To ask. What age is most difficult to look after during lockdown?

[louise5754]

Those with primary age children I think it's will be hard to remember back to having babies and we haven't had the teen years yet to compare.

But.....

I reckon the most difficult age to keep entertained would be the toddlers 1.5-3 ish?!

Anyone else?

I have a five year old and although she's easy enough in the school holidays I am finding it a tough age with schoolwork because a lot of the work needs some kind of adult input (help practising spellings, listening to reading, explaining something) and that's just so hard to do when I also have a job to do. She's a smart kid and gets bored when the work is too easy as well. I'm definitely resorting to the tablet too much although at least some of it is educational!

She's an only child and we don't have much of a garden, more a glorified patio, and she's definitely missing the outdoors and her range of afterschool activities.

Honestly, I have no problem with my kids, it's the 75 year old that I'm struggling with.

My 2.3 year old DS. Is VERY active. He is used to going out 2/3 times a day and needs to burn energy off. Our garden just doesn't give him the space he needs to burn the energy. His behaviour has nosedived as has his eating and he's also helpfully decided now is the time to drop his nap. I am also trying to WFH but that's now resorted to wake at 4 and work before he wakes and after he's gone to bed. I find this harder than I can describe (as is everyone). I have taken up drinking as a hobby

DSS7 is harder than DD1 but only because DD can't talk or change the channel on the tv

@InfiniteSheldon HAHHAHAHA!

I would probably say toddlers but we have a tween and a teen that get bored but at least they understand.

I've got two under two and we live in a flat with no garden, but I don't think it's that bad at this age. Mainly because they have no idea what is going on. They aren't complaining as they don't know or care they are locked in. As much as toddlers do enjoy nursery, seeing friends etc, really they are the happiest at home with parents. And the one place they like to visit - the park - we can still visit daily.

A high energy 17 month old. Both trying to work full time from home.

Hell with extra cbeebies

Mine are 1.5 and nearly 3.5, not sure what age would be physically harder than this. Working from home while minding them is basically impossible. Newborn would be quite nice to snuggle up all day and have a proper baby moon but sad not to have the opportunity to show off new baby and have visitors. Teenagers who are having a rebellious phase sounds awful. I think primary age kids would be quite lovely right now 😹

@anothernorthernone

I could only imagine, one of mine had ASD and ADHD, she is high functioning but good its hard...…..
My 2 older teenagers are back from uni, so I have 4 in total with them not doing anything its like having really angry, frustrated,, and really bad attitude sloths, that leave a trail of mess behind them.

I have a 21-month old. It is bloody HARD. Each day I wake and wonder how I'm going to get through it.

No soft play, parks, trampolining, toddler groups to tire her out. No car journeys to enforce a nap out of (she's recently decided she doesn't want to nap, until about 4pm when she literally can't go any longer, which means bedtime is screwed).

I have a nearly 3 yo DS.
I am working from home full time.
Husband working long hours frontline at the hospital.
It’s horrible and I snap at my poor son too many times a day when work call expecting me to drop everything to do something immediately even though we already agreed I can work around childcare and do extra in the evenings (which I have been doing on top of working all day) and when DH is home to look after DS.
I am HATING life right now. It is so so hard and I can’t see any light at the end of the tunnel.

And it’s REALLY pissing me off seeing so many friends posting pictures of their “lockdown fun”.

I’m just so grateful that we don’t have the stress of money worries.

I have twins (nearly 2) and daughter who's 4...we have exhausted everything over the past 16 days! They are even bored of the sandpit and paddling pool and swings/slides in the garden...quite a difficult age to keep entertained

breakingbetter

I had the issue with the naps with my daughter....I used to strap her into her rocking chair (it was a clip one I werent straight jacketing her!) In the front room...tv on very quietly and leave the room....I'd do this everyday for about 5 days and then she learnt that she may aswell sleep! Just a suggestion as I remember how hard it was when they decide to change their nap times. In my house its either naptime when its scheduled or no nap. Cannot let it ruin your downtime in the evening....especially now days as would go INSANE

Something like this really highlights how some parents struggle to engage their children and rely too much on things like soft play centres and toddler groups etc.
I had 3 kids under 5 with no car so we couldn't get out to play places, a tiny back yars and no friends local enough to see. We spent our days playing and learning, baking, play dough, jigsaws, reading etc. There were no screens other than the tv either. It wasn't easy, I had depression, but my kids were happy and knew how to entertain themselves.
We need to go back to basics and stop spoiling kids with screens and constant days out etc. It's good for them to be bored at times too.

Gin and patience to you all, but especially the grumpy teen parents and those with demented elderlies.

@allanaw929

About the fridge freezer, if money is tight and you can't afford to order a replacement, please contact your local Citizens Advice and ask if there are any grants they can help you apply for.
Can your support worker talk to you by video chat or phone at all? I know it's not the same as face to face but it's better than nothing.
Do reach out to your GP and the Samaritans too if you're really struggling

Something like this really highlights how some parents struggle to engage their children and rely too much on things like soft play centres and toddler groups etc.

love these kind of posts. I also can't drive and can count the number of times I've taken my five year old dd to soft play on one hand.

I'm ignoring that post, I'm not rising to the bait, tempting though it is

1 year old and 2.5 year old boys here. It's bloody hard work! Thankful we have a garden.

Can't imagine homeschooling any age is easy though.

Posted too soon. Anyway, still finding lockdown a struggle despite being more than capable of engaging with my child.

I have 3 yo and 6 yo DSs. We're keyworkers but when we can keep them at home, we do. They're fine individually but they fight like cat and dog when together and it's exhausting, not so bad when they can play in the garden though.

I'm ignoring that post, I'm not rising to the bait, tempting though it is

I have a bit of a short fuse atm

I think it would depend on whether you are WFH and or a home with no outside space with small children will be hellish or if you are at home with decent garden space small children up to teens are fairly happy to play outside. Mine are all teens and being pretty reasonable about it all, more so than some adults. I'm sure they are missing there friends and freedoms terribly but they know it's not forever! All I can say this would be hell for everyone without broadband so I'm thankful for that lol

Good for you @Angrywife. You wouldn't like it if people judged you for not going out or socialising your children, so I am not sure why judging people and blaming them essentially for struggling is particularly helpful.