Unexpected more time at home- how to help Y1 boy flourish

[Bobblegobble]

Hi everyone,

I have (whole other story) ended up with more time on my hands just as my son has started year 1.

He does recorder, art class, swimming and tennis. We also read a school reading scheme book every night. Loves school - no concerns from school.

Once circumstances improve I probably won't be at home so much so I don't want to miss this opportunity to really help my son flourish.

If you were in my shoes, what things would you prioritise (after school, weekends) with 5 year old to help him flourish.

Thanks everyone!

Sorry for overuse of word flourish.

Attuned time (reading books to him/drawing with him etc), nature connectedness (out and about), joint exercise (eg junior park run/sports together)

Play dates with the kids you’d like to cultivate are friendships with.

I have a DS in Year 1. When I have more time with him, I led him take the lead. Today we had an unexpected day at home so we played several board games. Or we'll make something together with Lego. I also just hang out with him to be honest because he's pretty much my favourite person and it won't be too long until he starts just grunting at me.

Time with you to do fun things. It doesn't have to be big things. Spend time playing with him and follow his lead/ direction with the way he wants to play. Make Lego models together. You will find that as you do this you can just chat. He may go through a phase of asking you all sorts of questions about the world and you can look things up with him to find out!
Do things like baking and other cooking together. Teach him how to crack eggs, mix cake mixture, decorate small cakes etc. Make biscuits/ cakes to share with an elderly relation or neighbour.
Do some arts and crafts together.
Spend time in nature ( parks or countryside) and find a good nearby adventure style playground to go to (some National Trust places have good ones) There may be some "forest school" type activities at the weekend that he can go to if he enjoys the outdoors.
Can he ride a bike? If not, teach him. If he can, go to ride bikes at the park together (if you have one or can borrow one).
Do some home based science experiments. There are ideas online or in books.
Go to the library regularly and get him in the habit of choosing/reading/returning books.
Invite his friends for play dates and do some of the above with them as well. This will help him with developing friendships also.

Read with him.

Read to him for pleasure, books harder than he could read himself.
Board games
Arts and Crafts
Cooking together
Learn different card games
Downtime together
Most importantly don't make him a project have your own things to focus on too

Year one children can be quite tired as the jump from play led reception to more formal year one is demanding for quite a few children. Don't over schedule him and remember he needs down time after school. The UK school day is pretty long for a five year old (bearing in mind that in a lot of countries school starts at age 6 or 7) so whatever you do don't add in extra classes or structured activities on top of what you already have. Let him take the lead - he needs unstructured time very much, and to learn to be bored and out of boredom to be creative and actually play and invent his own activities.

Many children are over scheduled and unable to work out how to cope without adults directing their every waking moment - don't fall into this trap.

A good use of the time you have at home would be to foster his friendships as others say, and be available to host any children he might mention playing with at school - hopefully that will pay off both for him with stronger friendships and social skills and you with return invites when you go back to work outside the home! If you do that don't lay on a structured after school programme/ children's party type entertainment though! Just set up a nice environment for them to play independently with you available if needed.

Read fun books together to build a love of books. Be totally led by his book choices regardless of ease.

Have fun together

Curiosity
Creativity
Imagination
No fear of failure

Take a zillion books from the library, some kid fiction, other kid discovery style books and use them in your pretend play. Put a bedsheet over dining table and transform the area underneath as a plane and visit countries, make it a submarine and explore the oceans, make it a spaceship and explore the planets and galaxies.
One day is circus day with all the soft animals in the house
Next day, create a museum, do the art following various painting styles , drop balloons filled with paint (in the garden) , then hang the art, then have art tours.
One day is olympics
Ancient Egypt and Romans
the list is a long as your and his imagination.

Don't let him win at games. Don't overpraise. Praise for effort, ideas, thinking, ..

Make up stories together, one word each or one sentence each.

Thanks everyone!

(Secretly relieved that no one said any sort of cramming activity).

I really like all these ideas.

Play, social and active things - so many of the children seem to really notice the change from reception to y1 and lots of boys in particular seem to be a bit miserable at the moment which is really sad. You’re already doing well if yours like school and is getting on ok with the reading. Investing time in play dates is also a great idea- it’s the main thing I regret I can’t do as much with my y1 as I’m working most days and I feel like some of the others who are a bit more available are doing a lot after school.

Let him play.

There is a lot of research that suggests children today lead overly structured lives and are losing imagination and the skills to entertain themselves ( which impacts skills of lateral thinking and creativity as an adult). Even toys have become more interactive.