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Original poster

Anyone else’s children happier in lockdown?

155 replies

Santasunhelpfulhelper · 14/04/2020 15:43

I don’t feel like I can say anything on all my school WhatsApp groups as everyone else’s children don’t seem to be happy about the schools being closed, but mine are loving not being at school.

They’re eating better, sleeping better, calmer, happier. They’re enjoying the relaxed pace of life. Anyone else enjoying this silver lining?

OP posts:
timeforawine · 14/04/2020 17:33

Nope, mine is sleeping worse, has become a bit clingy and misses her friends and nursery workers.
She's desperate to keep doing her numbers/shapes and colours as much as possible but we both have to work so can't do as much as she'd like

EmeraldShamrock · 14/04/2020 17:33

My DD has ASD too. It is more relaxing as i often force small outings on her and feel guilty when she wants to stay inside if the weather is good, it takes the pressure off.

Teatowel1 · 14/04/2020 17:35

Mine are calmer too. I am seriously considering withdrawing them from school and home educating them officially.

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Whathappenedtothelego · 14/04/2020 17:43

Mine are very happy. They are enjoying the garden, rediscovering toys and games that were gathering dust on the shelves, getting involved in all sorts of projects together.

They were initially very upset about school closing, missing friends and teachers and school itself, but they have found their rhythm now - complaints of boredom frequently in first week, and lots of arguments, but now they are amusing themselves and spending lots of time together, and haven't complained of having nothing to do for several days now. Long may it continue!

minipie · 14/04/2020 17:43

My 7 yr old is a completely different child. She says she is missing school, and I am sure she’s missing the stimulation and her friends, but my god she is so much less tired, more relaxed, happier, better behaved. She has SN and this has really shown me how tiring she finds school, I knew but didn’t appreciate quite how much.

But my 5 year old (NT) is a little bored I think, and weirdly seems just as tired as before.

Potterspotter · 14/04/2020 17:51

I reckon home educating/online school rates will increase. You can withdraw them for part of the week which I didn’t know until I looked into it, it’s a good solution for some children.

DobbinEweInn · 14/04/2020 17:54

Yes, particularly DS3. He has ASD I've actually got a tribunal coming up about his EHCP. But I actually now don't think there's any suitable provision for him. Funnily enough he's also the child who is choosing the widest variety of activities and I've actually limited the school work as he was so obsessive and anxious about completing it all. At school he's forever trying (and usually succeeding) in bolting out of class to the far corner of the field, disruptive, barely completes any work.

I can't see him going back at all tbh

MrsCastiel · 14/04/2020 17:56

My 7 yo DS is living his best life. He hates school and although he's very popular with classmates he is only interested in one friend, verging on obsessive. He's not mentioned him once though.

He's much more relaxed and laid back and is sleeping so well. He's yet to tell me he's bored, I'm not doing super parent stuff either - just facilitating activities and play as and when he asks.

DD is 16. Initially she was devastated to miss out on her end of Y11 traditions but other than that she is happier all round.

The house is generally a more peaceful place.

I'm the one secretly struggling, but they are being stars.

Glitters100 · 14/04/2020 18:01

Yes! My teens are back to the happy loving kids they used to be! My son is smiling all the time which he hasn’t done for a long time- he’s doing school work without complaints as he knows once he’s done, he has free time to play computer/draw/mess about in the garden.

I’m happy as the house is the cleanest it’s been in a long time as I’m in all day.

TwelveLeggedWalk · 14/04/2020 18:05

Mine are coping better than I expected, given they both usually adore school and do very well there. 8yr old Dts here, and thank FUCK they're they same age, means they occupy themselves really well for large parts of the day.
DS is the more outgoing of the two and is struggling a bit with missing his friends. DD has a couple of close friends who she can have a proper phone chat with and feel like she's connected again.
Sport is the main thing we're missing, they woudl usually do something most days after school,and at least one thing each day of the weekend. A quick bike ride and playing on the trampoline isn't a substitute for that, so together with us being more lax on screen times and bed times, they're not sleeping very well. Need to address that I think.

EmeraldShamrock · 14/04/2020 18:07

Although my DD is more relaxed, her daily psycho somatic pains have vanished. I wouldn't home school, I'm looking forward to her going back, she works hard for teacher whereas she defies everything at home with me.

gluteustothemaximus · 14/04/2020 18:08

I wonder if home schooling will increase after this.

MoltoAgitato · 14/04/2020 18:12

Interesting how unimportant all those extracurricular activities seem now. Mine are also quite chilled and surprising me with that they engage with. DS is Reception so a bit worried about reading etc but his older sister is fine and able to engage with online and offline things.

Ilovesausages · 14/04/2020 18:14

I’m actually surprised that both of mine are missing school and keen to go back.

VenusClapTrap · 14/04/2020 18:18

No. Mine are coping ok but are missing friends and school.

Bigoldwimp · 14/04/2020 18:21

It will be interesting to see if homeschooling uptake increases after this. I think it really will. My two enjoy it but my liver won’t thank me

HoldMyLobster · 14/04/2020 18:24

Mine are desperately missing their extracurricular activities. They're teens and normally they do sports, play, choir, air cadets - all sorts. The only time they cried is when their extracurriculars were stopped.

Weepingwillows12 · 14/04/2020 18:25

If you had asked this last week I would have said they were loving it but something seems to have gone wrong the last few days. My ds 6 has got very emotional and clingy and doesn't want to do anything. My other ds (age 3) is sleeping badly. I dont really know what's causing it.

Thedogshow · 14/04/2020 18:25

Mine are so happy and relaxed. We are keeping them (and is) physically active- long walk and lots of physical activity- and have quite a good routine. They are having a great time and I can see they are us all being at home and not rushing them from place to place.
But we are lucky because we have a garden, and I am on furlough so have been around to cook for them and be in charge without having to work at the same time, so I appreciate we are in a fortunate position.
They miss their friends but we have been careful not to speak in really negative ways about what is happening. We have explained it but have also said we are lucky etc.
And young children just really want to be with their families- they don’t have big expectations, and often days out and doing all sorts of ‘amazing’ things are sometimes more so that parents feel good rather than because that’s what children want.

Thedogshow · 14/04/2020 18:26

I can see teens might find it much harder than younger children.

lazylinguist · 14/04/2020 18:37

Mine are happier too. They are both pretty academic and do very well at school, have friends, no bullying etc, but they are enjoying not having to actually go there. It makes me a bit sad in a way, that school is such a chore for them even though they have no actual problems with it. Dd14 in particular can be very negative about rules, her teachers and many of her subjects. She's loving getting up later, being able to time her work how she wants, go to the loo and have a drink or snack when she wants, wear what she wants etc.

IdentifyasTired · 14/04/2020 18:49

Mine are loving it too. Especially my shy anxious 8 year old. She's a lot happier.
I'm dreading sending them back.

Chilver · 14/04/2020 18:58

Yes, mine is happier and more relaxed and the slower pace of life is suiting us all - I love not dashing back from work for school pick ups and our weekends being dominated by her activities.

Also, she had a shit year at school thus far with bullying and absolutely shit teaching through lack of control of class so I think she is probably learning more in our home learning environment! She has actually said she prefers it and doesn't want to go back to school! Which I like in theory but with two of us juggling full time jobs (mine very full on) and home learning, that might be problematic long term.

Despite not wanting to be in school, she does actually thrive better on a structure so we have structured her home learning day with PE, breaks and lunch time and end time at 3pm. She misses her friends every now and then but we are arranging regular calls which is just about doing the job for now.

MurrayTheMonk · 14/04/2020 19:08

My two early teen dd 's struggled the first two weeks-now loving it. Also worried about getting them up for school when it starts again.

1981m · 14/04/2020 19:14

My two are loving it, ds7 doesn't like going out anyway, he's a real home bird. They are playing together really nicely and much more independently. The house is calmer and less shouty without being on a schedule and rushing around trying to fit homework and activities in.

They aren't sleeping as well as struggle to sleep as they aren't tired enough. I also feel like I can't put it on anywhere as some people are struggling. DH told me to stop putting photos of our home learning on Facebook each week as it was rubbing other people's faces in (wasn't my intention, just thought it would be a nice record)