Parents of one child only - how are your kids coping with no school?

[magicmallow]

Poor DD 7 is getting really fed up of lockdown and had a few meltdowns the last week or so. I'm a LP and also trying to work. Sadly we have few friends out of school and haven't met up with any (and no family locally except DD's dad). I've managed to arrange a playdate next week in a park. Otherwise I feel super guilty. I also am trying to juggle work, housework, homeschooling (a bit crap on this front) as well as everything else completely on my own.

Are any other only children starting to get very upset about lockdown?

I'm starting to feel like school should really do something if they can. Poor DD.

No advice but total sympathy, I’m in a very similar boat - 1DC, age 8, and I’m a LP, no family nearby. It’s very tough on them (and us). Have felt guilt ridden for 13 weeks, trying to homeschool and work full time. Hellish, basically. Is it worth seeing if your school could take your DD? I’ve got a couple of LP friends who raised concerns that their only kids are really struggling, mental health wise, and both have been given a part-time place. Obvs depends on how you feel about school etc. My son’s school wasn’t able to take him - he was v v keen to go back but we’ve got a lot of key worker kids and there’s no space Does seem hard - our set up very different to 2 parents at home with siblings to talk to and play with.
Did find out today tho that the holiday club we’ve used before is opening on July 6th, which feels like a total lifeline ... is there anything like that nearby? Also, we haven’t seen much of our school lot but there’s a few kids who live on our street who my son’s played with. Maybe there are some kids nearby who your DD could team up with?

Oh no poor you ihate! Good idea about the school, will talk to my DD, school, and see if they can do anything. Unfortunately we're not really in a kiddy area and there's no real community in my street / locality, people keep themselves to themselves.

Solidarity to you! We will get through this somehow.

DS's idea of a social life is spending time online playing with his friends. So really he is having a great time - balancing work and online stuff.

I feel for those children who need that physical social side, who are very active and who play outside - when they have no one else to play with.

It’s been awful, hasn’t it? I’ve been arranging bike rides with school friend etc, they work very well for us.

Would she be interested in zoom classes for whatever sports she likes? Mine has done a couple and enjoyed them a lot. Seems like lots of sports clubs are doing that type of thing, many paid-for ones are open to anyone so it doesn’t have to be local to you.

Nothing is the same as just messing about and giggling with a friend though, Not long now.

I really feel for some of the younger ones.
DS is nearly 15, he was doing OK but a couple of weeks back - it really hit him. He was emotional, moody, angry etc ... Fortunately came the announcement that groups of 6 could meet - so he's been out with 5 of his friends at a time. They are doing their best to social distance on the park, playing crossbar challenge etc.

Is there anyway you could organise a walk, or a bike ride, or a little meet up in your garden with one (or some) of her friends?

Ha! My 7yo boy never wants to go back. Mainly because he knows he gets away with doing less schoolwork( I struggle with anxiety and get so annoyed with him not focusing, we are doing less as I was getting afraid of my reactions). Also he is still so attaced to me, sometimes it feels like he's velcroed to me. Apart from not being able to do certain things, he is loving it.

If she's into crafts, maybe try a modelling clay set? We got one feon amazon, reasonably priced and he's made me earings. It came with earing hooks, some string for necklaces etc.

We have a similar but different problem (throwing myself a little pity party here...). We have one child, a daughter of 11 years old. Due to a long story, we are in another country who's borders are closed and she is currently in the UK living with only my 74 year very old-fashioned mum for company. We haven't see her since January, apart from over WhatsApp. Her school (was boarding) has been excellent in their online lessons etc and they try to do online extra-curricular stuff but as time goes by she is getting less and less motivated and is failing to turn in work on time or participate much. At the start she was messaging and WhatsApp-ing friends etc but she has now decided she doesn't want to participate "because it's all silly chatter!" She speaks to several of the girls on a one-to-one basis but she is slowly withdrawing from group company.

My heart breaks for her (and for me... ). My mum is really lovely, but she can't help with homework, doesn't bake, doesn't play and just does not understand 11 year olds, even though DD is a very grown up (old soul ) and non-typical 11 year old.

Luckily, my sister and her kids live nearby, so now the restrictions are lifting slightly, she has been able to see them, but it's still really hard for her. I so want to give her a cuddle and have some fun with her!

Was she a member of Brownies/Beavers before or are there any in your area? Many are continuing to meet "virtually" so at least kids get to talk to each other for an hour a week/ do stuff even if not face to face. I'll admit, it was one of the reasons I kickstarted our meetings so early because DD7 was really missing other kids.

DD is 13 so she deals with school stuff mostly on her own but she is lonely, especially has both parents are holed up working from 9-5 or so.

She FaceTimes with friends, her dance school does some zoom and Skype lessons so a bit of normality and her scout group is very active, they do weekly meetings by zoom, provide activities and arrange virtual camps. So she sees her friends and while she sometimes moans, we can hear her laughing and chatting,

But the best is that she can now see friends in real life again, she met her best friend twice and it is such a relief seeing her laughing and more relaxed, lockdown is really dragging her down and we have more moodiness and grumpiness lately,

We plan to go on a couple of day trips over the next weekends, just breaking up from our normal walks. Luckily zoos are opening again and as she loves animals that will cheer her up.

@LittleMissRedHat crumbs! Whrn can you travel to see her ?

@bigchris

No idea, sob... 😭

I have 2, but DD is a baby, so not a playmate for DS.

I have to say he was absolutely loving being off. He is now back in 3 days a week (keyworker, but was managing to keep him home, but can't long term) and he hates it. Wants the germs back so he can stay home. Makes me really sad actually.

DS is 14, and is finding it really hard. He chats online to his friends, but as they have vulnerable family they can't meet up.
A local paddleboarding company started doing 1:1 sessions a couple of weeks ago, and thats made a huge difference to him having an hour a week out with someone who isn't us, and from next week they are doing a group session for 12-16 year olds (only 5 in a group) so hopefully that'll give him some peer company.