’t overdo, well-being is more important’. It seems like such a waste of teacher time as well. (Should say that I’m not concerned about the grades, but more by the fact they’ve decided to do this.)

[Ruby]

I know, right? It's nearly a year. A year is a massive amount of time if you're a child. I think my children's social skills have disappeared. Although it's hard to tell how much of that is lockdown and how much is puberty.

[Loralei]

I don’t think that’s an appropriate thing to encourage at the moment and contradicts their ‘do your best with the work you’re set, don’t overdo, well-being is more important’.

I agree with you. Does D need to see it? I imagine it would be quite demoralising.

We had similar but it was followed by a virtual parents' evening where it became clear that the teachers are all using the criteria differently (one said he didn't give anyone the top mark early in the year, others said they'd edged him up from the top of one category to the bottom of the next to motivate him as he can clearly do more than he is). They also ALL said, obliquely, that he is doing the minimum he can get away with at the moment but that they are fine with that. I was a bit annoyed with him initially but have come round to thinking it's entirely unsurprising and fair enough He's keeping up and I cant ask for more than that. (I have made his xbox dependent on doing other, non screen, things as well though, as he has lost all motivation and capability in that regard.)

I think my children's social skills have disappeared. Although it's hard to tell how much of that is lockdown and how much is puberty.

I hear you!

[Demelza]

I agree with you. Does D need to see it? I imagine it would be quite demoralising.

I haven’t shown him the report (as it lists the criteria) - just told him he’s doing really well and to keep on doing his best.

Mind you M (19, went to the same school) saw it, laughed and said D had done better than he ever did and he’s turned out ok

[Loralei]

That sounds like a good approach, and good for M

I should say, I have no problem with J's school's approach. He needs to be pushed to do his best (and could take it, even in lockdown) but I'd far rather they took a laid back approach with everyone than stressed anyone out, and he'll be ok even if he's coasted for a few weeks.

[smalex]

https://www.theguardian.com/society/202 ... SApp_Other

This is a good article.

[Heebie Jeebie]

That is a good article. It's definitely play and social interaction that is needed at Beebie's age, not more lessons.

[Rhodonite]

J definitely needs to socialise with his friends again. We bumped into one of his school mates on a walk yesterday, and he just hid behind me, too shy to even say hello. As for Conchie, he started crying, which I can only assume is because he's never really seen other people before!