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Being open to new ways of making learning fun - bringing in nature etc

Supporting my daughter by asking DGS what he's been learning and praising him for his achievements. He's only 4 y.o. so it has to be fun because he's smart! We love puzzles and I buy him wipe-clean books to help out when I can. It's so good to be able to visit them again now and see him for real. These learning resources look brilliant though... Fingers crossed.

My grandchildren have being going into school 3 days a week as both parents are Doctors. We have had video calls with them,I found this hard seeing them but not being with them.
I have sent text messages, e mails and sent notes by snail mail.
I have ordered books to be delivered to them on topics they are studying.

My daughter or SIL practise home schooling from 9 am until noon, supplemented by virtual sessions from class teachers. They join in with joe wicks activities first thing & do outdoor activities in the afternoon. We FaceTime regularly and discuss what they’ve been learning, as well as sharing photos of nature & asking them to research facts about the plants, animals and insects. Our grandchildren are twins, just finishing P2, and although we miss personal contact with them (best hugs ever!), lockdown has encouraged them to send us more written messages (by post and text/ what’s app) which is good.

My little granddaughter has had both parents at home throughout and their good sense to make home, as much as possible, like nursery has been good for her. Walks out in the park (meeting them at a distance) have been especially joyful for me and kept us in touch - although I know this hasn't possible for many.

Video calling with all the grandchildren (the older two call me themselves) has been a lovely way to keep in touch with all 5 of them. Only the older two are at school and their mum is doing a great job keeping their schoolwork up to date.

Two of my grandsons are working now so it just leaves the little one at home and I do feel I have lost contact with him a bit. We have had family zooms but although he answers my questions I do not feel he particularly misses me. However, Lego is a great topic of conversation and he does get his mum to send me pictures of what he has made. I can't wait to see him again.

My GGC are benefiting from having an enthusiastic and committed Mum who comes up with some interesting activities adding lots of support and praise

Lots of laughter, and reassurance that this won't be forever. I've been learning to play the ukulele, and the children check up on my progress too.

we have found having a regular routine has helped during these uncertain times. We all feel scared, but having a routine leads to a calmer child as they know what to expect every day. Lots of positive encouragement and reassurance and answering their covid questions in an honest and age appropriate way.

My grandson who lives with me and I ‘home school’ every morning unless the weather is good in which case we garden together. He’s year 1 and loves gardening, digging for treasure and watching wildlife like centipedes and ants. He talks nineteen to the dozen and learns as we go. I think Countdown maths for kids counts as a maths lesson and scrabble against the computer is a fun literacy occupation. We also play proper scrabble and he has to add up his own score so that covers both. He writes stories, He knows more about planets than I do, he watches “Inside the Factory” type TV and David Attenborough programmes and makes notes. We talk about other countries and he picks them out on the globe. He’s a really good reader so I don’t worry about phonics but I do get him to do handwriting tasks as his brain works too fast for his hand. The website Twinkle has excellent Mystery worksheets to download too which makes the maths really fun.
We don’t honestly have a routine. I want him to learn but mostly to be interested and happy during this strange time we are living through.

I have to feel closer to the one grandchild I live with but of course I love the 6 I don’t see including a newborn I know only from photos.

Timetable and routine has helped.

Keeping cheerful and positive. Not inflicting my moans on others.
Cry on Fridays when all my family have got through healthy and face the next week.
Ask what they want, not what I want.?

Making learning as much fun as possible has helped my grandchildren. They have also been baking a lot and asking me for recipes and ideas on Facetime.

He is only three so no changes really. Just give them time to show what they are doing and encourage them.

Create interest and then go with GCs natural curiosity. As a shielder I only have online contact, any change will be discovered when we can resume sleepovers

Bring learning into every task. Baking is popular so let them do the measuring and set the timer on oven too. Gardening is a great learning activity. Sewing seeds, looking at insects and plants. Maybe teach them to knit if they show an interest. A box of chalks is fun for drawing outdoors. Painting for indoor days. Try and get them to do some exercise too by following Joe Wicks.

Helping our Great grandchildren by face-time has been amazing Hana 2 years of age is more experienced than I am at using it she phones about 10 times a day we do the alphabet and counting she draws pictures until she gets bored and then hangs up then 20 minutes later she phones again going to see them this week first time since the lock-down we cant wait ❤

Eeping to a timetable like as if they were in school is a good idea because then they have some idea of what they are doing on certain days.

Keeping some sort of routine is essential but livening things up with ‘hands on’ learning keeps them interested. For example, planting seeds and watching things grow, how we nourish them with compost from our food and garden waste teaches such a wide range of skills.
Being time rich in lock down means that we have had time to pass on our love of gardening, baking, walking and nature, knitting, crocheting and so on, that get pushed aside when we are busy with ‘normal’ life.
I for one will desperately try to keep up these things with my grandchildren as the connections they have built between us have been invaluable.

I’ve kept in touch with my grandchildren via FaceTime daily. Encouraging them in what they’re doing with their mum & on line baking. The 3 littleuns are3 & 5 so I’ve made it a thing to read a bedtime story to them twice a week which they loved. They do seem to understand whatugoing on & now we can meet up in the park it’s a real bonus

At 3 and 4 years of age, my two grandchildren are not yet at school but have missed their attendance at nursery. We have maintained contact virtually using FaceTime and I have been giving them challenges to complete. These challenges have varied each time and they have enjoyed doing them. Although it is mostly about fun and play, there has been an element of learning which their parents have reinforced with them. They seem to really enjoy showing me (virtually) what they have done and are proud of themselves when they are praised for their efforts.

Having a timetable to try and keep the routine of going to school going. Getting up at “ normal school day time “ helps a lot.
Also having time out activities such as baking or going for a walk where possible.
Lots of praise from everyone especially virtual contact with other friends and family.
Trying to stay positive really helps.

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Have a schedule. Get the morning homework. Try & get a proper lunch. Exercise in the afternoon. Good for health & brain. Mine are farm kids so there is plenty of opportunities to help out. They have learnt photography & Zoom & Jo Wickes. Very difficult for their full time working farmer parents. Main disadvantage is not seeing anyone including friends.

I have found that children like variety but also routine.
Each morning we have a different activity cookery, gardening, playing board games with 1 hour of schoolwork. We also each afternoon take the dog for a walk, talk about what we see, identify flowers and shrubs and try and teach the dog new tricks.
They told me the other day it was better than going to school. Brought a little tear to my eye.