Struggling already

[Spin44gin]

I was dreading this morning. Starting a whole week of 3 kids home schooling. DH locked himself away on all day work zooms. Between fights over devices, broadband, printer packing up and technical issues, I was mentally exhausted by 9.30am. Anyone got any tips on how to stay positive get through till half term?

No tips as I am struggling myself. Yesterday was awful, and today i have decided we will just do what suits us. If that means not getting all the work done, and doing something more fun instead, so be it, I need our mental health to be intact to get through this.

I do ten minutes maybe a day. Pick the core subjects. Make sure they read a book every day (of their choice)
Some days they feel less up to doing the work so I don’t push it.
I send school some photos of work to keep them off my back.

This has got to be sustainable long term and it doesn’t sound like it is for you at the moment.

No advice, I’ve got three children too. We’re only on day three and I’m sat under a blanket after having a cry about it all.

I’d recommend finding a timetable that works for you, and putting it up on the wall. Each block no more than 45min, with at least 15min break between each one. It provides structure and certainty and means everyone knows what they’re doing and when. Just put lots of breaks in. Kids love knowing what is happening when, and they are used to that from school.

Make lesson 1 the thing you care about most , so it gets done. If struggling, I’d focus on maths and English, then Timetable things like reading (older one listens to younger, then reads their book to younger), PE (outside play). Make your husband have lunch at the same time so he can help.

Schedule lessons like baking or painting, board games , and all do together - don’t try to run 3 activities. Pick out things each child has been set, and get them all to do it. Timetable finishes at 3 or whatever, and from that point on, you accept they will watch too much screen etc, but it’s fine.

Do what you can. The kids are learning skills like resilience and adaptability. They’re under stress too.

How old are they? I would also just do what you can, read a book of their choice each day, do small maths activities each day, don't put too much pressure on you all. Let them play, do some short fun activities together to fill the day xx

Ah I guess this is how all kids differ. Because mine lost their shit when I tried to do timetables last year with scheduled breaks and short chunks of work they could not handle it
They’re fine with the structure at school but as soon as home starts becoming regulated like that as well they can’t handle it.

That’s really interesting. I didn’t bother with a timetable first time , but eldest DC is now secondary, so we just all follow his. Maybe it helps because younger DC feels all grown up following a timetable, and elder is used to it snd has no choice !

Def about finding what works for your own situation.

We do English and Maths on the morning, then one different topic per afternoon after lunch.

Luckily the teacher sent all work over on Monday which has gave me time to print and organise each days work, would that help the fighting over the printer? Took a little time Monday evening but was worth it.