To have really enjoyed homeschooling!

[LordGarmadon]

I've actually really enjoyed having the kids at home and being able to teach them things and do proper activities with them. Normally we're busy doing organised activities (swimming, gym club, play dates, visiting family/friends, etc) and spend very little time at home.

They're only preschoolers but we've had loads of fun and they've learnt so much.

I'm going back to work next week (specialist role with vulnerable children) and I feel quite sad that homeschooling is finished.

I know many families struggle, which is why I'm going back to work, so I don't mean to be boastful but I feel sad today.

Yanbu to enjoy spending time with your children. I'm en spending time with my children. One would thrive academically with homeschooling. She has some SEN and does better 1-1, and is quite motivated. However because she is very shy and reserved, she needs social interaction to stop her fully closing in on herself (and yes I know about home ed groups). This is actually her second period of not being in school since September.

Younger sister... Can be lazy academically (bright, but does the minimum she can et away with) and will happily argue that red is green with me, but will listen to her teachers.

I’m loving home schooling my nearly 8 year old, exploring motte and Bailey castles, rain cycle, poetry and sharing with him in the magic of learning.

Luckily I’m not working at the mo so can really enjoy this time with him. Massively sympathise with people who are having to work at the same time though.

I feel the same to an extent - there's lots of things I'm not enjoying about lockdown but one thing we are enjoying is getting much more involved in our eldest DS's education - he is autistic and we've always found it really hard to do more 'formal' activities with him but now with some guidance from the school it's been a real eye opener.

I work in early years, so it is part of my job to teach preschoolers stuff. I find the teaching aspect quite straightforward tbh. I also have a 14 year old. It’s not so easy to teach her stuff or get her to engage with the work the teachers have set. It’s quite easy to teach a preschooler something as I already know far more than they do, so all I have to do is pick something or let them pick a topic, eg space and we can make rockets, look at the sizes of planets, do some initial letters (j for Jupiter, m for mars), count stars etc etc. If I were to do a space topic for my 12 year old it’s going to be on a whole other level and I would have to do a lot of research before I could even mention it to him.

Home schooling a preschooler is very different to home schooling an older school child. It is great that you have enjoyed your time with them though. Maybe you could re evaluate the activities you do when you aren’t working and look to spend some more time at home with your dc.

It's great to see some positivity about home educating in the current situation.

I'm also really enjoying teaching my kids who are age 5 (year 1) and 4 (nursery class at school). It was honestly a big worry for me when the schools closed as I am also working from home full time and just didn't think it would work but we've set a schedule and it's actually working. The kids have learned so much in these last few weeks. It's amazing to see their progress and to share their excitement when they master something they didn't know before.

I'll have to go back to the office once this is all over so the kids will have to go back to school but in an ideal world I'd seriously consider home educating long term. I will be sad when they go back to school. We have created so many amazing memories over the last few weeks.

I know that this situation is difficult for so many people and everyone has their own problems going on. I've been very lucky so far not to be affected financially or physically by the virus so I know that has a big effect on my experience.

I’m not sure you can call it homeschooling when they’re preschoolers, it’s normal parenting, but of course YANBU to have enjoyed it - I’ve been enjoying it too!

Your preschool age children go hiking, horse riding, can add and subtract to 20 and are learning how to spell tricky words? Wow.

And there's me thinking I'll be glad if mine can wipe their own bum.

Surely it’s not home schooling with pre schoolers, it’s just parenting? I’m a SAHM so mine didn’t go to nursery, but I’d never say I home schooled them! In actual fact both could read before starting school but i didn’t ‘teach’ them, they both just picked it up naturally.
Anyway now they’re 6 and 4 so I’m actually home schooling them, along with looking after a 15 month old, and that’s a fair bit tougher than just parenting them was before they went to school.

But most of my SAHP friends didn’t follow EYFS. I think OP means she is following EYFS. I think that is different to normal routine for many people, saying it is ‘just parenting’ seems a bit rude to early years professionals.

I don't know- I have a preschooler and I home educate my older child. I would say that I am home educating the preschooler as well in a way that I didn't with my oldest who I thought would be going to school.

We normally go to home ed groups, workshops at museums etc which I wouldn't necessarily do if I were just at home with the younger one, but he also sees his brother doing more formal learning and asks to join in or learn something specific which is definitely more education than I would have done if they were going to school.

I don't think there's a distinct line between parenting and home educating at which you can officially divide your efforts into one or the other.

It's lovely that you've enjoyed it so much - everyone does it differently and if you've fund a way that works for you then so much the better! Good luck!

I say that as a former home edder. I'm very happy that people are enjoying having kids at home but it is a long term gripe of the community when people talk about home educating those not of school age. And because it is totally unnecessary! Lots of kids aren't even in any form of childcare at preschool age.

Technically it's home education in the UK and doesn't start until the term after a child turns five.

But, that's not the point of the OPs post! Sounds like you're having a lovely time OP :)

Oh ignore them OP, it totally is home educating. Education begins at birth and home Ed is a continuation of ‘normal parenting’. I’ve home edded up to year 5 and it’s great fun with little ones.

God, I used to love MN, but I think some posters are just horrible. You are coming across absolutely fine. I agree, people do love to put people in their place!

This.

Ignore the negativity OP, it’s even worse than usual round here right now.

It’s great that people are taking positives out of this time. I’m very pleased that this aspect has gone well for you.

I’m very far from the Instamum home schooler, but my (admittedly young) children are coming on well with me and DH as slightly haphazard educators.

It’s great that there’ll be something to look back on fondly from this time, among all the shit.

It's a breath of fresh air from all the threads of parents who can't tolerate to spend a week with their own kids, but it's a bit sad that it takes a lockdown to start teaching things to your own kids.

I think you are being a bit OTT there Mama. The OP, and many of us, are usually at work. I am sure most of us still manage to teach our children things, but usually leave formal education to those trained for it. Now doing that ourselves with lots of guidance and help.

That’s all.

Why does there always have to be a villain, ‘it’s a bit sad’. Can’t we just, chat?

This is one of the many things that I love about home schooling. I am not planning to send my kids to school ever. It honestly feels right.

Not having to work from home as I work in school but I work with 3-6 year olds. My 7 year old is extremely bright and the allocated school work is a breeze so I've been setting extra tasks way ahead of the suggested level and she's been loving it. If it were only her I'd probably agree however my 10year old has quite an extended

That's great for you. Glad you're enjoying it.

I work for a trade union and am working from home and am twice as busy as usual.

Husband works shifts and is a key worker, so is in and out.

DD was due to do her sats and needs a lot of support with maths.

I do not have time to home school her.

DH does what he can when he is home.

I can't wait for schools the re-open.

I feel nothing but guilt on a daily basis.

Sorry posted too soon.. extensive online programme- she's dyslexic and it's been a massive struggle and makes each day massively stressful. Can't even imagine if I didn't have several hours free to help her

I've been enjoying it too most of the time. DS is reception age and school tires him out so much he's not interested in learning anything much more at home. I've suddenly got my curious boy back (that I'd almost forgotten from preschool days) and it has been so rewarding following his interests - today we looked into how to make chocolate eggs and rabbits.

It may or may not be home education if the DC are not yet of official school age but that’s not the point, the point is that the OP is really enjoying working with her preschoolers during lockdown and frankly I think that’s fucking awesome.

I would have hate, hate, HATED having to be trapped at home with preschoolers in the current situation! I just had to get out and about with my kids when they were this age - park, swimming, soft play, walks, shops, groups - we found staying in really hard going. I’m in awe of any parent with small dc who can actually find lockdown positive. I’d have been climbing the walls, never mind the kids!

DH and I have said repeatedly over the past few weeks that we are so, so grateful that our DC are of school age. Even with the stress of the home schooling aspect.

Our kids are all old enough to totally understand school expectations, the eldest is a teen who needs chivvying but is pretty independent, the younger two want to finish work to impress their teachers, they can also work independently to a certain degree. They are not relentless and demanding in the way that preschoolers are. They understand why we need to stay home. I don’t feel guilty giving them extra screen and gaming time when I need to. None of that would be feasible or acceptable if they were 3 or 4.

Yes there are times when my kids are grumpy and disengaged and a pain in the arse. But I still think it would be a lot harder if they were really little. So well done OP, it sounds like you and your dc are doing amazingly.

In the last three weeks they've learnt to read CVC words and some 'tricky' words, they've learnt to add and subtract to 20, they've learnt about the world: different countries, rainforests, mountains, deserts, buildings/monuments, sea creatures, etc etc ... things I wouldn't have actively taught them.

Sounds like they're about ready to graduate op

I’m enjoying it too with my 9 and 7 year olds. We had two weeks of school set work which was fine and now have 5 weeks of school holidays but I’m carrying on “schooling” as there isn’t much else to do and they like the structure.

My younger one has thrived having longer to work on tasks while my older one has thrived being able to move on quickly as he says at school he always has to wait for everyone. So it’s been great to get him to check and double check, add an extra paragraph etc.

We’ve done some maths every day and some writing and I’ve drummed in some grammar too and then we’ve also just done fun learning on artists, listened to music and talked about it, done “cooking class”, etc. It’s been nice.

Im enjoying working with my seven year old but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t like working with me. He LOVES school he LOVES his teacher and he much prefers producing work for her than he does me. It makes me feel productive though and I like it when I research something, explain a process to him and then it clicks. It’s a huge buzz.