Do anyone else's kids seem to be mostly doing fine?

[LeadMeOutOnTheMoonlitFloor]

I was reading on another thread that a lot of people's children are struggling mentally and that they've decided to let their kids mix with others and forget about social distancing, as they're not really coping with the isolation. Are anybody else's kids seemingly doing fine? I'm worried maybe I'm missing signs in mine that they are having a hard time in lockdown. Obviously they miss their friends and normal activities, but I wouldn't say they seem sad or worried or withdrawn as other posters mentioned. I expect it helps that 2 are close enough in age to play together, that the eldest has ASD, and that they're all happy to socialise online. But am I sticking my head in the sand and ignoring problems? We're following the guidelines strictly because I feel it's too soon to mix closely with other households.

Dd is 10 and in yr 6.
She was fine, happy to do her school work, she would chat to her friends on facetime for hours or they would play roblox together.
We went for walks everyday, we played board games everyday.
There was nothing to say she was sad or down about the situation.

Then she went back to school full time and she is a completely different child, shes happier, shes sleeping better, everyday when she goes to school shes like a child on Christmas eve. Her best friend calls for her and they walk to school together like old times.
So it probably did have an affect on her that I didn't see until she went back to school.

Mine are 'up and down'. Ds1 (autistic 14) found it tough for the first month or so but recently is like a new child. Chatting and talking and engaging which we have not seen for a year or so. He is struggling with school work though. DS2 (12) is so much happier. We are going through the process to see if he has dyspraxia and/or ADHD and he was getting into constant trouble at school for low level disruptive behaviour. His mental health has improved significantly by not being at school but again is struggling with school work. DS3(10) is absolutely fine. Had a little wobble when he said he felt 'claustrophobic and captive' but now we can travel for exercise and socially distance visit family he is fine. He is however anxious about joining the 'real world' again - school have invited all year groups back in small groups to say goodbye to their old teachers and meet their new teachers and he is quite concerned.

I have one child who has really enjoyed lockdown as a break from the relentlessness of school, and is loving this life, and one child who I don't think it's doing any good for at all, the lack of structure, endless days, becoming down. I have heard others say similar things, and it makes sense, adults have also responded differently, and so it is not surprising that children should also differ.

They both seem happier actually.

Mine have had a ball. The eldest (7) has spent more time with the toddler so their relationship has flourished.

He's missed his friends a lot but weve done zooms etc. He met a couple of friend last week that's lifted his spirits but his general emotional state is exactly as before over the last few months.

Early on he was a bit skittish and emotional, but we discussed a lot of things and eased any worries. He likes sciencey stuff so understands some basics. I set up a basic routine of some school work / work books but didn't push it hard and I've personally not panicked either when he's not done it and become writing allergic as I know he'll catch up in school and has learnt so many other things. I actually think the break has been good as he now wants to do work at school

The toddler has loved it. Down side will be going back to nursery but I suppose it's like any 2.5 year old starting.

I've found it v, utterly exhausting, but I seem to have adapted now. The toddler has become more independent which has helped.

Mine are happy but in my opinion it’s still not great for them. My ten year old boy spends a lot of his time on his x-box. He loves that. I know it’s not the best thing for him though. Learning and interacting with friends would be much better. I’m glad he has his xbox though as like I said, he loves it. My daughter (age 8) is quite introverted so she loves spending time chilling out, and pottering around. She’s happy, again though I know school would be better for her.

I think a lot of teenagers are doing just fine. Secondary school isn’t the right environment for a lot of kids out there.

Mine aren't fine and need to be back in school. They are not close in age so really miss being around their peers. They also have 2 parents trying to WFH FT so although life is slower there is less time for effective home schooling and long walks and picnics, etc. Also it has gone on for too long. They were fine for the first 2 months.

I wonder whether there is any correlation between the children who are doing well and whether their parents are working/ furloughed/ SAHP? Especially for younger children. Also whether they have siblings?

DD is at school part time. She seems to prefer the days she's at home, but they are my non working days so I have time to be with her. We did have a period where I was WFH and she was home and that wasn't that great, but she may have adjusted over time.

Mine spend all day in front of screens while we work. DH is out as a key worker, and I am working full time at home as my office is closed. I don’t think it’s that good for the 12 and 9yo to be ‘alone‘ so much, but I don’t see much choice if we’re to keep a roof over our heads. They’re a bit .... flat.

My 16yo is doing endless projects, which she loves. She has an underlying anxiety about what her GCSE grades will be, but she'd have had that if she'd taken the exams. My 18yo is having a slightly harder time reconciling himself to his lost gap year travel plans, as each bit gets cancelled one by one, and he's a bit nervous about what university will look like in September, but now he can see his girlfriend and friends, albeit outside, he is happier.

DS (7) with ASD is living his best life. Hours of history documentaries and Minecraft each day. School work at his own pace with no pressure. Noone "making me go outside"
DD (5 and NT) had a very hard time of it at first but has settled into it now. Tbh it isn't something I'd normally want her to get used to. It's a very narrow isolated life for a child and I think she's missing out.
I've had some serious chats with DH about it and we've agreed to let the socialise with other kids from 1st July.
My reasoning is that playgrounds reopen on 29th June so the govt can't be anticipating children will socially distance after that point.

A lot depends I think on age gap, number of children and personality type. Lockdown has been good for my 1 year old and I think she has benefited from having a longer time at home rather than being in nursery. My just turned 3 year old has suffered from the lack of peer interaction but also being stuck with a baby. I think if she’d had an older sibling to play with she’d have been happier. She is an extreme extrovert and had proper friends far before she was supposed to developmentally.

Aye, very happy. Learning is going well (fractions were introduced by the class teacher during lockdown and I was a bit concerned about teaching this as it was never my forte but it's been good for me as well tbh).

Have relented and allowed Fortnite on the Switch (he's 9) but actually it's been lovely hearing him chat with his pals (whilst shooting them in the head )

Mine seem happier than ever and are making good progress with school work. We're lucky to have lots of space inside and out for them to play and work.

Ds (6) is living his best life. Spends his days doing lego, youtube, running/walking with me, at the ponies or at the allotment and the occasional hour of school work. He occasionally plays with ndns kids or dd.

Dd is year 11, was very down at the start of it. Misses school and her friends desperately. Recently went back to sports training in a socially distanced way and seems a bit better for it.

Am praying that things are normal come September. Ds hasn't engaged with school work at all and dd needs her social life back.

DD(13) and DS (10) are loving it.

Usually, we spend very little time at home, due to work, clubs and various activities. Both are enjoying late nights, lie ins, school work and family time.

DD has always been a bookworm and has read non stop during lockdown. DS is the complete opposite and has always hated reading but has actually found a passion for books during this time. I’m very grateful for Amazon!

DD Yr8 is very happy. She's quite introverted and is enjoying the break from being around people all the time.
She's kept up with a couple of clubs she goes to which has given her some social contact and she texts/messages friends and occasionally will submit to a facetime.
I'm more concerned about how she will find re-integrating.
I'm working from home but can work alongside her which works for us.

I have very very active massively extroverted DC. Plus DH and I work in full on jobs which have been relentless in Covid times. DC are ok, but clearly not really much more teetering on not being ok. Totally over learning from bloody worksheets, bored restless and occasionally teary and angry.

yep its been going good for us too. DD13 has a cracking routine and really enjoys doing what she wants her way- up at 8.30-2hrs of netflix with a breakfast of toasties,eggs or whatever she wants she cooks it herself.Then Spanish online, maths,english. typing her novel,enviro science then makes herself lunch and onto lego technics late afternoon throught til teatime.. beach walks/cycling as we live next to beach.she happily hoovers and helps in the garden(which is old and large so always needs stuff doing!),does the bins,...any easy child who is lovely company& likes her own company lucky for me.We spend a couple of hours watching tv/movies with and after dinner then she watches music vids in her room til 9pm and reads for an hour til10..happy covid days : )

All the older ones I know seem mostly fine. The only ones, having spoken to dd, who are struggling with mental health issues already did beforehand sadly. All the older ones are also now out and about a lot, meeting friends in parks etc. Though they are generally being sensible and are sat at a distance to one another outside.

The younger ones again are mostly okay. The ones we know that is. The ones finding it much harder are the ones who already had MH and anxiety issues before and this has obviously made it trickier for them too, but they are still doing fine in general with parent support. One Or two acting out more but improving now they can see friends even if still SDing.

I guess when I return to work properly in September we will see if more children in general have had issues and how that plays out on their return.

My is fine. The kids that I know who are struggling all have siblings, I was worried about mine being an only child but she is fine, I guess it’s down to individual personalities and circumstances

Mine are more than fine - but we have a lucky set of circumstances: the school-aged two are very close in age and enjoy each other's company (for the most part!) and find the 1 year old very entertaining too; I'm working very infrequently as I had just finished ML and handed in my notice to become freelance, so I can pay all three a good amount of attention; the older two are learning more than at school as they're very studious and independent, and also have some great educational hobbies; partner is at home, working but managing to disappear off for a couple of hours at a time at various points in the day to get it done; large enough garden to have trampoline, summer house, play equipment etc; Zoom calls with family and their friends; recently started seeing cousins in similar circumstances once a week in a park.
I fully acknowledge we are in a very privileged position.

The majority of kids should be doing fine, theyve had 3 months off school, I'd have loved that as a child. Despite there being quite a lot of vocal people about mental health on here, very low numbers in the country are actually affected by poor mental health percentage wise. There should be no reason for healthy nt children to be suffering from lockdown. They have more contact with their friends now than we ever did as teenagers, too much to be honest, on social media. My kids have been great, better if anything, more relaxed. I think school has got too pressured to be honest and a lot of kids will have appreciated the break.

I also think it's been nice to have a break from parents being over pushy and showing off their kids achievements on the school twitter sites, weve certainly enjoyed a rest from that. Some of them have still been at it, putting up pictures of their kids homework etc, but weve largely been able to ignore it.

I think some parents look for problems and attention, so whereas their kids might be fine, their parents play the "they are struggling and depressed card" to get attention.