How to engage a 5 year old in home schooling

[OhDearShirley]

Just that really. He refuses to do most of the entirely reasonable work school sets out for him and just hides on the daily video calls! Any tips? I'm trying not to be too hard on him as he misses his friends dreadfully but I could just shout at the excuses, rudeness and running away!

I have no idea but you have solidarity with me who also struggles with my 5 year old! One thing that did help this week was she was promised a video call with her best friend from school if she did most/all of her work and she did get it today. I hope that helps, sorry I have no other suggestions

My 5 year old does a lesson or 2 and then gets a break which most of the time involves a screen and or food He quite likes the live zoom calles (beginning and end of day) as he likes scrolling through and seeing his friends, answers questions etc. and they play bingo etc. A couple of times a week he is allowed endless screentime after school with his best friend on facetime.
Also some days we've been leaving the school work til later in the day and starting the day off with a walk, or really focussed 1:2 (little brother) play, with my full attention. And LOTS of pre-warning, I always say, 'you have X minutes until we do literacy' etc

Having a routine is what works for us. I find we have to push through a few days of complaints but as the dc get used to it then it gets much easier.

Struggling massively here, is it going to matter if they don’t do it? Like really impact their education....
We read, practice numbers and phonics. When it comes to the homework the time the teacher goes through the practice part and instructions she has lost the will for the exercise itself! It’s a fight every day and I’m losing, but worried she will be behind all her classmates as she’s also the youngest in the year.

@Suzi888

Struggling massively here, is it going to matter if they don’t do it? Like really impact their education.... We read, practice numbers and phonics. When it comes to the homework the time the teacher goes through the practice part and instructions she has lost the will for the exercise itself! It’s a fight every day and I’m losing, but worried she will be behind all her classmates as she’s also the youngest in the year.

No. I’m so relieved my kids are so tiny and not in an exam year etc. Yes the early years are important, but for many countries kids aren’t even in school by 5. There are people who spend their childhoods in war zones with no education and end up at Harvard. Obviously that’s extreme but you get the point!

@PolarnOPirate 🤞🤞🤞hope so! Will just do what we can.

At that age they would normally still be doing learning through play. It's as important that they gain finger strength and dexterity for writing so activities like Lego and play dough and drawing are as important as phonics stuff.

Have you tried online phonics games like those on phonicsplay? Some are fun enough that you can use them as a bribe to get them to do the set work, and they still learn a bit. There are also maths versions.