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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:
sestras · 15/04/2020 00:54

My son is loving being at home.

Considering not sending him back to school.

AnnieAnt · 15/04/2020 01:10

Mine are ok but missing friends and school. I have noticed that my boys are not sleeping so well as they are not sufficient tired physically.

I suspect they will be totally over being at home again once the online learning recommences next week.....all fine whilst it's hols and there's nothing they HAVE to do.

Nat6999 · 15/04/2020 01:17

Ds (16) is no trouble, he only comes out of his bedroom at feeding time or if we need anything from the shops, rest of the time he is on his Xbox playing online with his friend or they play Dungeons & Dragons via Skype.

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Families
Quirrelsotherface · 15/04/2020 06:43

Primary aged DC thriving being at home. They are more relaxed, chattier, happier and have bonded more as siblings. They do enjoy school but this break and slower pace has been great for them. A lesson for me too as usually I feel pressure for them to do lots of clubs, play dates etc. They really don't need half of it.

DICarter1 · 15/04/2020 06:44

Yes. Especially the 10 and 7 year old as they both have autism. The oldest of the two though is very worried about the virus so that’s putting a bit of an edge on it.

Weekday28 · 15/04/2020 07:00

Mine are happy but I have 3 girls close in age so they play nicely together. My eldest 2 are introverted so are enjoying being alone with no hassle of friendship groups. However my youngest (5) is very extroverted and is desperately missing friends. We have always had Saturday's as a 'lazy' day as our week is so manic so they are use to entertaining themselves. We have been lucky that between me and my husband we have only had to use school twice since this started so I'm sure they are loving having us around however come next week they will be at school 3 days so that may change the mood.

CtrlU · 15/04/2020 07:01

Yes

HairyToity · 15/04/2020 07:06

Yes mine are happier. I suspect schools returning and me returning to work will be quite a shock.

Duckchick · 15/04/2020 07:10

My DC are happier. DS at 5 is a home body - while he was happy enough going to school he's always liked home better. DD at 3 I think would miss friends etc more if she were older but only went to preschool 2 days a week anyway and is loving having her older brother around as a constant playmate. We have continued to do bits of home schooling over Easter because we'd settled into a routine that works of only doing about 1.5 hours learning a day.

We would home school for the infant school years if I didn't have to go back to work once mat leave for DC3 finishes.

MsFrosty · 15/04/2020 07:11

Unfortunately not,shes just turned 5 and is very upset shes stuck at home

ohcorona · 15/04/2020 07:12

Yep, definitely.
My nearly 6 year old as said she is never going back and doesn't care if our prime minister opens the schools she's staying home!
She's much happier although wants to do school work.
I think her busy little brain misses the academic side but she doesn't miss the business of our lives with 2 parents working and the constant juggle.

Bluewater1 · 15/04/2020 07:13

No, my youngest is missing their friends and teachers and school in general. My eldest is autistic and isn't coping with the change of routine at all even though we have put one in.

Goostacean · 15/04/2020 07:15

Yes, DS 2.5yo is very happy indeed! He missed family and talks a bit about what he wants to do “once the virus has gone”, but overall is so much happier than I’m now rethinking our childcare plans once my maternity leave with the baby is over. Bit depressing; I don’t want to be a SAHM but the children would clearly prefer it!

tmh88 · 15/04/2020 07:17

My 2.5 year old is loving it! He really doesn’t want to go back to nursery, I’m actually really enjoying it also! I’ve noticed his tantrums are a lot less also!

Bedroomdilemma · 15/04/2020 07:21

Also on maternity leave, kids are happy as pigs in muck, the 7 yo misses his friends and teacher a bit, but not a lot, the 3 yo is delighted not to be going to preschool and hanging out at home with his 2 parents. Usually we’re up the walls busy.

Natsku · 15/04/2020 07:23

My toddler is happy because his big sister is home all day every day and plays with him lots. Big sister is less happy though, misses friends and prefers real school to mum school. But this lockdown is amazing for their bond, so its a silver lining to all this.

Iw24wImI · 15/04/2020 07:48

Two boys, 4 and 6. They have their moments where they are naughty and really misbehave but are genuinely SO much happier being at home all the time. Me, not so much! I need quiet time balanced with the stimulation from going out to work.

Husband is pretty useless on the interaction front.

boymum9 · 15/04/2020 07:57

Yes mine are loving it too, especially older one (nearly 5) youngest is very happy too, has one time asked to go shopping to get a lolly...!!

MinkowskisButterfly · 15/04/2020 08:07

Yes, dd2(5) has massive anxiety about school (all social situations to be honest) and is happy and calm(er) than normal (although for the first week she was an emotional wreck as normal routine wasn't there). Dd1 doesn't leave the house much in normal life anyway (both have asd - one diagnosed, other on the pathway). I took a picture the other day of dd2 whilst she was playing in the garden and the joy in her face I barely see that at all in normal life.

FurryPie · 15/04/2020 10:57

I’m also surprised by how much better behaved mine are being, when they announced the schools were closing I had a minor panic attack.

I’m a single parent with 3DC who are 16, 10 and 7. The 16yo has ADHD and the 10yo has ASD. The house is the calmest it has ever been. No pressure to go anywhere, no time constraints etc. We’re still getting out for our one walk/bike ride/dog walk a day but it has been bliss. We’re enjoying each other’s company for the first time ever.

I have a horse who I can only see 3 times a week, so that has taken a lot of pressure off our time constraints as well, even though I miss him more than anything!

10yo has an EHCP and wants to go back to school once the lockdown is over, I said she could but I may change my mind!

It’s still hard, but I’m definitely pleasantly surprised!

TolpuddleFarter · 15/04/2020 11:02

My children are definitely eating and sleeping better. I do believe school is a stressful environment, and this has been a welcome break.

thatmustbenigelwiththebrie · 15/04/2020 12:02

I don't have kids but I have often thought that if lockdown had happened when I was a child I would have been in my element.

There was nothing I liked more than shutting myself in my room with my toys (mainly playmobile) and I disliked having to go round to friends houses.

KayakingOnDown · 15/04/2020 14:11

It saddens me to realise that our normal frenetic lifestyle is not ideal for many children, that they can thrive more in calmer, less pressurised environments. Which so many of us normally can't provide.

minipie · 15/04/2020 15:09

A lesson for me too as usually I feel pressure for them to do lots of clubs, play dates etc. They really don't need half of it.

Same here. Pre lockdown mine didn’t do many activities and playdates compared with lots of their friends and I always felt guilty about it - I won’t any more.

ElfDragon · 15/04/2020 15:15

Mine are a mixture.

Eldest is really starting to struggle. She has ASD, and is definitely missing school. Not so much the routine of it, but the people, and things I cannot provide (OT, specialist lessons etc).

Middle one (also ASD) is not missing school so much (but has a pretty full timetable of online learning) but is missing her friends and the extras from school - music lessons, school play etc.

Youngest (also ASD!) is not missing school at all. Is far more relaxed at home, but he was at a point where he was finding it very hard at school, so this doesn’t surprise me. He too is missing friends, but not as much as I thought he would. He is relishing having the space away from feeling different and the odd one out.

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