How do you feel about isolating with one child?

[wohdk]

Feel a bit sad that ds has no company other than dh and I . I'm hoping it won't be too long

Yes, I am worried about my 8 year old having no other children around. I feel a bit anxious about contacting school Mums to try and arrange Face Time or Skype. Not sure how well it would work with an 8 year old boy?

That's exactly how I feel about our toddler Copper. It's so so sad. We have lots planned but nothing can substitute friends their own age.

Another one quietly panicking. I'm a single Mum too, so it really is just me and DD, and I somehow have to work full time from home while simultaneously educating/entertaining her... I'm worried about both of our mental health!!

DD is 10... Do any of you who have slightly older kids have 'projects' planned?? We are going to dig a garden pond and study the wildlife that come and visit it. I'm also planning to have regular 10 minute dance parties when the mood lowers, and DD wants to do the 'Couch to 5k' with me.

If we all pool ideas we might be able to inspire each other!!

My 13-year-old (God it's weird typing that - it was his birthday on Friday and it seems such a big conceptual jump!) wants to be a pilot, so we're going to try to make some of his home learning aviation-related. He's been moaning about not doing enough physics at school so we're hoping to do some sort of aerodynamics-related stuff with him, and we're lucky enough to have a big patch of green space immediately behind the house that's usually deserted so we've spent hours out there this weekend with various kites. Any other project ideas would be welcome though!

Yes very worried about him but FaceTime seems to be helping.
Not sure how he’ll be after months of this though 😢

It’s going to be tough. My DS7 is a fairly introverted character who has some friends but never seems to particularly crave their company, but even so months of this will be flipping hard going. We are whatsapping his best friend every day at the moment and I’m going to post on the class whatsapp group seeing if others want to join in.

I’m not thinking about the long term impact right now. There’s too much else to worry about! Right now DS is safe and loved, and countless kids the world over don’t have that. He will be ok.

I’ll go against the grain and say we’re doing fine. DS8 is well used to, and comfortable, in his own company. I WFH normally anyway so he’s no problem entertaining himself. He does miss his football and school friends but it’s not forever.
As an aside, I’m finding parents of lots of kids are struggling badly, particularly those who don’t usually spend all day with them.

My DS is 22months is an only child normally very social, but doesn't really understand what's going off but he does FaceTime my mum and auntie everyday before his bath as he normally spends a lot off time with them and they sing him nursery rhymes that are his favourite or read him a book as he does miss them and and them him, but for activities we've done chunky chalk on the patio, painting, baking, drawing, he's got a sand table which he loves.

Lots of walks to the woods!
Luckily I have a dog who is very playful (still acts like a puppy) and my DS and her are best friends - they play in the garden endlessly together and then cuddle up and watch tv.
Im trying to get him outside as much as possible to tire him out and keep him active.
He is missing his friends though and it's difficult to explain that we can't see them at the moment

We do lots of video calls.

Dd dressed her toys up in princess dresses and danced around the lounge the other day - heartwarming and heartbreaking!

We planted lots of sunflower seeds before the lockdown and were going to give all of the seedlings to dd's friends so instead we're going write their names on lollipop sticks and send each friend pictures of their sunflower as it grows.

I’ve got 4 and thought to myself yesterday how much harder it would be to only have 1 at this time.

You are all being amazing, the fact that you are considering and trying to mitigate the impact at a time when so much else is going on, speaks volumes about you as a loving and caring parent. Hang in there!

I've got one and thought to myself yesterday how much harder it would be to have so many at this time.

You are being amazing, the fact that you are considering and trying to mitigate the impact of not having enough attention at a time when so much else is going on, speaks volumes about you as a loving and caring parent. Hang in there!

Patronising git.

I have a seven year old and it’s just me and her and I’m working from home as well. She normally plays with the neighbours in our block of flats. Currently they spend large chunks of the day hanging out via FaceTime, or playing games together online. So far so good she’s not complained about not physically seeing them.

We have a 12 year old. I think I worry about her isolation more than she does, she’s quite antisocial at the moment anyhow, she does say that when she chats to or plays games remotely with her one close friend that that is her favourite time, but she’s also quite enjoying the rest of lockdown, freed from the routine and strictures of school, able to slob about with impunity! Sorry, this is probably more a mini teen thing than an only child thing!