School work during summer- AIBU

[jaderosee15]

I have two children, both in secondary school, going into year 8 and 10 in the fall. Because of lockdown they can't go out with friends or do any clubs. I want them to study and catch up on school work for 4 hours day but they refuse to do so. Sometimes they play in our backyard and they have online violin lessons, but other than that its gadgets the whole day Am I being unreasonable making them do school work

YABU- No they should not have to do work
YANBU- They should do work

How are your children spending summer in lockdown?

[TheTeenageYears]

I don't mean four hours of just studying from a book- i don't mind them to pick up a new skill, do a coding class, learn a language etc...

I just want to provide them something to do aside from sitting with gadgets all day

Telling them they need to do 4 hours work a day isn't really providing them with something to do though is it? If you can't just let the whole limiting gadget time during the holidays go you need to find a way to engage with them that they are happy with. If there are things they would normally do which they can't because of the current situation they are already missing out. I'm all for getting through each day at the moment- however that is. If they wouldn't normally do 4 hours work over the holidays it will look like they are being punished due to Covid-19 and let's face it they have been punished enough. If you leave them to it long enough they might even get bored on their own and come to you. Just be ready to spend the time with them when they do.

[Enchantmentz]

4 hours of work per day seems pretty miserable for them. yanbu for wanting them to do something but a little structure and a plan they are keen on would be fine. You would be better to focus on something that is their strength or weakness to work on, or something they are interested in but otherwise don't have the time to do.

I plan to work on numeracy with my dd through the summer as that is her weakness but I will still be pretty lax with it tbh.

[flamingochill]

How much work do they do during summer vacation on normal years?

[Love51]

By almost year 10 I would expect a young person to be able to organise their own time. The one who has just finished year 7 I would expect to need to scaffold. It is very tricky this year, as normally I'd be expecting something like a swimming trip to take up most of the day if they are getting the bus there and back with friends.
It makes a difference how much you are about to support. There are loads of things to do that aren't either school work or screen time, but what one kid (person!) would enjoy would bore someone else to tears. I'd get them to

• shop for food and cook dinner twice a week each
• do some gardening with you at the weekend and be responsible for maintaining a small patch of garden by weeding and watering.
• Figure out how to sew something - this will require adult support and you tube. Possibly a budget for fabric.
• a focus for a walk. Geo-caching, Pokémon Go, using a map and compass instead of GPS, looking at a particular type of architecture, just looking at 'aspirational houses' / comparing local houses with British ones
• a self chosen skill. Learn to crochet / speak Spanish / touch-type
• declare a week to explore a foreign culture - go to their museum using the interactive museum tours online, eat that culture's food, find out something about their political system.

So providing loads of learning opportunities but see it as learning / broadening horizons, not school work as such.

[Love51]

I wouldn't do all that stuff I've listed, by the way. They are ideas for different things they may enjoy! Totally ok to get a year 10 to paint a fence or whatever as well, so long as it isn't in extreme temperatures!

[jaderosee15]

@flamingochill - 2/3 hours every weekend and during the summer when we are not travelling

[jaderosee15]

@TheTeenageYears- I want my kids to do well in life, and they need to study and put in the work in order to do so. They have a drive and passion to get all A's in their GCSEs so I have to help support them and provide the resources. To get good grades they have to study during the summee

[jaderosee15]

*summer

[Ikeatears]

We're still homeschooling for about 4 or 5 hours a day but we take the occasional mid week day off. My dc thrive on routine though and left to their own devices, would resort to screens but become irritable!
The last couple of days we've taken off, I've given them a blank timetable and told them to fill it however they like, as long as it doesn't involve computer games or YouTube. They planned Lego, drawing, rearranging bedrooms, football, bike rides and my youngest even planned in a bath! Haha.
It worked for us, they couldn't complain they were bored because they'd planned it and it kept our routine.
After dinner each night, they're allowed screen time. Works for us.