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Original poster

Have all your DC hit the wall too?

40 replies

Nousernameforme · 20/05/2020 16:28

Having had a flick through here and talking to the mums of ds's classmates it seems that all the kids have decided enough is enough this week.
I don't know of anyone who is sailing through this week.
DS who has a lot of work to do and is generally sailing through it with only a token moan here and there has most definitely put his little foot down. We struggled through Monday but no work has been done and he is walking round with a face like thunder. We've been outside had a bounce and played bat and ball for a bit but nothing is cheering him up.

Any idea how we can press the reset button and get him back to his usual happy self?

OP posts:
kitk · 20/05/2020 16:36

I think that if they weee in school this week they'd be in wind down mode getting towards the holiday. I'm cutting a bit of slack this week but on the understanding that I know she's tired and I'm expecting more effort after the holidays

Original poster
Nousernameforme · 20/05/2020 16:49

That's a really good point about the half term I hadn't twigged that was next week.

OP posts:
onemouseplace · 20/05/2020 16:50

Yes, we’ve definitely hit a wall as well - school seem to be winding down on the amount of work set as well. We’re consciously slowing down in the run up to half term.

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Families
Itsmemaggie · 20/05/2020 16:53

Yep, slammed into it at speed!! Glad to hear we’re not the only ones. We’re all just sick of the sight of each other and the kids are totally done with me having to tell them what to do all day every day.

AppleKatie · 20/05/2020 16:54

It’s definitely cyclical- we train DC and to a large extent ourselves to work with the rhythms of the school year.

bookworm14 · 20/05/2020 17:37

Yup. DD has gone on schoolwork strike this week. I don’t blame her to be honest - I’ve hit the wall as well. How much longer are we expected to do this?

PotteringAlong · 20/05/2020 17:38

Yes. Completely and utterly

BrieAndChilli · 20/05/2020 17:44

Think it’s really hard for kids to do all thier learning just look at an online assignment, reading and researching stuff on line with no real other input. At school they would chat with thier friends about thier work. Work in groups, the teacher would talk. It’s really hard to replicate that at home.
There’s no differentiation between school and home so harder for them to switch off.
They haven’t been anywhere bar a walk around thier village/block. Even mine who can walk in the woods are bored of the same walks now!
They are missing thier friends, texting and online chat and even FaceTime isn’t the same.
Kids are missing thier families and thier sports clubs and other activities

It’s not like half term can refresh them. Normally we would go and visit family in Devon or go camping, go to the cinema and national trust places, have sleepovers etc.
Next week is just going to me more of the same! We are in wales so not even allowed to travel to other places for exercise yet!!

Moonflower12 · 20/05/2020 18:02

Mine has! She's the only one at home ( all her siblings are grown up) and we live quite rurally. The lack of interaction with any other children is really getting to her. She's not played with another child for nearly 10 weeks now.

Pascha · 20/05/2020 18:06

We were OK Mon and Tues but today its just too nice outside. After an online chat with teachers and class earlier this morning my boys have given up and played in the paddling pool instead.

I'm going with bare minimum to finish the week now - Spelling and tt apps, reading, vaguely science stuff on TV (Steve Backshall, animal docs).

CountFosco · 20/05/2020 18:07

The lack of interaction with any other children is really getting to her. She's not played with another child for nearly 10 weeks now.

That must be really hard for her. I keep thinking how lucky my three are to have each other. Has she had any video chats with any of her friends? My eldest (12) has spoken to a few friends who are in similar situations to your DD (only children or last sibling at home) and she has really enjoyed chatting to them, it makes a big difference.

Zisforstripyoss · 20/05/2020 18:25

Oh yes. As long as they're reading and doing TT rockstars or similar I'm not bothered. There's been a lot of craft this week!

HouseOfSticks · 20/05/2020 19:33

@Moonflower12 I had the same thought about my DD. She’s an only child and is 3 so has no interest in FaceTime etc.

DinosApple · 20/05/2020 20:29

Definitely hit the wall. We've had the last two weeks 'off' due to ill Mil, who then sadly died. This week, trying to get back on it has been hell.

Just all feels a bit shit at the moment.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 20/05/2020 20:36

I'm going easy this week, they've been good about the homeschooling so far but I have the feeling that they just need a mental health day or two every so often. It's hard not seeing their friends and doing their clubs, etc.

AvocaLove · 20/05/2020 20:37

No half term here (NI) but only another 5 weeks of term left after this week. My lot have all hit a wall - in different ways though.

DS (15) is still working hard but is definitely a lot more distracted this week

DD (13) is doing all the school work set but she too is caring less and taking some shortcuts. She’s just lacking in motivation.

DD (9) has just lost the ability to do anything. She’s making countless silly mistakes and just seems to have forgotten even the most basic of maths and English skills.

Meanwhile I have lost the will to live.

PocoyoandEllie · 20/05/2020 20:38

My DS is 5 and we haven’t done any schoolwork today, he just played and we were outside for about 5 hours in the paddling pool/slip and slide. It has been the first week day with no tantrums about doing work and it has made for a much happier day all round. Will try to catch up with some of what we have missed tomorrow (they are being set loads of work) but I have decided I am no longer stressing myself out over it while still trying to work full time (WFH) and DH is at work.

Teacher12345 · 20/05/2020 20:41

Yep. Half term-itis!

Starface · 20/05/2020 20:43

We hit the wall a few weeks ago.

We get less rage if I take them out in the car to some woods nearby (varying woods/walks). A change of scenery and a different focus helps.

But I am teaching and maintaining skills by stealth these days!

BogRollBOGOF · 20/05/2020 21:21

I've hit it, definitely. The DCs have been headbutting the wall since the start!

BornInAThunderstorm · 20/05/2020 21:25

Yep. Ds was due to sit Sats last week, with a lot of fun activities planned by the school for this week including a day trip etc so probably would have been winding down about now. He’s also worked out that his residential trip that was due to go ahead next term will be cancelled so there’s a bit of frustration there too

CoronaIsComing · 20/05/2020 21:35

Kind of. Ds (10) has been as high as a kite today and unable to focus on anything or even sit down. He’s been fantastic up til now and has done all the work that has been set plus extra but today was a write off! We worked through the Easter holidays though so he’s over due a break and the weather has been rubbish up here so we hadn’t been out for a walk since last Wednesday! Saying that, it’s no wonder he’s been so hyper actually! Neither of us have been sleeping well either although it gnat affected DH. The weather has been lovely today so we’ve managed a really long walk today and he seems a bit more settled. We’ll just soldier on for 2 more days, as the weather’s due to be bad yet again tomorrow, then have a proper break for half term. After that, he may go half to school as he’s in year 6.

CoronaIsComing · 20/05/2020 21:35

*back not half Hmm

Hazelnutlatteplease · 20/05/2020 21:42

Our school decided to do an "enrichment week"

Translate to Open ended tasks that feel endless and involve a lot of drawing. My kids hate drawing. Both have pen holding issues and use laptops. Drawing in everything from History to science is just a no.

Whats wrong with a simple worksheet that when its done is done

This week's been hell

Saz12 · 20/05/2020 21:55

Yep, but DD very advanced (ahem) so our problems started last week....!

I’ve gone with keeping her too busy to get miserable: lots of short tasks interspersed with even more short tasks. Helps that it’s sunny today so we can get outside.

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