Locked down with the kids? Here are a few tips to get you through it.
I’ll be the first to admit that when the national lockdown was announced I didn’t have any issues with it. It’s the right thing to do – force society to social distance – flatten the curve and by all means, protect yourself and your family. Stay at home!
I was excited at the thought of waking up with our kids. Nothing cuter than them sneaking into the bed in the early hours and sneaking in a few minutes of cartoons before they have to get ready for the day. To some of you, this may sound familiar but truth be told I don’t think any parent was ready for the true reality of lockdown. I definitely wasn’t!
What is our reality?
For those that go to work daily, the kids generally spend the day at school and with their childminder. We see them for a few hours in the evening, enjoy bath time and take cute pictures and videos for our social media feeds whilst they eat or go through the bedtime rituals. Being at home with the children without the support and relief structure offered by the school, extracurriculars, grandparents and childminders is a different world– completely. We are talking here, about 24 hours in a day. Whereby, prior to lockdown, we had been active parents for a maximum of 8hours during the week. We all think our kids are angels until there is a report due and they keep slamming the fridge door because: “Daddy we are out of snacks! Why is there no Fanta?”
Dude get a job, move out already!!
Filling The School Gap
There is the added complexity of school. Homeschooling is not a new concept by any measure. In fact, there is scientific proof that homeschooled children achieve better results. Who home schools? How? When do you work? The lockdown announcement caught many off guard. Schools included. They actually dismissed little ones without any prep material for the learners. I have found myself downloading phonics apps, building elaborate lego creations, pottery, cooking classes, exercise, inventing numeracy games and teaching numbers using playing cards. You can only do this for so long before you have pulled your hair out or are speaking in A-E- I- O- U’s during your next teleconference with your team…
“Don’t worry guys, he has four kids,” has become standard commentary when I fumble and slip into “Daddy mode.” Lockdown has taught me to be creative and to become an avid Googler. Any moment not working is devoted to the little people. Still perfecting the process but here are some interesting platforms gathered from online searches and interesting reads sent my way. They may spare your hairline. Drop us an email, share your lockdown learning learnings with us here
e-Games
ABCYA
Curriculum-based learning
WorkSheetCloud
Crash Course Kids