This has been a very strange few weeks and I saw something on social media this weekend that struck a cord with me, also being a mum to a year 1 and year 3 so I though I would share it here. 

"Dear parents of school aged children

You might be inclined to create a minute by minute schedule for your kids. You have high hopes of hours of learning, including online activities, science experiments, and book reports. You'll limit technology until everything is done! But heres the thing....

Our kids are just as scared as we are right now. Our kids not only can hear everything that is going on around them, but they feel our consent tension and anxiety. They have never experienced anything like this before. Although the idea of being off school sounds awesome,  they are probably picturing a fun time like the summer holidays, not the reality of being trapped at home not seeing their friends. 

Over the coming weeks, you will see in an increase in behaviour issues with your kids. Whether its anxiety or anger, or protest that they can't do things normally. You'll see more meltdowns, tantrums and oppositional behaviour in the coming weeks. This is normal and expected under these circumstances. 

What kids need right now is to feel comforted and loved. To feel like it's all going to be ok. And that might mean that you tear up your perfect schedule and love on your kids a bit more. Play outside, bake cookies and paint pictures. Do a science experiment together or find a virtual tour. Start a book together as a family. Snuggle under a warm blanket and do nothing.

If i can leave you with one thing, it's this; at the end of all this , your kids' mental health will be more important than their academic skills. and how they felt during this time will stay with them long after the memory of what they did during this time."

We will be putting some weekly activities on the blog for you and there are the online programmes that we have already told you about. Please read as often as you can (everyday). Routine is what most children need but if you are teaching 1:1 a lesson will not take an hour like it does in school. (I found this out when doing a lesson with my year 1 daughter). Keep them doing some English,  maths and phonics each day but make sure they are happy and healthy. 

Mrs Butcher and Mrs Sandham.