Anyone else’s dc coming home from school and struggling to fill evenings as so many of their previous activities are cancelled?

[Molofololo]

We seem to be resorting to computer games more and more and I am a bit sad about that. No swimming, no football started, no scouts. So just filling evenings at home are a bit difficult. We do take dc out for walks but it’s not that exciting for them and with winter creeping in it’s going to be harder.

That's a shame about the clubs. Too much screen time here too. I wonder if it depends on your area. My sons football training is back on now. Their swimming is on too soon though we have chosen to leave that for now

Yes swimming pool still shut here even though it could be open. Football not started as school have said not yet.

It feels a bit like kids aren’t being given much priority as I think many others here have said before

Are your scout group not starting up again? Ours are, in a limited way.

But yes, it’s a bit rubbish but also we were over committed before. I’m going to start a game of cards after dinner I think.

As much as I'm dreading Swimming tomorrow (the logistics rather than the actual swimming) DDs are extremely excited. We hope to start our Scout group up again from the 14th as well. (New guidance from Scout HQ due in the next couple of days so fingers crossed for you!)

Oh that’s good news on scouts. We have been zoom meetings only so far. I wonder what the guidance says

No. School doesn't end until 4.30 for us, so home about 4.45. Then homework, supper and a bit of down time, maybe a bath, soon time for bed!

My ds started to watch films every night with us during lock down, I think he will carry on doing this.

Minecraft is the primary carer of our children at the moment.

We are trying to finally master the Rubik's cube.

Football, cricket and swimming have all started again here but not Brownies (yet).

I hope Scouts are back soon. Our group wanted to hold a socially distanced summer camp with two person tents or individual hammocks and activities in patrols but couldn't go ahead because no face to face meetings. Some years in schools were starting to go back before the holidays and they are all going back now. I don't see why they can't do hikes, wide games, and other outdoor activities at least .

Wow pipandmum thats late. Id not like that as I'd hate mine never to get the chance to do activities. Just school eat and sleep mon to fri?

We have trampolining and gymnastics back on but have wondered similarly. I like them to keep active and wonder when it gets darker and walks/the beach don't appeal so much!

My DS is back at MMA already and that is full contact, though a small group.

I’ve just played Playmobil from 3pm until 5pm with a game of Monopoly in between, I can’t do this everyday 😩 our school have shortened the school day too!

@Molofololo
How much priority would you like the country to give to children. While I would agree that there were issues in the early stages, if it is true that schools are now being prioritised over other things it would not be unreasonable that other activities that are largely done by children are moved down the list as it is better that the biggest number of people possible are able to benefit from some activities than some people can live just about normally while others are basically stuck at home all day everyday.

We've got swimming starting next week and possibly Karate.
Our couting is not rushing back, but there are some large families throughout our group that have had a difficult time since March and they are not personally ready under cùrrent circumstances.
My Brownies is returning to outdoors only.

One of the delays and causes of inconsistency across Scouting/ Guiding is that guidence from the youth activities body is being slow to emerge. We've planned Brownies on an assumption that outdoors would continue to be OK, it wasn't actually confirmed at that point (it is now). It's also difficult to adapt the programme to do in a socially distanced way outdoors and we're already well worn from 4 months of Zoom.

Youth activities are important. They diversify young people's skills beyond a narrow curriculum. They diversify social interactions especially if there are difficulties with school. They keep young people fit.
(They also keep bored mums like me busy and purposeful with volunteering and are a vital part of my social life that I've missed a lot in the last 6 months)

DD's maths tutor is back to home sessions in 2 weeks, her art classes start at the same time and I'm hoping the Rainbows she volunteers at will reopen too. DS used to have drum lessons at school but they aren't letting in external teachers so he is coming to our house instead. Most stuff is back on although I doubt the school clubs will start again for quite some time which is a shame as it's great socially for the kids (DS used to do drama club, choir and tech club).

My kids activities are not on. I thought scouts might be outdoors but nothing as yet.

(Choir is probably never going to return!)

At least school is on, for now.

What have they been doing for the last six months? Just do that? At least there is school to take up half the day now.

Remember a lot of these activities are ran by volunteers and they might not be willing, able or happy to get started again right now.

I run one such activity and could possible start outdoors in groups of less than 12 including leaders which means I'd have to go out 2 nights a week. Even if I could do that I dont have enough adults as ratios are much higher when outside.

It's an absolute minefield and I'm almost at the stage of saying I'm not happy to run any activity until things are back to normal.

Not really. Play in the garden (weather permitting), often very dramatic and affectionate reunion with younger brother, tea, bath, homework, watch a bit if tv, read then bedtime! We'd struggle to fit more in in the 3 hours we gave after school.

Because the rules are complex yet vague, constantly changing and risk assessments are like the bloody yellow pages... Argh! I love my group, I really do, but I'm trying to support my own kids after a crazy few months, work from home and deal with everything else... I just dont have the headspace or time!

Nothing running as of yet - Cubs, Beavers and dancing all waiting on the church hall to open up and finish their risk assessment process... not heard a peep from swimming lessons in months. The one thing that is going ahead is DD1's singing lessons and that's mainly cos the teacher is a friend of mine.

Oh dear lord.

Books. Games. Staring out the window. Homework. Walks. Playing out.

Can't you do something with them?

How have they filled their time in the last 5 months?