It’s 2 days before home learning officially starts back after the half term break and I’m already COMPLETELY shattered! And honestly, I’m about as motivated as a half melted chocolate teapot. Sound familiar?
To be fair, Little Button is an absolute star for live online school. She sits, listening and is fully engaged (I know I’m lucky). But it’s the balancing of so many things (seen and unseen) that manage to topple me over. So, I’ve been working on ideas to make the coming weeks easier, and I think they will help us as a whole family in the end. Here are my 6 tips for easing back into home learning – the grown ups edit!
Normally I’m the homework rat; sniffing out anything that needs to be done and making sure it gets finished well within time. But things are different these days. School isn’t in school and our children are stuck to screens for zoom lessons all day during term time. They have a lot to cope with, and they are doing a blooming good job of holding it together. So, I’m adopting a don’t sweat it policy with unfinished homework from now on. If they want to finish it that’s fantastic and they will get ALL the praise. But, I’m not going to be the homework police and have the whole house turned upside-down over any unfinished bits. It’s not healthy for anyone right now.
Ask your little ones over the next couple of days to help to get their desk area ready for home learning next week. Then, double check it to make sure they have everything they will need such as paper, workbooks, a well stocked pencil case and a reading book. Make sure all devices are charged, their chair is just how they like it and any cuddlies are within arms reach. I fully support that older primary school children should typically take on this responsibility, but now’s not the time to leave them feeling embarrassed on Zoom if they have forgotten something needed. We do this together at the end of each day, and it works a treat for the next morning.
I don’t know what’s going on, but home learning has increased everyone’s appetites for snacks. Big time! Before Monday, have a go at planning and/or preparing snacks for the coming week. The healthy the better! I’m getting into the habit of prepping non-fridge items the day before, then fresh things such as cut fruit and vegetables the morning of. It’s all in the prep, as they say. And, with both myself and Mr Button working full time from home, it’s far easier if everything’s ready for when the teacher calls for impromptu break/snack times.
If you’re lucky enough to have more than just you at home (adult wise), make sure you try and share the responsibility of the home learning day with your partner, family or even older children. It’s easier said than done, especially if everyone is either working or doing home learning. But, even just having someone else to help supervise the little ones breaks will help hugely. It’s difficult for us, as both myself and Mr Button work full time and he’s always in meetings. But I’m scraping out a little timetable as we speak to make sure that a few times a week I’ll have little pockets of downtime and much needed help with things, this time round.
When the whole house is working their usual 9 to 5 from home, and home school finishes at 3.30pm – you know there’s going to be trouble. The witching hour of mayhem and madness always takes place between 3.30 to 5pm. Whether it’s wants, needs or just wanting you, it’s going to happen whether or not you’re in the middle of a zoom meeting. So, I’m officially making 4 to 5pm quiet time for homework, reading, playing or movie time! I’ve not quite got the plan in place just yet, but there will be a list ready for Monday and I’m crossing my fingers it will make the week run smoother.
As they say… when you’re smiling, when you’re smiling, your little ones will smile with you *make sure you sing that bit LOL. You might be cracking up just a teeny bit on the inside, but keeping that smile keen and bright will send out all the right positive, happy vibes to your little ones. And if they are smiling, home learning is going to be that much easier.
Good luck and sending virtual tea and cake for Monday to all the parents.
Other home learning posts you might enjoy:
To all the parents – it’s ok to cry – home learning during lockdown is tough!
WILD is now out in Spanish!
WILD – Our debut children’s picture book
Dad blogger Ross Good from The Stented Papa is the official storyteller for WILD!
Happy book birthday WILD!
My tip is to prepare pack lunches the night before #mischiefandmemories@_karendennis
Love this – excellent tips! Definitely agree with you that preparation is key 🙂 Also with you on the unfinished homework too. Good luck lovely, hopefully won’t be for too much longer! Also I take my hat off to you both working full time at the same time – wow you’re doing amazingly! #mischiefandmemories
This is brilliant!
Planning for success is crucial, and I used to have to remind myself all the time: the relationship is more important than whatever school thing we were fighting over at the moment.
I hope you manage to master the quiet hour. That is usually the point where my boys just chill out with a bit of TV, or some lego. By that point, they’re just exhausted from a day of learning and need to chill out anyway. #MischiefAndMemories
Urgh half term has whizzed by way too quickly!
Great advice, I think having a home school plan is a great idea as it can give a sense of control in a very unpredictable and challenging part of life for so many parents right now.
Hoping you have a good one, Sending love xx #MischiefAndMemories
The holidays during lockdown were so weird. We went back to school after that. I’m hoping we never have to go through that again. Sending strong vibes and well wishes your way!
These are all brilliant tips. Hope that your quiet time plan goes well! #MischiefAndMemories
I am lucky too that my daughter just gets on with her live lessons and work. My sons are slightly harder to motivate but I have learned to not stress too much.
Great tips! We had a few tears from our daughter as she readjusted to being back in home learning again. We have tried plenty of humour and smiling today also. I actually went off and meditated for 10 minutes today after lunch which really helped to keep me sane!
Some great tips! I find it really hard to keep my patience and smile!! Snack definitely help my eldest! Always hungry!
Sharing learning work isn’t easy. I am asking my older children to help once in a while with their younger brother as It’s hard to work from home and homeschool all day.
These are simple but such lovely tips, lunches and a clean desk – let’s do this.
Excellent tips! I hope this week is treating you okay, and not too long until all the kiddies are back to school 🙂 #MischiefAndMemories
Definitely keep well stocked with snacks, it amazes me how children go all day at school without a snack but cannot last 5 minutes between them at home! If I hear “I’m hungry” one more time…..
Katrina x
#MischiefandMemories
Love this! Snacks are key here for sure. My tip for this last week of home learning is to make dinner ahead of time. I will make all the meals for the week tomorrow so that way I don’t have to spend ages making food when I am already tired from the stress of the day #MischiefAndMemories linky
One more week to go! I feel a little bit sad that home learning is about to end but the kids are soooo ready to be back in class. Not sure how they will cope without all the snacks… #mischiefandmemories
Wow it sounds like you’ve got it all organised – I wish mine were so engaged & enjoyed online learning! #mischiefandmemories