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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:
manicinsomniac · 07/03/2021 13:00

PiggywasPushed Oh, I didn't mean that the title is biased. More than, if you are having a bad Sunday trying to calm down or enthuse reluctant children, I think you're probably more likely to open this thread and post about the struggles rather than if your children are happily and busily getting ready to go back. Maybe not, though.

It is both interesting and worrying to see that so many don't want to. Maybe Chameleon is right. Maybe we do want it so much as adults that we aren't seeing that the children are happier at home. But it just seems like such an unnatural, unhealthy childhood to me. I really want all the children I teach to want to be here and to thrive. Will just have to reassure them as best we can, I guess.

Original poster
likeamillpond · 07/03/2021 13:09

I think there is probably more pressure at school.
Pressure to fit in etc
Whereas at home they can get on with learning.
But there again, maybe it's not good to avoid pressure altogether?
A certain amount of pressure is necessary to prepare them for the realities of adult life??,

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 07/03/2021 13:10

I agree manic but in all that what has been overlooked is that there is a core (larger than many think) of children who really hate school. Some will also not have been happy at home, but some equally may have thrived. Students I teach with massive MH issues and anxiety attended lockdown lesson online and made progress. I don't expect to see them in school tomorrow or the CEV children I teach who won't get school back for some time. Some children worry about their own health and also about the health of parents and grandparents. My onw DS will definitely worry (mildly) about DH being a CV teacher at work and so feels extra responsibility around his own behaviours.There is a hell of a lot of anxiety tied up in the return to school which can't be overlooked and is by the media.

GintyMcGinty · 07/03/2021 13:11

Not yet we've got another 6 weeks of this shit in Scotland.

Lampzade · 07/03/2021 13:12

Dd year 12 , very academic, loads of friends-

Doesn’t want to go back

pursuedbyablackdog · 07/03/2021 13:19

Nope, neither of mine want to go back. Tears and tantrums and I'm not allowed to mention the sch word! Me on the other hand...I'm rubbing my hands in glee (I can finally get on with my own work and start being properly productive again!)

flumposie · 07/03/2021 13:23

Not been a holiday here.

bumblingbovine49 · 07/03/2021 13:25

I think all schools should woman anonymous form asking their pupils what they think of learning at home and how enthusiastic they are about going back with masks etc compared to of they were going back to a pre Covid normal school I think a lot of parents and staff would be shocked at how many children strongly dislike the school environment, particularly secondary. I don't say it is the majority bit I'd say it was a sizeable minority

MarshaBradyo · 07/03/2021 13:25

Yes. Not unhappy at home but I can see the idea of school, seeing friends and being allowed back into a more normal life is picking them up somewhat. As it did last time.

ChameleonClara · 07/03/2021 13:29

It is both interesting and worrying to see that so many don't want to. Maybe Chameleon is right. Maybe we do want it so much as adults that we aren't seeing that the children are happier at home. But it just seems like such an unnatural, unhealthy childhood to me. I really want all the children I teach to want to be here and to thrive. Will just have to reassure them as best we can, I guess.

I don't think the majority are long term going to be happier at home - I just think a year of this kind of disruption and the sheer emotional impact of covid is likely to cause negative feelings.

Historically adults in Britain bully children in to pretending they are 'happy' when I think the normal emotions to have right this minute are confusion, worry, excitement - all of which are extremely tiring.

A lot of parents can't deal with how shit this year has been. The last thing they then want to do is really see the impact on kids.

Supmama · 07/03/2021 13:30

Mine was more excited to get back last time. This time they seem indifferent like they are not sure if its back to homeschool in a few weeks.

MuddyWalks · 07/03/2021 13:41

No. Mine enjoy home learning- getting up later, not having the horrible behaviour from others interrupting their learning, meanness from other kids, not wearing uniform, no travel to school.

ssd · 07/03/2021 13:42

I can imagine a lot are excited but worried as well.

Sweetnessandbite · 07/03/2021 13:57

No. I have 2 going back straight into GSCE and A level mocks. Although technically exams were scrapped it hasn't alleviated any if the pressure. I'd say it's added to it. My younger 2 aren't looking forward to it either. Although can see the positive of seeing friends. They have an excellent school but going straight into tests along with all the testing, sd, masks, worry of bubbles, pressure to catch up it's a lot all on one go.

BigmouseLittlehouse · 07/03/2021 14:09

My eldest has ADHD and anxiety. I’ve been amazed at how much better he’s done with online learning - it seems to give enough structure but means the other kids can’t see his behaviours that he can’t control ( like calling out) but is aware of and very anxious about. Also has removed the sensory overload so he can follow the lesson in a way he can’t at school. It has meant his OCD behaviours at home have completely disappeared.

For him it’s really made me wonder - I’ve always thought he is better learning in that environment as it will represent ‘real life’ but now I’m really not so sure. Not that there is anything I can do about it other than try and get him some support at school. I think there are a minority of children for whine school is just very difficult. It’s made me very sad for him tbh.

Like I said by contrast by youngest loves school and absolutely thrives there. Without a doubt school is the best place for him.

Fuckadoodledoooo · 07/03/2021 14:13

It is both interesting and worrying to see that so many don't want to. Maybe Chameleon is right. Maybe we do want it so much as adults that we aren't seeing that the children are happier at home. But it just seems like such an unnatural, unhealthy childhood to me. I really want all the children I teach to want to be here and to thrive. Will just have to reassure them as best we can, I guess

School is such a forced concept when you think about it. We are sat in a room with 30 other people who just happen to have been born within a time frame similar to ourselves. We are taught to socialise with people in our same age group. We are forced to learn facts that the government has deemed it necessary for us to learn in a certain order, to eventually remember enough of those fact to write them down for an exam in which the grade decides our future.

But it's seen as the norm. What we all "have" to do.

I home educated my eldest until he was ten. He had to go to school as I divorced and my ex used home ed as a stick to beat me with, despite him being fully on board when we were married.

When he went to school, do you know what Ds missed? The social aspect of home ed. Suddenly he was expected to be friends with only people the same age. Where as before he had kids of all ages friends whip went to different groups (home ed and others), who shared the same interests. He could also learn about his interests and I could taylor maths, English, history or science to suit them.

He is 18 now and found school a bizzare concept. All the home ed people we still kept in touch with all did well in GCSEs, or went to college - they are all getting to where they want to be.

But still, when I sent Ds to school, the general consensus with family and friends was "about time" or, "thank god you have seen sense".

Teachers expected him to be behind or need extra help. The opposite was true.

It's drummed into us that it's the only way.

I think this lockdown has given families the chance to realise that there can be another way and that schools are not the be all and end all of education.

(My 6 year old is not home educated but she would love to be, I'm fucking tired and old now to be honest and we've moved to an area where you would more likely find a cow that shat gold rather than home ed groups).

CookPassBabtridge · 07/03/2021 14:24

My lads are excited to go back. But they were excited to be at home too. They just go with the flow but they are young.

gleegeek · 07/03/2021 16:08

Dd(17) would rather do lessons at home, she finds college exhausting and stressful. She's looking forward to seeing her friends but nothing elseSad

FrankieFalcone · 07/03/2021 16:26

DS (Y9) struggled massively before this lockdown. There were so many bubbles bursting, he hated the confined work areas, hated the whole atmosphere.

He had to go for his LTF last week and he seemed to feel a little bit more positive about returning. This will probably be short lived though. He really doesn’t like school, which is difficult and even more so now.

I’m at a loss sometimes with knowing what to say but I’ve decided, this term at least, to tell him that Easter isn’t that far off, he’s only got a few weeks and then he can have a ‘proper’ rest. I’m not sure if this is the best approach but if he can visualise the school terms, know when the holidays are, it might make school more bearable!

FrankieFalcone · 07/03/2021 16:31

Oh and he’s been hugging me a lot! Tells me he’s going to miss me, even though he’s been in his room for lessons every day.

I’m not sure if this is healthy or normal. Love his hugs but I feel he’s become clingy. Would never say anything, just my internal thoughts.

JM10 · 07/03/2021 16:42

Yes. Desperate to get back, so excited. They've been counting down the days.

Carrotcakeforbreakfast · 07/03/2021 16:51

Yes mine are generally happy about it.

Youngest ( Y6) is the most apprehensive but still excited to see her friends.
Eldest (Y11) is stupidly excited but just worried about getting up at 6.30 again.
She is going to Starbucks on the way home with her best friend and they're going to walk their journey with a coffee. This is such a little thing and it has made me realise how much they've lost because she is beyond excited for it.

I'm nervous for them. Bubbles bursting/ backtracking etc. Just hope it all works out.

chocolateisavegetable · 07/03/2021 16:51

DD Y13 doesn't want to go back at all, and has been given permission by college not to go back yet

ChameleonClara · 07/03/2021 16:53

Love his hugs but I feel he’s become clingy I think this is fine, people worry about 'clingy' but the British are emotionally at the end of the spectrum so what we class as clingy really isn't by global standards!

ChameleonClara · 07/03/2021 16:53

*at the COLD end of the spectrum that should say

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