How are you looking after your child's wellbeing?

[nanbread]

Just that really.

My DC are lucky to have each other, but there's quite a big age gap and SEN to take into account. They fight a lot and have different interests.

They could go months without really seeing any other children - it's already been 3 weeks without having meaningful interactions - and that seems really unhealthy and unnatural to me.

They don't really like Zoom, they're too young / don't enjoy it. Both of their best friends are children of drs so they are in school anyway, so we couldn't call them if we wanted.

We try to go out for a walk or to the park every day.

What else could I be doing for them?

Also meant to add - they are too young to go out alone and meet with one friend for exercise.

Making her hot chocolate, cheese sandwiches and chopped pepper sticks.
Asking about her lessons.
Listening when she talks at me
Rubbing the back of her neck (short haircut) and nudging her. She barges me back and we laugh. That's as good as I get I'm afraid.
She's had 2 challenging years health wise (pre covid) so I feel for her. But I suffer dreadfully with depression so it's not always easy in our house.
I sometimes drag her out on my walk.

We do hot chocolate toppers.
I rotate dog walks , scooters and go carts so every day feels different.

I realise what I'm about to say sounds absolutely insane ( and frankly quite fluffy....which I am very very much not ) we started you tube tai chi. (I know I know....it sounds ridiculous to me when I say it). I swear to any deity that fancy listening it was a revelation. Ds1 is asd and he loved it , really really helped and calmed him down. Ds2 enjoyed it too but had shorter concentration.

Might not work for everyone but brilliant for us ( I will confess to not admitting to it other than on here and in my own home...)

Oh and also I am also lucky and at least my DC have each other but we did end up having to make sure we spent one on one time with each before ds1 battered ds2 for sitting on him....again

That actually became a special thing for them both and possibly saved ds2 teddy from being destroyed by ds1 in frustration

We got them a few different "modes of transport" for trips to the park to mix things up a bit. Scooters, roller blades, skateboard etc.

Although mine don't like zoom either, they do like being read to by their grandparents on zoom, especially is we both have the same book to look at.

We are also watching the whole David Attenborough series as a family, snuggled on the sofa with blankets and snacks.

I love the idea of YouTube Tai Chi!
Baking, looking back at old childhood photos (yours and theirs) speaking to grandparents about their childhood stories, gratitude journal, family movie night, cosmic yoga for kids.

DC is an only child and it's hard, we are getting DC with friends over zoom to play computer games x

By ignoring the homeschooling schedule and sticking to the routine that works for us.

Thanks everyone.

Would like to look at something like tai chi I'm youtube. Will check it out.

I'm not very good at instilling routines - naturally I'm very "freestyle" and find it hard to enforce them at home.

Are you worried how they'll get on without seeing other children?

@unlimiteddilutingjuice aren't you worried they will fall behind?

One of my DC is already behind, the other is just about ok in most subjects.

If I ignore the learning they will just be further behind...

@Cheerios444 unfortunately mine are too young for this (IMO!), We don't have a console and nor do any of their friends to my knowledge.

GPs not very involved here sadly either. It's just me, and DH a bit.

We make sure we go out every day for at least an hour. Lots of cuddles, playing and reading with them, cooking their favourites. Letting them use my phone to call their friends.