To think if you can keep your kids off school beyond September, you should?

[user8558]

Firstly I want to make absolutely clear that by "can" I mean people in similar circumstances to myself. I've no job anymore due to coronavirus, my industry will be one of the last to find its feet so I'm likely unemployed for the forseeable. Fortunately my partner is able to cover bills etc with his income.

I'm a bit wary of schools going back in August. For me it feels too soon.

However, I also know it's not soon enough for many other families. That working parents are struggling and for many other reasons kids are really missing school.

Am I being unreasonable then in thinking perhaps that people like myself, with nothing better to do anyway (and have the mental resources) are doing everyone else a favour by keeping our kids home to make life easier for teachers and other kids trying to manage in cramped schools? To make social distancing in the classroom easier for those who need and want to be there.

Nope. School age DC really needs peer contact, without a parent around. 2 yo needs time without DC1 bossing him around.

Would be different if stuff to do we're open, Safari park, zoo, museum, playground but mostly they need to socialise with peers.

I am at home with my 17 month old anyway. My 6 year old is already back at school, my 4 year old will be going back on Monday. They are going to school because it is in their best interests.
You are obviously free to do what you want with your children.

I think this is ridiculous. I'm a SAHM and technically fulfill your criteria as someone that "should" keep their children off school, but it would be absolutely disastrous for my child. She needs peer interaction and a greater range of stimulation than I can provide at home.

Unless there’s a ludicrous drip feed like your kids are currently undergoing chemo, then regardless of what home learning you are providing as a (presumably- but again, potential drip feed) non qualified teaching support, they will still be massively compromised educationally, mentally and socially by being kept off longer to mitigate the very small risk of harm to them. Perhaps you’re a higher risk? If so - do what you can to mitigate that risk rather than compromising your kids

If it would be disastrous for your child then why on earth do you think you "can", clearly you that means you're not one of people who "can" - because it would be disastrous

Do you really think my AIBU is "should parents for whom it would be disastrous for their family keep their kids at home anyway"

Why are people so hell bent on deliberately misinterpreting this post.

Bored I guess.

I don't agree. I think children need a lot from school that they cannot get from home including social interaction. They need to learn how to compromise, turn take, debate, work with others, carry out group enquiries, etc etc . A lot of this they would be learning in the playground. I know a lot of people home school, but their children would generally be interacting with others through activity groups etc. My children are still learning at home but they are visibly drooping through lack of social contact.

@Tiktokcringeydance My post might have come across that i thought if kids were old enough to be home alone they should be but i actually meant they need to be in school and agree about the mental health/socialising aspect

Yabu. Unless you can competently homeschool and don't expect there to be a place for your child when you're fed up.

Proper education is important imo.

(And proper homeschooling counts as a proper education but what we're doing now does not!)

What a world we live in where people are trying to make others feel guilty for sending their school aged children to school when a place is offered to them. It’s crazy.

I'm not worried about harm to them.

I have small concerns over the risks to myself and my partner who between us have a few risk factors.

But what I'm most concerned about is the abnormality of it.

It's not going back to school normally.

It's going out to place where infection control measures are in place. It's so far from normal.

If you feel you can educate your child to the same level as teachers then its your prerogative to home school- thats always been an option for people.

However, it should be a decision based on whats best for the child, not out of a misplaced sense of what you "ought" to be doing out of fear.
I dont make decisions based on fear. I base them on likely outcomes and a balanced view of the risks involved.
For my children it would be a no. Its important for their mental health and their education that they return to school. I'm not so arrogant as to think I can teach every single subject on the curriculum to the same level as someone who has actually studied it at university so they will be returning to school.

I'm not trying to make anyone feel guilty

Honestly, what have I said that suggests I do?

I thought it seemed considerate.

This really won’t be doing teachers a favour. They’ll be expected to spend all day teaching those in school and then spend their evenings setting and marking work for those kids who are still at home. Certainly for secondary pupils, a parent supervising their work, whilst very much appreciated, is not the same as being in a classroom with a subject specialist

My child is an angel in the classroom but here in our home he fought me viciously every step of the way.

Is your industry hospitality op? Mine is. So I related when you said yours would be one of the last jobs to be reinstated.

I’m not sure my reasons for sending my child back to school would be considered good enough by everyone but I don’t care. I have to live in this house with my children and I want it to be a happy place, not a battlefield.

@user8558

I'm not trying to make anyone feel guilty

Honestly, what have I said that suggests I do?

I thought it seemed considerate.

Considerate to who?

Whatever works for you AND your child.

Every child is different. Some thrive on homeschooling, some don’t.

I'm wfh as a nurse both kids in school anyways in 6 weeks they can stay home and watch disney plus in jobs I've got a week of my holiday at seaside so no worries

Yabu. Unless you can competently homeschool and don't expect there to be a place for your child when you're fed up

I agree with this too. If youre going to homeschool- then do it properly and give up your school place. You cannot expect to continually switch between home, school, home, school. Pick one and stick to it and let someone else have the school place.

thought it seemed considerate

Which implies that anyone who doesn’t do what you think it correct is inconsiderate.

Wouldnt that rather depend on what the virus numbers are in September? My kids have done better than most w home schooling I reckon, but I'd certainly far rather they were in school at least part time come Sept.

No. Children need to be prioritised now and that means school. Real life interactions with peers and a proper education, provided by qualified professionals.

I am planning on homeschooling Autumn Term. Schools I'd imagine will follow Scotland and Wales and be a mix of home/school rotation to allow social distancing of some sort. If you read up on Spain they have just announced max 15 per class September. So in my opinion it won't be proper schooling till next Spring anyway (unless there is a vaccine/therapeutic breakthrough). Teachers/kids will be absent through isolation a lot etc etc. In short chaos and they'll learn more at home but I appreciate I too am in fortunate position of being able to stay at home.

YABU. In March I had only just dipped my toe back into work (self employed work)after 6 years as a SAHM and my work has completely shut so I have gone back to being a SAHM.
We have enjoyed home learning very much, my dc are 4 and 6 and have made good progress, had a great time etc. I feel I have done my best for them. We've completed all of the work school sent which was at times quite vague and pretty sparse (both of which I'm fine with)and done plenty of other stuff too. I've been on Teachit and Twinkl and the like, printed off the sheets, made the tricky words cards, done the crafts and baking and made dens, made it fun. My dc are both going back to school (ds is there now).
I am not a teacher, I don't have the knowledge of the curriculum they have. I believe teachers are skilled professonals. I can't teach interaction with other children. No one can at home. 6 months is a really, really long time for dc to be at home without the routine of school. My niece is an only child and hasn't played with another child for 3 months and won't for another 2. IMHO it's too long.
I've had some flack from family for sending them back, lots of 'schools are like prisons' crap. A bit of of 'those who love their dc will keep them safe at home' stuff. One said that we were 'taking the place of a vulnerable child'. Had school said that they couldn't open safely I would have supported them. If they said they couldn't manage all of the years I would have supported them. They didn't so my two are going back.

Which implies that anyone who doesn’t do what you think it correct is inconsiderate
Exactly
No. Children need to be prioritised now and that means school. Real life interactions with peers and a proper education, provided by qualified professionals
Agree

It takes a certain kind of person to want to home school their children. Some children might prefer it (I have seen various posts from parents saying their children have much less anxiety etc in lockdown) but I think the vast majority would actually prefer to be in school. My son, who says he hates school, is bored rigid and I know he misses it!