Extended spring break?

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Allegra

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Apparently, all the districts in the county decided tonight that spring break is going to start on Wednesday (for those who haven’t already started tomorrow) and will continue until at least April 3rd. I’m fortunate in that I am a parent as well as a teacher, so I don’t have to worry about childcare. What are you doing with your homebound kids if you are in similar situations? I will have my three children (6,4, and 1) as well as my 9yo niece. This week is technically spring break, so I was going to make it as fun as possible with lots of projects and playing in our yard and in the park. (The playground is closed but the woodsy part of the park is open.) I’m trying to figure out whether I should extend the vacation or should we do school work? I believe the 9yo will have some sort of assignments to do on a tablet, but I’m not sure. I spoke to the 6yo’s teacher on Thursday and she doesn’t intend to send anything other than the recommendation to read every day and do “Dreambox”. Anyone have any recommendations for a temporary “homeschool”? I’m tempted to spend the whole time in the park, making slime, baking cookies, and making mud pies. I mean, how often does a kid get to take advantage of a pandemic? Maybe do some sort of non-germy service project? I’ve bought a lot of bulbs and seeds to plant as well as some art project supplies which should be cool but I’m still looking for inspiration.
 
My kids are all in their teens and have had some anxiety over the pandemic; your kids might be too young to have deal with these anxieties. Unfortunately, I have one kid having cancer surgery this week so this adds to the stress a bit. Other than taking care of medical appointments and the surgery, I am making our next few weeks off fun and filled with home-based projects as well as hiking in our neighborhood. Maybe some fishing if it’s warm enough. I’m trying to mitigate anxiety somewhat and all our kids are great students. I figure we’re all in the same boat and my kids won’t be getting behind. I’m mixing it up with household projects, spring cleaning, art projects, trying new recipes, outdoor time (we have tons of green space, live in the foothills/mountains with many options to hike and fish without being around people).

You know your kids best. I think that a variety of activities will help with the boredom and isolation. Take care of yourself, too.
 
I do not have kids, but friends in Alaska are doing a lot of outdoors activities. You can get out but stay away from people at the same time. 😃
 
My mother always seemed to find that boredom complaints ended when the dust rag appeared. 😂 😂 😂 😂
 
Allegra said:
Apparently, all the districts in the county decided tonight that spring break is going to start on Wednesday (for those who haven’t already started tomorrow) and will continue until at least April 3rd. I’m fortunate in that I am a parent as well as a teacher, so I don’t have to worry about childcare. What are you doing with your homebound kids if you are in similar situations? I will have my three children (6,4, and 1) as well as my 9yo niece. This week is technically spring break, so I was going to make it as fun as possible with lots of projects and playing in our yard and in the park. (The playground is closed but the woodsy part of the park is open.) I’m trying to figure out whether I should extend the vacation or should we do school work? I believe the 9yo will have some sort of assignments to do on a tablet, but I’m not sure. I spoke to the 6yo’s teacher on Thursday and she doesn’t intend to send anything other than the recommendation to read every day and do “Dreambox”. Anyone have any recommendations for a temporary “homeschool”? I’m tempted to spend the whole time in the park, making slime, baking cookies, and making mud pies. I mean, how often does a kid get to take advantage of a pandemic? Maybe do some sort of non-germy service project? I’ve bought a lot of bulbs and seeds to plant as well as some art project supplies which should be cool but I’m still looking for inspiration.
Click to expand...
Have you tried Scholastic Learn at Home?

 
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We’re sort of a non-screen home. I know my niece will have some work to do on her tablet and my daughter will have to use my work laptop for her “dreambox”, but other than that, I want to avoid the screens as much as possible.
 
Allegra said:
We’re sort of a non-screen home.
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IMHO, that is an excellent idea. Several decades ago, home was made “non-televisioned”. I read to my twins, even when they were in high school.

That appearantly made an impression on them; one called me while in college one day to say she had heard my voice.

“I didn’t call this week”.

“No, dad. We are reading Tales of Narnia, and I heard your voice.”

I vote for making cookies. If a taster is needed, I could try to make myself available; and throw in some stories from Just So Tales.
 
I bought some things from Hobby Lobby that are still in my trunk I’m waiting to bring one out every few days.

I’m working on a loose daily schedule.
Something like:

Morning Steps and Chores
Morning Prayers
Rotations (Computer Programs from school, handwriting, and math)
Manners Discussions
Maybe some TV
Snack
“Art”
Recess or Go somewhere
Lunch
Quiet Reading time
Free time/Free Play
Divine Mercy Chaplet
Snack again
Tv again

This is off the top of my head but I need it by tomorrow. I might look for a better one to steal from the internet.
 
This one is making the rounds on Facebook:

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

I think your plan looks great!
 
Roving packs of neighborhood children will 100 percent wreck my schedule, but I’m trying to anticipate it and not be weird when it happens.
 
Yeah, I’m kind of worried about what all these loose tweens will do when they find their mom’s lifetime supply stash of toilet paper!
 
NevermoreLenore said:
My kids are all in their teens and have had some anxiety over the pandemic; your kids might be too young to have deal with these anxieties. Unfortunately, I have one kid having cancer surgery this week so this adds to the stress a bit. Other than taking care of medical appointments and the surgery, I am making our next few weeks off fun and filled with home-based projects as well as hiking in our neighborhood.
Click to expand...
A good project at this time of year could be teaching them how to balance a checkbook and do taxes. If they don’t know already.
 
My daughter is 9 and has weekly work scheduled from her teacher per the schools website. I honestly wish she didn’t. But she doesn’t mind and it will help keep her sharp. Today we started some seeds indoors, and I honestly don’t have much of a plan other than what I normally do. She enjoys baking and will make things on her own even. I did have to make a simple schedule for her just so I don’t have to tell her every little thing, " okay, after breakfast brush your teeth and hair" …🙂

We are staying away from places, as 3 of us already getting over a chest cold, and our bishops canceled all masses. SoOooO Yeah. It will warm up and we will get outside for walks, maybe paint a bit. The other ones at home are 4,3, and going on 2 (twins) So… They are daily play play play. 9 yr old was showing signs of boredom today. Goodluck 😉
God bless
 
So, my daughter’s teacher sent me a schedule that she says she uses with her children at home. It has every blessed minute of the day scheduled from the moment the kid wakes up until she goes to bed! There is literally one, 30 minute period before bedtime marked “free time”. Is this chick for real? Our “schedule” looks more like:
Wake Up
Go to the Bathroom and Get Dressed
Make and Eat Your Breakfast
Go Outside and Do Whatever You Want
Come In and Eat Lunch
Do Something Quiet While the Baby Sleeps
Get Bored
Find Something To Do
Eat Dinner
Clean Up the Mess You Made
Read Books
Go to Bed.
 
I think it depends on what kids are used to in their daily lives.

For children who simply go to school (or school at home), and then play, eat, and sleep–this extended spring break will be normal.

But for children who are used to getting up before dawn to workout and practice a sport (e.g., ice skating) or practice a musical instrument or do homework, and then spend 8 hours in a highly-competitive school, and spend several more hours after school doing homework and participating in various extracurricular activities (school sports, play practice, community organizations, church children’s group activities, scouting and other clubs etc.), grabbing meals with mom or dad at a fast food place and eating in the car en route to the next activity, and of course, hanging with friends while studying or socializing—this time will be a nightmare!

And it will be even worse for teenagers!!
 
I’ve offered to help out other parents with whatever advice/support I can offer because I’m already used to homeschooling.

Baking is not an option for us because people have been hysterically clearing out our grocery store shelves. I’m going to make our food supply stretch for awhile until that hype fades away.

We intend to complete whatever the school sends us. When that’s over, we’ll take an unschooling approach. Unschooling involves pursuing child-led interests. (Some homeschoolers unschool full-time, something I was never personally inclined to do).

Unless they’re mastering coding and programming, I make unschooling time screen-free. One of my children is writing a book. Another is obsessed with Legos and architecture, (time with Legos absolutely counts!) My third is currently constructing a swing to hang in our giant backyard tree. They’re working on Scout badges. Finally, I make sure that everybody gets reading time in.

Honestly, with all of their extracurricular activities cancelled, I’m enjoying the break. Slowing down might be good for us as a society.
 
Isn’t that kind of missing the point?

Should this really be treated as a snow day?

The kids were sent home to, well, keep them away from other kids.

Or maybe not?
 
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