This is Not Homeschooling! Tips and Resources for getting through COVID-19 with children

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So the government here in Ireland recently announced that schools will not be returning until the end of the summer. And parents, already overwhelmed, are now faced with the prospect of having to figure out how to provide school at home to their children for the next few weeks. Many feel like they are failing at homeschooling and wondering what they are doing wrong.

Well I just want to say for those parents - this is NOT homeschooling. We homeschool so I feel I can say that! I am seeing lots of posts about people struggling at homeschooling and have loads of friends message me to say how do I do it!!!! Well this is not homeschooling!

Homeschooling involves trips to the park, to the library, swimming pool, playgrounds. It involves kids hanging out with their friends and doing activities. It involves the kids going on play dates so I get some quiet and headspace - or their friends coming here so they are kept occupied so I can get work done!

It involves making a well thought out and researched decision to either not send your kids to school or pull them out of school. It's a choice!!!!! Whereas for most people right now this has been something they have to do because the schools are closed - that is a totally different scenario. There are no places to go to run them ragged and keep the kids occupied, or friends to have over so you can have some chill time.

I don't envy anyone forced into this situation - especially if they also trying to combine it with working from home! Like for example, we have tonnes of resources here because we have always homeschooled - so I have spent years building up resources that I know my kids like. We also use the library a huge amount (and there is a special card available to people homeschooling which lets us take out way more books than the usual amount, and hold onto them for a few months - so I always have a full stock of resources here from the library. They are dwindling down now and the library is not back until June. But we will manage I think!). Whereas I can imagine in some houses that isn't the case - because this isn't the norm! And this wasn’t expected. In a classroom situation a teacher might have 30 children, but they are all of the same age and following the same content. Whereas right now families are juggling 2 or 3 wildly different sets of curricula. Or having to try to entertain their only child who is struggling without friends around them.

My heart goes out to everyone in this situation - I know how hard I find it at times and I have chosen it!

Some tips for people trying to manage at home with children right now.

Firstly I wouldn't try to force anything. They are missing their friends and being out in the world (well mine are anyway and I can imagine for school going kids that is multiplied by 10). Even my introverted, homebird 14 year old is missing being out and about, they are missing their cousins and seeing family and friends.

Secondly - kids are ALWAYS learning so it’s OK to take your foot off the accelerator and slow down the pace in your house for now. Think about how they learned how to walk or talk - did you have to give them lessons in this? Usually that would be a no. If they are interested they will learn. Look at what their passions are and ask on social media groups for ideas for links to videos/resources online that they might be able to use (you will usually get great suggestions).

Thirdly for everyone out there struggling right now, my advice would be - take the least stressful path for you. If you have time sit down and watch TV with them - or do some gaming with them (even if you are crap lol!!). There is lots of educational TV that can keep them interested - Horrible Histories, The Wild Kratts, Octonauts, Carmen SanDiego and The Who Was Show all offer interesting information as well as keeping them occupied (and these can be nice to watch with them) - and are all on Netflix UK at the moment. Avatar: The Last Airbender (the cartoon version NOT the film!) is one to sit and watch with them - it is so beautiful and the story line is just amazing.

Play a board game with them (or set them up to play a game together). There are some fab games out there where they can have fun and learn as well - Sleeping Queens and Rat-A-Tat Cat from GameWright Games which involve Maths or Alphabet Lotto from Orchard Toys (who have a fantastic range of educational games that are fun as well). Apples to Apples is a much loved one in our house and encourages creative thinking and debate - and helps children to frame and develop arguments.

History Bombs and Extra History on YouTube have great fun videos that both mine love, as do The Kids Should See This and Ted Ed. There are also great podcasts out there for kids that they might enjoy such as Brains On! and Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls

If you have a garden, get them to plant seeds - they usually enjoy it. Have them cook food for you or do some baking (these are all ways to learn - if you want them to do some Math while doing this - double the quantity needed!).

Finally - if you are worried about your child falling behind, research from children who missed school after the Earthquakes in New Zealand in 2011 found they did not fall behind. Results actually went up in final exams! Similar outcomes were found after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005 - where children missed up to 7 weeks of school.

I hope that helps somewhat. If you are trying to juggle work, it's OK if they are watching more screen than usual, I would hope people have understanding employers, but the reality is not everyone will! And bills need to be paid. So do what you have to do to get through this. There is enough going on without adding to the stress - big hugs to you all xxx