Although we are providing you with resources and activities we certainly do not expect everyone of them to be done. They are there to help those who need a starting point. \u00a0We will be uploading tasks and suggested activities regularly for those who wish to use them.
\nWe do however understand that these are difficult times for everyone and we do not want to overwhelm our parents\/ carers or pupils. We understand that parents\/ carers will also be trying to maintain some kind of normality as well as trying to adapt to a new routine of possibly having to work from home as well as juggle childcare.
\nOur advice is- stay safe and do what you can!<\/p>\n
I have added a script below that I came across and thought it might be reassuring for some.<\/p>\n
Dear parents with school aged children<\/p>\n
You might be inclined to create a minute by minute schedule for your kids. You have high hopes of hours of learning, including online activities, science experiments, and book reports. You\u2019ll limit technology until everything is done! But here\u2019s the thing…<\/p>\n
Our kids are just as scared as we are right now. Our kids not only can hear everything that is going on around them, but they feel our constant tension and anxiety. They have never experienced anything like this before. Although the idea of being off of school for weeks sounds awesome, they are probably picturing a fun time like summer break, not the reality of being trapped at home and not seeing their friends.<\/p>\n
Over the coming weeks, you will see an increase in behavior issues with your kids. Whether it\u2019s anxiety, or anger, or protest that they can\u2019t do things normally – it will happen. You\u2019ll see more meltdowns, tantrums, and oppositional behavior in the coming weeks. This is normal and expected under these circumstances.<\/p>\n
What kids need right now is to feel comforted and loved. To feel like it\u2019s all going to be ok. And that might mean that you tear up your perfect schedule and love on your kids a bit more. Play outside and go on walks. Bake cookies and paint pictures. Play board games and watch movies. Do a science experiment together or find virtual field trips of the zoo. Start a book and read together as a family. Snuggle under warm blankets and do nothing.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t worry about them regressing in school. Every single kid is in this boat and they all will be ok. When we are back in the classroom, we will all course correct and meet them where they are. Teachers are experts at this! Don\u2019t pick fights with your kids because they don\u2019t want to do math. Don\u2019t scream at your kids for not following the schedule. Don\u2019t mandate 2 hours of learning time if they are resisting it.<\/p>\n
If I can leave you with one thing, it\u2019s this: at the end of all of this, your kids\u2019 mental health will be more important than their academic skills. And how they felt during this time will stay with them long after the memory of what they did during those weeks is long gone. So keep that in mind, every single day.<\/p>\n
Stay safe. X<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Although we are providing you with resources and activities we certainly do not expect everyone of them to be done. They are there to help those who need a starting point. \u00a0We will be uploading tasks and suggested activities regularly … Continue reading