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I have been unable to see any of my grandchildren and miss them all so much. We have zoomed, FaceTimed and read bedtime stories using our Kindles. We have made videos and shared on a family album. The third was so successful that we got a call from Australia from Gus (3) who wanted to see grandads third leg and Poppy (4) came to the gate on her scooter with Mum to check it out too. We had fun with a broom and an overcoat creating this one. We send coded messages to Barney (6), and participate in all their home learning by watching them on camera do maths, spelling etc. In many ways it has been fun. Miss the ones 1/4 mile away like I miss the grandchildren 10,000 miles away always.

I spend an hour a day on Zoom with my eldest granddaughter doing core school work as her parents are working from home. I am able to screen-share so we play lots of games, read online books and I use a second camera to demonstrate maths concepts. I'm fortunate to be set up to do this and have an education background. The most important thing is to keep talking (games like articulate are great) and read/share books together. Learning needs to be fun. Coding is great and encourages a methodical approach. Mistakes are opportunities to review and 'de-bug' and learn that mistakes are part of the learning process.

I’ve been keeping in contact with my granddaughter by WhatsApp, she asks me to help with her school work, it’s been beneficial to both of us. Kept my brain ticking over too??
Our relationship is so good especially at the moment because of lockdown we virtually speak every day ?

A morning walk to brush off the cobwebs and then they were ready to do some educational play (both preschoolers) They don’t appear to have missed out on nursery learning

Tried to encourage them, particularly with reading and creative writing. I have searched for poetry competitions aimed at children for them to enter during lockdown.

Lots of exercise combined to keep the motivation to sit down and learn as the brain cells are then activated!

Keep activities varied and interesting, lots of stress isn't beneficial to anyone especially now.

Making the learning fun and not getting too stressed about the situation is a good way to deal with learning. I am grateful for technology and that we are able to face-time to keep in touch.

I have been sharing the mutual love of books with my older grandchildren. We have all been reading chapters together and talking about what we have read. My 10 year old grandson is currently doing a project about Earth and Space so I have been "helping" him on line. He is a lover of facts and figures so I confess to have learned more from him than the other way around.

My youngest DGD (only 2 so not yet at school) has been learning her colours with me on Face Time which I have found invaluable in keeping in contact.

Keeping to a timetable

Having a learning routine has helped my dgc.
Also, their parents have encouraged fun activities that are also educational, such as giving each child a patch of garden to grow their own plants, including vegetables, and learning to prepare simple meals
Mum and Dad are making the most of any opportunity that arises to make it educational (for example, the children now know all about why bees swarm, and how a beekeeper collects them to take to a new hive!)

I have given them a remote French lesson each week.
I have found that when the lesson ends, one or both of the dgc want me to stay online and play games with them. In fact, one of them in particular (age nearly 9) has started to call me (video on Messenger) quite often, just to quietly play games.

Before lockdown, this never happened, so I feel our relationship now is better than it has ever been before.

It has been about establishing a routine really. Praise goes along way and making learning fun. The learning theme one day last week was sea creatures. So drawing sea creatures, pretending to be sea creatures, looking at pictures online of sea creature was followed by the Disney Movie Ariel.
It must be harder when the children are older though. My relationship as granny has changed a bit but not too much I hope.

Stick to set times on a task mixing it up with work and play.

Ensuring they are praised and give positive reinforcement for all their effort when they do something. even just treading or coloring or helping..