2 lessons of 2-3 hours per day, while I WFH?

[PinkandWhiteCheckeredBlanket]

Single parent. 1 DD. WFH for the foreseeable. 1 computer. 1 smart phone and a cheap none smart phone I use as my backup.

No tablets. I have games consoles but they’re used by DC as a posh DVD player, they’re occasionally allowed on the Nintendo switch but only have 1 game suitable for them really.

We’ve been told they need to be doing 2 lessons per day of 2-3 hours each or 4 lessons of 45-60 minutes each. Activities will be set by an online journal (similar to Tapestry by the looks of it). Some activities can be completed on paper but photos and/or videos will need to be taken as evidence to upload to the journal.

DD is 5, year 1. Letter says that the school don’t envisage having time to help children catch up on their return to school. They’ve included a schedule of how they structure the day at school and expect us to do similar with DC.

I have to use my computer for work. I am client based but as face-to-face has been cancelled so I will be using my computer to do conference calls, also have reports and paperwork to write, when I’ve WFH before this easily fills 4-5 hours of my day.

I don’t have an office, or work laptop. I have a desk in my bedroom I work from with a desktop computer and small writing area.

ExH will not do schoolwork with DC, not even their reading. I have to work, I can’t afford to be on SSP. Work will let me take unpaid leave but I can’t afford that either. Work know that DC will be off school but are saying my priority has to be work at least until the official Easter holidays. I have booked AL for a holiday in August but work won’t let me bring it forward or use it now.

How am I meant to assist a child with their schoolwork while working? DC is already behind at school and I’m panicking they’ll get further behind. I struggle to set time aside to do their reading and homework as it is as they also have a hip and leg problem that means daily physio.

I had planned to do morning as exercises/physio/schoolwork then bribe her with TV and new toys so I could do a few hours in the afternoon before doing more in the evenings once she’s in bed. At this rate I’ll be having to stay up all night to get my work done.

Any tips? Also to add ExH is essential (food retail) so won’t be able to help me much even if he did do schoolwork with her

I'd do an hour in the morning before work, an hour at lunch time and some reading before bed. You can do a bit at the weekend too.

Some families won't be able to do anything, very few will be doing 4-6 hours a day - I wouldn't worry about it.

This seems somewhat intense for a 5 year old.

She’s 5. Prioritise your work, can’t see the school offering to help you pay for the roof over your head if your boss kicks off, balance things as best you can.

This seems somewhat intense for a 5 year old

School do it as 4 blocks of 1 hour or 1.15 minutes with breaks in between which are 20 minutes long apart from lunch which is 55 minutes. It looks like a lot written down like that.

Kids are in school for that long, but they certainly aren’t learning for that long. Especially in Y1.

Prioritise English and maths. See how it goes . It may be that’s all she can focus for.

to start, I'd set a clear timetable of when you will be doing your work (while DD plays etc) and when you will do 'lessons'. Several short lessons will be much easier for a year 1 than long lessons. And one-on-one lessons are intense so you should be able to get more done in a short time than the teachers do at school.

Will DD play quietly while you work for 30 mins at a time?

Do you have a friend / relative you can call for a while each day? My DC currently have a lesson called 'phone granny' where they chatter for 20 mins while I work.

Will DD play quietly while you work for 30 mins at a time?

She will sit and play if I am in the room, my plan was to have her sitting on the floor of my room or on my bed playing with toys while I did calls.

Do you have a friend / relative you can call for a while each day?

I've had to offer ExH phonecalls and skype which he doesn't have due to him needing to work but we don't know exactly what time it'll be at.

@parietal 'phone granny' lesson. That is genius.

A five year old can't concentrate for that long anyway.

Here is what I would do:
Read with her for 20 mins every day.
Have her write the alphabet, her name, a few sentences, each day - not more than a quarter of a foolscap page even - so that her fine motor skill is maintained.
Have her do 15-20 mins a day of age-appropriate maths on Khan Academy or similar - whilst you take a work break.
Bonus activity, if you have an activity book for her (e.g. mazes, join-the-dots), let her do that, it will help keep her fine motor up without boring her to death.

Involve her in preparing food/tea/drinks etc., give her little household things to do like packing away washing, matching up socks and so on.

Rest of the time let her play, watch television, or whatever she wants to do.

Remember in many countries, 5 year olds haven't even started school yet. She will be completely fine. Honestly. Do your best, survive this time, and you will look back and realize it wasn't a big deal at all. Everything will be OK x

Can she watch school lessons on YouTube on the TV? I'm sure there are lots on there already and more will be added now. The teaching English as a Foreign language ones should be helpful. Ones where presenters read a story too. Once you are on holiday you can concentrate on her real classwork.

I think that's a ridiculous request for a 5 year old. I think you should focus on giving her structure to the day, keeping her reading and getting physical activity every day.

Alphablocks and Numberblocks are amazing programmes for phonics and maths.

Work out what time you HAVE to use the computer for the customer facing bit.
Work out what DD can safely do in that time (maybe a film, and play with toys?).
Check your remaining work hours will fit after bedtime, or work out where they can sensibly fit.

In the gaps that remain, start the school work. Focus on the maths and english. Maybe some of tye arts/crafts could be done while you work?

Stuff can be dropped. She will be fine. When the madness calms down, you can look at the gaps. Missing some geography isnt going to be problematic in the short term. Losing your job could cause big problems.

My plan was:

7.30am Up, Breakfast, Physio, Teeth
8.30amish Dressed, quick walk if not raining (DD would be in her pushchair)
9am Schoolwork
10am break and snack if hungry
10.20am Craft or Outside play depending on weather
12 lunch
1-2pm I work, DD plays quietly or colours or whatever
2pm break and snack, chat
2-3pm I work DD plays
3pm break and I'd upload any evidence to online journal
4pm another quick walk if not raining (again DD in pushchair)
4.30pm cook together
5pmish eat
then 5.30pm bedtime routine and physio (book, bath, bed)
6.30pm DD TV time/film
7.30pm DD bedtime
I'd then work with a few breaks worked in until about 10.30pm and go to bed

One on one teaching is much more intensive than classroom. The school sounds crackers. Has a teacher actually written that advice? Two hours a day is plenty

The best thing you can do is just take the pressure off. I have a 4 year old (I’ll also be working from
home) and am planning to involve her is the daily grind! She can help make dinner, help wash the car, do some chores, maybe some weeding or a treasure hunt in the garden, read some stories etc. My husband is from abroad and didn’t start school until 7 and there are studies which show the children in these countries catch up in their numeracy and literacy within just a couple of years. Just remember many children and parents are in the same position - these really are unique circumstances - I’ll certainly be extending tv time for my own sanity! I’m looking at this as extra time together - time to bond and help her feel safe when the world outside is going to shit. We’ll be doing some educational stuff when we can but mostly trying to stay relaxed and fill the days. We’ve started a daily disco - just put on some music and get dancing - there is value in all these little things. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be good enough - I’m taking that attitude to work when possible too! We are not their teachers, and shouldn’t be either. Most teachers don’t teach their own children either. Best of luck and go easy on yourself.