To ask for tips to get through an isolation? Reception age child

[UpSlyDown]

Got the dreaded text so off for 10 days with DD (4.5) stuck inside. DH and I both will be wfh, I am part time. Any times or advice how to cope? Struggling already after a weekend in the house. Happy to order in some activities/craft/activity books if anyone has any suggestions? Nothing big for the garden we only have a small yard :(

Ideas not times!

I always recommend bubbles and balloons, as my daughter always used to love these as a treat!
Teddy bears picnic.
Encourage her to play schools, teaching said bears and dolls. Don't get roped in as a pupil!!
Jigsaws.
Guess Who game.

Cosmic yoga, make a den, teddy bear picnic, looooong and lots of bathtimes, stickers, colouring in, let her just play independently too, "help" with jobs mine loves washing up (well I get her to rinse), cooking even things like spreading her sandwich can take time.

pot of water and paint brush for painting the yard.
Chalks.
Cornflour mixed with water.
playdough.
Shadow drawing.

There’s a website called “toys for a pound” they sell some nice activities suitable for a 4 year old.

My son who is 5 did video calls with his friends from class each day, if you could arrange that? They would stay on the phone for about an hour, playing and chatting!

Officially your child doesn’t have to isolate so if you have anyone else to take her to/from school she could still go.

Scavenger hunt, give a list of items for them to find. Indoors and outdoors.

My little one loves making cakes and decorating them. If I'm busy I get a box mix and let her just carry on with it.

Or make some really easy sugar cookies and then let your little one decorate. Mine will sit for hours spreading icing, adding sprinkles, chocolate buttons, sweets etc. Thank

@MamaTutu2 sorry if I wasn’t clear- DD is isolating not me! I am happily going out for dinner this week with a friend but we have a full week of wfh while she is obviously housebound so looking For ways to occupy her.
Thanks for the suggestions so far :)

Baker Ross!

Most people I know are taking their kids out for risky exercises but avoiding busy places and play grounds and all indoor spaces.

So an hour cycle or scooter etc

I'd be out in the car going to open aired places.

Oh no, well I’m a reception teacher, I’d do twinkl bits, phonics play games at least once a day (ask the teacher which phase), a diary to cover writing with a couple of lines each day and then get DD to watch the white rose maths hub videos to cover maths. RWI have online ditties she could read if you fancied it and then you can see what her school are offering. Other than that I’d stick her in front of the tv, let her draw and play with her toys. Writing, phonics and maths is all they’d be doing at school anyway and thats only 30 mins ish a time!

Will she get anything from school?

I think she will @ineedaholidaynow as they did last time. Trouble is when I’m meant to be working we don’t have loads of devices only our work laptops and phones so I don’t have an iPad or anything I can set her up with to watch the videos/do the activities. I’ve just had a thought I could mirror my phone with the tv though and she could watch the videos on there….that could work!

Play cooking - give her little pots of flour, sugar, raisins, water and let her make a mess. The Works is good for activity books and sticker books. They have some nice scratch art sets something like 2 for £5.

@UpSlyDown the school should definitely be able to loan you a device! They were provided from the government for this purpose

@Sometimeswinning - I was also going to say Baker Ross, they have some very simple crafts.

Presumably she'll have online learning? DS 9's class is self-isolating and they've had a full week of online learning, so the only breaks are the same as they have at school.

I'd be pretty horrified of my reception age child was given a full week of online home learning, with just a couple of breaks a day! Whenever we've been home learning, my 5-yr old has had a pack from school with some suggested activities for each day (maths, phonics, literacy, wider curriculum)and a link to a pre-recorded phonics lesson of 5-10 minutes. It was very rare that we did all the actives recommended for each day. I usually aimed at doing the phonics lesson, twenty mins-ish of Maths and some reading.

Other than that it was a mix of jigsaws, marble run, Duplo, playing outside, colouring/sticking/cutting, and telly! He also did some phonics games/Maths games online and a bit of Minecraft.

I'd advise getting the more focused stuff like the actual home learning in the morning, whilst they're a bit fresher, and then just hoping for the best/aiming for survival in the afternoons, so you can get a bit of work done if need be. Best of luck OP.

Can you flex your hours at all? I worked PT during lockdown 1 with a 2yo and 6yo.

I started at 8 and did 2 hours, stopped for an hour and did school/activities then they'd play independently til lunchtime. DH would do lunch and bit of play during his break then TV, I'd stop again and do more school etc. Independent ish play again then finish my hours after dinner while DH did bedtime.

Meant to say my PT was school hours.

Don't feel guilty about letting them watch a film every day. Do whatever you need to get through this

I took mine out to Woods a drive away where nobody was around or we went for walks after dark. The rules are cruel and ludicrous.

Check out phonics family and five minute mum on insta/Facebook etc for good ideas. Set things up in the evening when she's asleep, they usually start playing if it's out! I've got a list on my phone hang on I'll copy and paste...