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Covid

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Original poster

How are your young children coping with lockdown?

70 replies

Misty9 · 22/04/2020 23:36

Dd, just 6, is struggling she misses her friends, hates not being able to touch anyone/thing except her dad, brother and me, and I think she often forgets the reasons for all this so probably resents needing to do these things without really understanding, iyswim? The work the school sends home takes her about 10mins so even that isn't much of a distraction. She's definitely become more clingy - but I welcome the cuddles tbh as I'm alone half the week when they're at their dad's.

Ds is 8 but has extra needs. His behaviour has tanked with the lack of structure but he seems to be coping better apart from that.

How are your young ones coping?

Disclaimer : I'm not saying lockdown should be lifted because dc are struggling. Just wondering how other young children are getting on. And acknowledging how strange this must all be for them.

OP posts:

ofwarren · 22/04/2020 23:39

My 5 and 4 year old are totally fine.
They are enjoying the lie ins and not rushing around everywhere.
We are shielding as my 5 year old has a liver transplant so the only place we have been is the garden but neither have complained.
They obviously just enjoy being at home.

Original poster

Misty9 · 22/04/2020 23:55

Lie ins? What are these things you speak of? 😂 Ah yes, a nice garden would help probably. Glad your two are doing okay

OP posts:

oldflock · 23/04/2020 00:53

DS is almost 2 and seems quite happy to be at home, especially with DH wfh. No lie ins here, but he's still napping and has been having much longer naps at home, now that we're not rushing off to stay and play sessions/swimming classes etc. No garden, but we do a long daily walk to give some structure and tire him out. He's at an age where he's happy to just run around aimlessly, walk on low walls, find bugs and sticks etc, so he's not missing going to playgrounds too much. It would be much less tolerable if we couldn't get out for some exercise.

He's never gone to nursery, just toddler classes, and he's still at an age where he was doing parallel play - he didn't really have any friends as such, which I'm a bit relieved about, as I'm sure he would miss them if he was a bit older. He was due to start part-time nursery in September, which I'm hoping will still be possible. We do lots of stories, songs and puzzles, but I'm glad to not have to be doing actual home ed with him though.

We used to be out and about a lot, going to children's centres, leisure centres, museums etc almost every day, so it is all a bit strange for him.

Hugepeppapigfan · 23/04/2020 00:55

My 4 year old is enjoying it. She misses her friends and misses school but only if I ask her about it. She loves being at home. We only have a tiny garden but she likes going for walks or bike rides.

Givemeabreakpls · 23/04/2020 01:00

My DD is six and she’s coping ok but sleep routine is out of the window. I’m using our hour exercise to take her on long walks/runs to tire her out! She’s finding it increasingly difficult to drop off to sleep even with activity.

imamearcat · 23/04/2020 01:25

3 and 4 yo doing fine. Happier than usual I would say.

LoisLittsLover · 23/04/2020 01:28

5 year old is generally 'okay' but definitely not her usually self. She is usually happy, polite etc. She has moments of this and is being very loving towards her sister but also seeing long episodes of tearfulness and really stroppy behaviour followed by huge remorse

Teabaseddiet · 23/04/2020 02:00

9yo & 4yo are ok, but a bit bored, doing stuff for attention & having emotional moments where they are clearly struggling to process everything.

We're struggling to work at home & give them the attention they need.

It's all quite hard work really.

DBML · 23/04/2020 02:12

My 14/15 year old has discovered a love of cooking. He keeps wanting to make french toast and brownies.
I thought he’d want to be on his games consoles and computer all of the time, so this is a nice surprise. He’s also started jogging!

DBML · 23/04/2020 02:13

Sorry...not a young child though. Just noticed.

soundsystem · 23/04/2020 02:25

This describes my 5-year-old exactly.

ofwarren · 23/04/2020 02:28

I love that @DBML!
I wish my 17 year old had your son's enthusiasm. He stays in bed unless he has to get up to speak to his college tutor on zoom.
I don't generally see him till late afternoon.

Mekw · 23/04/2020 03:15

My 4 yo is ok on the whole but as others have mentioned have moments of emotional outbursts and tears over nothing. He is bored and not as stimulated as normal and think he misses the company of other kids his age. I'm trying to wfh and husband is a key worker so on my own a lot also with a 1yo to deal with so some days are pretty hard going! I know I have ups and downs with my emotions at moment so it's the same for kids I suppose.

Peppafrig · 23/04/2020 03:27

my children are more relaxed and happy than they are at school .

Nquartz · 23/04/2020 06:42

DD (8) is ok, she's reluctant to do school work but will do it because she's not allowed to watch TV until she has.

We're also walking past various friend's houses on our walks so she has chatted to a few which helps. The novelty of video calls has worn off now unfortunately.

There's definitely been more emotional outbursts & crying, she isn't sleeping brilliantly (I think because she isn't as tired as not as stimulated/work out from school).

DH is WFH in a pretty full on job, I am too but only part time & luckily not too busy as she wants a lot of support with school work.

She's been making a lot of Lego!!

portoyo · 23/04/2020 07:16

My 3 & 4 yr old couldn't give a toss, they are loving not having to be anywhere and being able to play all day at home. Makes me realise a lot of the activities I do with them are quite a lot for me 🤣.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 23/04/2020 07:31

DS nearly 7 is struggling. He's an only child and very sociable so he's bored to tears with no one his age to play with. He's started to misbehave for attention. We live in a flat with no outdoor space so he's only getting fresh air when we go out for a walk. All he wants to do now is play Roblox.

powkin · 23/04/2020 07:51

Our 14 month old obviously had no idea what is going on but she clearly misses socialising. When we take her to the park for her exercise (she’s just learning to walk) we stay fairly near a path so she can watch the word go by and she lights up, if people wave or she can see other small children she loves it so much. So, if you see a toddler please smile and wave as much as possible!

She was at the childminder 3 days a week (she started 1 day at 6 months so has been a long time) and she text me to say how much she misses my DD :( so sweet and sad, I wonder if DD will remember and be happy or if it’ll be starting it all again attachment wise??

She’s definitely adjusted to it but I worry about her not seeing other little people for interaction. My family all way to do FaceTime all the time but it’s confusing and upsetting for her when it ends and she has huge tantrums with tech so we hide our phones. As DH parents are divorced it’s 3 sets of calls and we often have to say no.

powkin · 23/04/2020 08:14

All want* that should say. She didn’t see family very often before so she doesn’t know our grandparents really well yet.

I think a lot of people are doing online classes but I’m wary of screens at this age and I DD seems confused by it all so tried one or two but haven’t again.

timeforawine · 23/04/2020 08:20

My 3.5yr old misses learning and her friends, she's also becoming clingy and a bit listless, we're doing what we can to help her learn but both working.
All of us are looking forward to nurseries re opening.

golddustwomen · 23/04/2020 08:30

This also describes my 5 year old word for word. Sorry can't tag user or bold text for some reason!

Surroundedbycats · 23/04/2020 08:32

My 3.5 DT are doing OK. One is happy being at home the other seems a bit bored.

They are missing family but having a garden and each other helps a lot.

They are thrilled that I am wfh and have asked me to never go to work again😐

Eeyoresstickhouse · 23/04/2020 08:36

My 3 year old is struggling some days. She is used to full time childcare with a busy setting and all her friends. She has been there since she was 7 months old. She gets quite over emotional some days. We don't have a garden so its fucking shit.

We do go out for a walk every day, but it's not the same as just playing in the outside.

BasinHaircut · 23/04/2020 08:37

My DS(6) is coping pretty well. We have a loose routine for weekdays which I think is helping. We start by doing Joe Wickes PE at 10am then some ‘school’ work, then a walk and lunch. Afternoons we try and get another loosely structured activity/task done and then something in the garden (so thankful for the garden and the weather!), then he gets some time on the Xbox with his friends on FaceTime so they get to play together then dinner.

He is playing up a bit for attention, and arguing with us about everything we ask him to do, but I think that phase was coming before lockdown and it’s mostly just his age.

He is rediscovering loads of old toys and also learning how to be bored. We are usually so busy I think he is enjoying the time at home.

I think he will be relieved to get back to normality though, whenever that may be.

Bigfishylittlefishy · 23/04/2020 08:38

My kids are okay

10, 8 and 5. Daily walk, a designated “playtime” outside in the garden with a lolly, couple with far too much screen time.

They’re just okay, they’re not thriving.

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