So...HEing during marriage breakdown?

[BrittaPerry]

So I've moved out to my mums, took the kids with me. They are 5 and 3 - dd1 would be in year one.

Until I can get back into the marital home, I have very few resources and clingy children, but I need to keep up the HE, partially because DD1 likes to have tasks to be doing - it calms her.

Any suggestions?

I am also now a single mum I suppose so any tips woukd be great...

Oh, I'm not moving back, just need to get in for my stuff and then start looking fir a new house.

No advice really, just wanted to wish you luck and hope things go smoothly. :) Is there a library near-by? They may have some activity sheets or something you can have.

Are you or your dd able to use a computer at your mum's house? If so, I'm sure people will have lots of suggestions for internet-based activities as well as things you can download and print. What does your dd like?

Good luck! This must be a very difficult time for all of you.

We can use a computer for limited time (mine is in the house with h) but I also have my ipad with me, so I could perhaps email stuff to myself and print.

There is a small library, and a big one a short bus ride away, so we can raid there, and I've bought felt tips, coloured paper, scissors and glue.

I'll be ok, right?

Can I suggest doing some activities around the theme of fairytales (if your dd likes that sort of thing). I teach in Scotland and we (primary one) are doing a project on this at the moment and its terrific! Loads of things you can do from any and every fairytale that takes your fancy, and these are stories that are not hard to get hold of, either from a library or online. If you google any of them you will find loads of stuff. In Scotland this is a well-known theme to do in P1 - and is usually started by a "dragon" leaving a letter saying that Fairyland has disappeared and can the children help to restore it. Obviously you are in a different scenario to the classroom but I wondered whether it would grab your dd's attention?

All the best to you.

I'm just a bit worried about the 'happily ever after' aspect, while there is a divorce going on :-(. Otherwise it would be great.

I don't know how old your DCs are but this has been keeping 4yo DD1 amused for hours and it could be used on an ipad (I think!).

Dh home eds ds1 with nothing more than paper, pencil and a whiteboard (because he likes the whiteboard, nothing that could not be done with pencil and paper).

The key is to get them enthused about whatever it is that they are doing, be it counting, reading, writing or whatever.

I assume based on her age that she is practicing her writing a fair bit? That used to keep ds1 busy for a while at that age.

He also used to love playing 'what's in the x box?' - basic algebra (4+x=6, what's in the x box?).

We also include 2yo ds2 by making him call out numbers that his brother then has to add up.

Also looking at shapes, it can be done by both together each at their level.

I hope that things get easier, I have a close friend going through the same (her dc are 6 and 2) and she has found that 'lesson time' has been very healing for the three of them.

If you have an ipad then you'll never be short of things to do - there are some bloody fantastic apps!

Let me know if you'd like app suggestions. Hope it all goes as smoothly as possible for you all.

Here are just a couple to get you going...
PuppetPals
Math Bingo
Mindsnacks (for languages)