Advice please from any home eding parent to help me with DS(5) whilst he is off school with chickenpox

[Ihatecobwebs]

DS(5) and in Yr1 started chickenpox yesterday, so is now off school for at least a week. He's not "ill", just has the rash on his chest and back, and is as lively and happy as normal. I've been to the school to pick up his spellings for the week and a couple of books, but want to do more than that with him, to keep him in the swing of things. He loves numbers, but is not keen on writing and reading.

I was thinking that we could choose something to learn about each day, or following on day by day, and do some finding out, writing, drawing, creating etc based on that, eg signs of autumn when we're out walking (NB. we will not be out at pickup/dropoff!), water when we visit the stream.

How long should I spend with him working on writing a day? I know from the writing he does with me atm, he will try for the shortest possible time and volume for this type of activity, and I don't want to overdo it, but neither do I want to "let him off" too easily.

Any advice gladly received.

[morethanpotatoprints]

Hi Ihate cobwebs.

I really wouldn't do any formal work with a 5 year old who is ill. I wouldn't even have collected work from school. Let him watch t.v, some colouring or puzzle books. Maybe he could read if he felt up to it. Dvds or playing with lego etc.
He won't come to any harm and will need this time to get better.
He will let you know when he is better or what he wants to do.

[ThreadWatcher]

I wouldn't do anything schooly with him at all.
It's only a week or two and he is only five.

if he wants to do things I would paint, playdough, read picture books, jigsaws, bake, plant seeds, DVDs, cbeebies website etc.

but no learning to read or maths etc.

I hope he is better soon :)

[ThreadWatcher]

I wouldn't do any specific finding out stuff either.
just play and have fun

and be ill!

no need to make his week off purposeful :)

[ToffeeWhirl]

I agree with those above. When my DS1 had chickenpox he didn't feel too bad at first, but felt really lousy in the days after that. I was told, by mums who'd been through it before, to just buy him Calomine lotion (I think Boots sell something else to stop the itching now, but I don't know the name) and get a supply of DVDs in. He fell in love with Monsters, Inc and watched it over and over again in between dozing on the sofa. He certainly couldn't have learnt anything schoolish and I couldn't read to him all day every day for a week!

I hope he feels better soon. It's a horrible thing, though it's good to get it over with.

[catnipkitty]

I also agree - I would let him relax, he's only 5! Watch tv, stuff on the computer, read to him alot snuggled up on the sofa. Maybe a gentle 'autumn walk' if he's up to it.
C x