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Original poster

Are your children looking forward to going back?

119 replies

likeamillpond · 07/03/2021 10:38

Thinking back to my own school holidays which admittedly were a LONG time ago.
I remember just before going back there would be a mixture of excitement tinged with sadness. Sadness that the long holiday had come to an end.
The children have had an extra long 'holiday'this year. so I imagine it must be really tough to go back.
No doubt there'll be those who are desperate to interact with other children.
By the same token there must be lots who have been content to stay home.

OP posts:
Wellbythebloodyhell · 07/03/2021 11:38

Not sure what long holiday your dc have had but mine haven't had any such thing.

Anyway in answer to your question yes they're excited to be back in school with their friends again

OrangeBananaFish · 07/03/2021 11:39

Yr 11 DS really couldn't care less either way.

Y8 DD1 is really not looking forward to it. She's anxious. I think its because she hasn't really had chance to settle into her secondary school yet so doesn't really know where she fits in.

Yr 4 DD2 is really really excited.

manicinsomniac · 07/03/2021 11:40

I know not all children will want to talk honestly to their teachers but overall, from the children I teach, there's 1 or 2 per class of 15-18 who say they would prefer to stay at home. The rest want to come back. That's 7-13 year olds.

So i think hopefully the vast majority are keen. Maybe this thread title naturally draws in those whose children are struggling with the idea and do skews the overall perception, idk.

Magnificentmug12 · 07/03/2021 11:41

Yes! Very very excited. It hasn’t been like a holiday at all as they haven’t been able to see or play with anyone.

I imagine they won’t be able to sleep tonight as the youngest is so excited to be seeing her friends

hennybeans · 07/03/2021 11:46

My 3 all say they prefer to be at home. But I think they mostly only consider the superficial things. DS 8 prefers home learning because he can play Minecraft at break time. My older two like it because they can sleep an hour later and have no rainy, dark queueing for the school bus, no school uniforms, etc.

But as a parent I look at the bigger picture and know that they will be happier at school once they get back into it. The older two are particularly at an age where they need their friends and to socialise, more than they realise. I think they would be more enthusiastic if they were going back to normal school 2019 style with no masks, tests, and restrictions.

Piggywaspushed · 07/03/2021 11:52

Mine(year 12) is completely pragmatic. He has fared really well at home. He isn't a socialite and is very hard working anyway. But I am sure he would prefer to be able to speak to classmates and teachers. He is into public policy and stuff and he thinks it is not the right thing to do but he will go back without any fuss. Asa glasses wearer, I think he is anxious about steamed up specs.

DS1 (uni) is far more desperate to be released into the wild.

dappledsunshine · 07/03/2021 11:57

Year 11 not bothered either way, takes everything in his stride & I think once he's back he'll be pleased, particularly seeing his friends.

Year 6 is anxious and doesn't want to go back but he's struggled with anxiety and school refusal in the past which hasn't been helped by being in and out of school in the last year.

Piggywaspushed · 07/03/2021 11:59

Maybe this thread title naturally draws in those whose children are struggling with the idea and do skews the overall perception,

The thread title seems entirely neutral to me tbh manic.

I haven't asked the students I teach and they haven't most of them volunteered an opinion (the ones who have want to come back often because of noise at home) : I am not sure they would be honest in their answers : they say what their given audience wants to hear , on the whole! To their mates , they will often be 'ugh, school, yuk', to their teachers 'yay, school!' to their parents , different again. If they get on well with siblings, that might be where one finds the truest picture.

SimonJT · 07/03/2021 11:59

Absolutely not, we had tears from my son yesterday and a few times today, tomorrow morning is going to be so much fun...

LindaEllen · 07/03/2021 12:00

DSS is 17 and absolutely not looking forward to going back. I asked why, and he said there's more pressure if you're face to face with the teacher. I pointed out that that's how they've done things since he started school at the age of 4 so surely that's not something to dread?

But it transpires that what he really means is he has to get up at a reasonable time again, and he cannot play on his Switch during online lessons anymore, or flick to playing games when me and his dad think he's working upstairs.

It is absolutely time to go back, and to see if anything at all can be salvaged from his A Levels!

Rockbird · 07/03/2021 12:08

Yr8 doesn't want to go back, hates school but she is much better off in school even though she'd deny it. She's been a recluse since Christmas.

Yr4 didn't want to go back initially and still says she doesn't but I was gathering her uniform and school bits yesterday and she was getting a bit giddy so I suspect she's secretly excited!

ChameleonClara · 07/03/2021 12:10

@manicinsomniac

I know not all children will want to talk honestly to their teachers but overall, from the children I teach, there's 1 or 2 per class of 15-18 who say they would prefer to stay at home. The rest want to come back. That's 7-13 year olds.

So i think hopefully the vast majority are keen. Maybe this thread title naturally draws in those whose children are struggling with the idea and do skews the overall perception, idk.

The q was asked on a zoom form time last week. Only one said they wanted to go back, the rest were all 'er...' with no excitement.

I think there's a lot of pressure from adults, who want the children to want to go back.

Totallyfedup1979 · 07/03/2021 12:11

No. Mine works well from home and has stood out to his teachers, for doing everything they’ve asked. He has access to a computer and awesome software like photoshop, so his work is better quality than what he’s ever done in school.
He hasn’t had to see the school bullies or have lessons disrupted by the school clowns. He’s enjoyed working from home and was gutted to be returning.

Greenmarmalade · 07/03/2021 12:11

No 😂

Valhalla17 · 07/03/2021 12:24

Yes very excited ds here (age 10). No idea if he's going to be able to squeeze into the trousers, but he's very happy to go back to the routine and see his friends! Smile

SillyOldMummy · 07/03/2021 12:28

Mixed feelings for my DD, but mostly dreading it.

She wants to see friends, of course, but it's going back to the crap covid-style of school.

She hates being confined in a classroom with doors and windows wide open so it'll be freezing again.

She can't mix with most of her friends who are in other classes.

She can't have a playdate after school as that's illegal.

Playtime is being crowded into a metal pen, lunch is eaten at your desk.

No assemblies, no school trips, not allowed to use the Art room.

PE is boring as they can't do much in their metal pen and it's always outside even in torrential rain.

Every half hour it's the lunacy of the handwashing, where all lessons are disrupted for all the kids to ceremonially sanitise.

No school clubs at school , everything she does is cancelled for the foreseeable

So it's fairly miserable prospect, as she's been having a lovely time at home.

User1511 · 07/03/2021 12:34

Mine can’t wait. One term in a year? It’s mad!

Original poster
likeamillpond · 07/03/2021 12:34

Seems as if lots of children have enjoyed learning at home.
Possibly because of a more relaxed atmosphere and no peer pressure?

OP posts:
Tumbleweed101 · 07/03/2021 12:36

My Y10 is looking forward to going back and seeing her friends and doing the practical parts of her GCSE courses in photography and film study. My Y7 would be happy to stay home but think she’ll enjoy it once she gets back into it. She was only just settling into secondary school before the lockdown.

Neither of them are looking forward to wearing masks in the classroom and trying to concentrate on their work though, or during their long bus journey to school. Hopefully it can be eased after Easter hols.

MargaretThursday · 07/03/2021 12:36

One yes (or she says so, I suspect within a week she may have changed her mind)
One 100% no!

BunsyGirl · 07/03/2021 12:39

Mine are really excited. They want to see their friends and get back to their sports and clubs. The hockey sticks and tennis rackets are in the hall ready and waiting to go!

Original poster
likeamillpond · 07/03/2021 12:39

@noblegiraffe

The children have had an extra long 'holiday'this year.

Eh? Mine have been doing remote learning not having a holiday.

I should have used the term 'holiday' loosely. I meant it in a sense of being off school.

Children haven't been in an institutionalised environment for a long time.
It will be tough getting back into that.

OP posts:
DenisetheMenace · 07/03/2021 12:39

Yes, very much. Yr 13, he’s been cooped up at home for over a year now (CEV dad, now vaccinated thank goodness).
He’s managed perfectly well work wise but the lack of company has been pretty tough.

MargaretThursday · 07/03/2021 12:41

@likeamillpond

Seems as if lots of children have enjoyed learning at home. Possibly because of a more relaxed atmosphere and no peer pressure?
For my ds it's not so much the enjoying learning at home so much as:
  1. He can do it in his own time often rather than to a schedule
  2. He can play games with his friends (online) when they've finished the work
  3. He doesn't have to deal with unwanted social interactions (read "the girls")
  4. He can wriggle all he wants without being told to sit still.
  5. He can get the work set done in less time because (a) there's no teacher to say that since he's finished he can do this (b) he can concentrate better
  6. He can wear what he wants (which is normally just a pair of shorts, as he doesn't like clothes on his top half, so no uniform is no help here)

His main complaint is that his out of school activities aren't as good online. If he'd had his drama and debating face to face he'd be very happy to continue like this.

Londonmummy66 · 07/03/2021 12:54

DC 18 is on the way now - skipped down the steps as if she was a five year old. SO pleased she's happy but I'll miss her.