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 an almost 2 year old, a 3.5 year old and we are both working full time from home with various Skype or Zoom meetings with colleagues and clients all day 🤯

My son is almost 2 and tbh I find it really reassuring to see most people agreeing that this is the toughest age so I know it’s not just me! He needs constant supervision and entertainment, is mobile and sneaky enough to get himself into danger if those things are missing, and has a really short attention span. Thank god he still naps! Other pluses are he doesn’t understand what’s happening so isn’t worried, and doesn’t seem to really miss people or going out, he just loves spending lots of time with me and his dad. So silver linings I guess.

This is interesting, I have two just turned two year olds and have been saying how I think this is a good age. I don’t need to worry about home schooling them, they’re easily amused, still nap sometimes and are at their happiest in the garden or walking round the block. But they weren’t at nursery before this so aren’t missing it and are loving having more time we dh. Maybe I’m kidding myself though, and the days are long!

Lmao @InfiniteSheldon :D

DS is 18 months, I can't comment for any older than that as I haven't experienced it myself, but with a newborn I would have loved it, this age he is bored, tearing around the place and itching to get back into a routine. I was really struggling last week, but we seem to have found our groove for now I think, it's still challenging though. I imagine everyone is finding an aspect or 2 hard though!

I'm really struggling with my 2.5 year old because I'm pregnant, exhausted and we're living in a flat with no garden. Because she's so young her attention span is really short - even for tv - so we have to get through a hell of a lot of activities to fill a day. She's also dropped her nap... gah!

OH and I are both trying to work from home so doing long "double shifts".

But on the other hand I reckon the emotional side of kids who are older and understand more about what's going on would be tough in other ways.

92 and 94 year olds. Theyre terrible for not listening to staying in and being safe. Tantrums when they dont get their own way. A bloody nightmare

Thread proves that people deal with this differently. As I've said 3 year old, 4 month old. Flat, no garden. I am self employed so still working but trying to so most of it in the evening. Maybe my standards are lower than others. There are no colour codes time schedules here

mine are 7,5, & 3. Any 2 would be okay, but the 3 differing needs are hard to manage at the same time alone. The to oldest are very dyslexic and have possible ASD & ADHD and need 1-1 to get any work done. The other 2 then start climbing on the table, pulling stuff out of my wardrobe, screaming etc.

They have all regressed and wont go to the toilet alone, or let me go to the toilet. We all sleep together like a litter of puppies. They all eat different things so it's 4 different meals 3 times a day. The mess is phenomenal. H doesn't come downstairs till 7pm and then asks when dinner is! I lost 4lb in the first week. I don't think I sat down other than to go to the loo the whole time.

The Senco called and I told her I just can't do any teaching. I hope they let them repeat the year otherwise they are going to be even further behind. I'm on the class WhatsApp group and they are all talking about how much of the work they are doing and I just think, fucking great.

My 8 year old NT DD - breeze
My additional needs and opposition defiant 12 year old - fine in front of a screen but getting him to do anything else, not working.
My usually lovely 17 yo DS is getting very very low, missing his GF, 6th form, his job and his band. He’s usually so busy and now he is mostly horizontal. Worrying the hell out of me.

My twins are just 2 and tbh it is pretty okay. We tip them out in the garden after breakfast and take them in for meals. They have the summerhouse and the slide plus some outdoor toys and the garden tap. We go for a walk to the local playing fields once a day. They are pretty happy.

DD1 age 5 has had a couple of wobbles but mostly gets on with a bit of schoolwork and plays in the garden.

I am working from home FT in a senior management role which is tough but just accepting I can't get to everything and prioritising ruthlessly.

I see loads of posts on Facebook from mothers claiming to be so thankful for this time with their kids and I feel so guilty that I don’t feel that way

Such bullshit. I honestly don't know why people still use facebook.

I don't, but I do talk to my actual friends and family most days on whatsapp. Most of my close friends have babies/toddlers/young kids (we're mid-30s) and every single one of them has complained at some point about how tiring/relentless/crappy this whole situation is.

My dd is three and full on but understands why so id say walking to three worse age but those that dont nap the worse of all. Saying that dh is struggling not going to work and wfh. He also had cv so still recovering. Been very isolating over the last three weeks. I miss my mum friends

Sleepyblueocean

I work with adults with special needs in supported housing and it's bloody hard atm - as you say the nice things mostly center around outings and are forbidden atm. The hardest for me are the two youngish men who are relatively independent normally but can't understand that the lockdown isn't an injustice being served upon them personally and are very angry with everyone. I get to leave after a shift and decompress though. It must be very very hard indeed when you obviously can't!

Teenagers an Especially those who’s exams are effected, friends mean so much to them at that age

My 8 year old is more difficult than 4 year old. Mainly because she hates doing the school work at home and also she loves her gymnastics etc which she can't do now. She needs to be kept active which is harder at home.

I imagine a 2-3 year old would be pretty tricky though. At least i can get some work done and leave my two to their own devices some of the time.

13 and 15 year olds have been a breeze thankfully. They've got on with their school work and are using social media to stay in touch with friends. They don't need any looking after at all.

I'm glad I don't have toddlers!

My twins are 3 and tbh have been fine, we have a small garden, the sun's out and they just run around out there pretty much all day. I have relaxed rules about not digging in the flower beds and tubs though to keep the peace. My friends with singletons the same age are having a nightmare though as theirs miss nursery playdates etc. I think this is the first time since they were born that I'm having an easier time of it than they are.... I'm imagining only children may be hard work as they miss company from school, nursery etc. Whatever their age.

see loads of posts on Facebook from mothers claiming to be so thankful for this time with their kids and I feel so guilty that I don’t feel that way

Cripes don't feel guilty! Usually people who feel the need to tell everyone how much they are enjoying something are talking rubbish anyway. I would enjoy the time a lot more if it wasn't in circumstances where you cannot go out, see anyone, or get any support.

@Turtlesone. you may just be lucky with temperament. :)

I'm another one who is very grateful this didn't happen when mine were younger, they were also the type who needed to be out at least once a day or it was hell.

For those of you with toddlers who don't nap any more, I really recommend introducing quiet playtime if it's safe to put them in their rooms alone for an hour or so to play. Just to get you some breathing space and salvage your sanity. I did this for both of mine between naps and reception year, just to have a cuppa in peace and I needed that when times were normal, I think many of you would really benefint from it now.

For what it's worth, my youngest would always complain at the start as she would rather be with me, but after about 5 minutes she would be happily playing with one of her play sets. :)

41 year old here. In all seriousness my 12 has learning difficulties and doesn't understand its been close to hell on earth here. As he survives on an hour a night I used to sleep when he was at school.

It's hard for everyone. Life has changed so dramatically.

I’ve got 18 month twins and I’m a single parent.

I’ve forgotten what having a sit down before 9pm is

i think that a teenager could be a nightmare. Luckily my 15 year old is behaving well most of the time, and has decided to use the time to become domesticated. She did cut off most of her hair off today, but that's ok.

@MrsKoala

That sounds really tough. Hang in there, you’re doing your best. Don’t worry about doing work with them. Just read to them in the evenings and call it a day. Your hands are full and there’s not much you can do about it but survive this! I’d stop looking at he WhatsApp- I bet people are just exaggerating their efforts to make themselves feel better.

86 year old is the worst in my house.

Constant tantrums catches the bus every day into town because she loves the drama of Morrisons. Buys stuff we don;t need, then complains bitterly to friends on the phone about having to put herself at risk.

Definitely depends on the child. DD11 is challenging anyway as she has attachment disorder, sensory issues & is highly likely to be high functioning autistic. We are having real problems with the amount of screen time she’s having & it’s all we can do to get her outside. We went for a walk earlier & had just gone round the corner at the end of our road, maybe 5 or 10 minutes from the house, when she flatly refused to go any further & walked back home on her own! DH suggested walking to a local pub carpark with her roller skates & that was a no. He’s also planning to (try) and do a bit of cycling proficiency with her but it will no doubt be a struggle. We have rabbits which were originally bought for DD but she very rarely takes care of them. She does the easy stuff like cuddles. She fed them yesterday morning & that was the first time in ages.
I must admit that I thought we’d get a lot more meltdowns etc. It’s probably because she’s on the laptop or her phone such a lot. A certain amount of screen time is ok, especially if it’s educational, but we really do need to cut it down. DD thrives on routine so DH has found a small whiteboard & the 3 of us together are going to write out a daily schedule. DD is very clever so I’m not worried about her falling behind with her schoolwork but I don’t want her to get too used to all the screen time whilst she’s off