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Win Learning Resources goodies worth over £200 *NOW CLOSED*

(391 Posts)
NatashaGransnet (GNHQ) Thu 11-Jun-20 09:44:24

We've teamed up with educational toy and games company Learning Resources to offer a fantastic bundle of prizes to one gransnetter worth over £200 - perfect for grandchildren who are being homeschooled.

More details on the prize can be found HERE and T&Cs HERE. We will pick a winner after 11am on 11th July.

During the coronavirus lockdown, many grandparents have (virtually) stepped in to support parents and children with home learning. It’s been an important way to stay connected but it’s also been a huge help to parents.

So to enter simply tell us... What have you found has worked for your grandchildren with home learning, and has this, and having to stay in touch virtually in general, changed your relationships with your grandchildren?

You must be a registered Gransnet user to enter. Sign up to Gransnet HERE if you haven't done so already.

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fionajk42 Fri 12-Jun-20 21:47:01

We have held lessons using Zoom and have mailed or emailed various educational resources to help our daughter with teaching or granddaughter.

grease34 Fri 12-Jun-20 22:12:07

Routine is important. Breaks in between tasks to include praise and fun and games. Regulare times for some exercise and make learning fun and interactive.

woo69 Sat 13-Jun-20 08:17:24

I have 3 grandchildren in 2 households, 12 and 3 years old girls in one And 8 year old boy in the other.
12 year old is very concentrated on her work, her school do all learning, tasks and homework on iPads anyway so she has carried on as normal just she is at home. She doesn’t have to be told. She gets feedback, encouragement and praise from all the family.
8 year old is easily distracted by his PS4 and needs constant reminders and routine. His midwife mum is working shifts so mostly down to furloughed dad to keep him in check.
3 year old pretty much decides each day what she wants to do. She asks to do maths, writing, drawing, phonics, baking, gardening. Newly qualified teacher Mum is at home and spending her time applying for jobs for September. Dad working from home in the bedroom.
All 3 go out for walks every day whatever the weather. I think they have had some great experiences, discovering new things in our home town which we have all lived in all our lives.

Kirstylea2011 Sat 13-Jun-20 08:24:46

Me and my Grand children are so much closer i have got them through there homework every day thanks to the Alexa with screen we have seen each other every day without fail and when mums been struggling i have stepped in to help homework completed and we are much closer accomplished

Adel17 Sat 13-Jun-20 09:04:46

Its great spending more time sharing books, cooking and doing puzzles. Make sure learning is fun & get involved as much as possible.

Maggiemaybe Sat 13-Jun-20 09:17:17

My DGS have had plenty of online work and projects sent through by their schools and their parents have added their own creative and outdoor activities. The boys are doing well and have all said they’re not missing school, so it sounds as though everything’s going okay! All their parents are working from home, so they’ve had their own space and free time as well, which is also important. I have set up a couple of virtual treasure hunts, quizzes and scavenger hunts, which we’ve all thoroughly enjoyed.

feejee Sat 13-Jun-20 09:46:57

Ive done a couple of art sessions via skype, lots of fun and gave my daughter a break for an hour.

Fflaurie Sat 13-Jun-20 10:52:32

Because since lockdown the weather (on the whole) has been fantastic, it has been easier to do nature walks, finding mini beasts in the garden etc. Home schooling in the mornings, then after lunch, walks, garden, drawing what we saw and writing a diary about what we did.

kathcake Sat 13-Jun-20 13:02:14

Make sure you stick to a routine with regular rewards

Tkcash Sat 13-Jun-20 17:10:59

Lots of praise and rewards for positive reinforcement

williamsgwynfa Sat 13-Jun-20 18:48:32

Sticking to a routine to keep everything normal has been the key for us. Also doing interesting things such as video call baking has been very enjoyable. This has challenged our grand daughter Danielle. And a story at bedtime by Nannie has been lovely x

geo44geo Sun 14-Jun-20 09:43:10

PLEASE'THANK YOU AND BEG YOUR PARDON MANNERS THATS HOW THEY LEARN.

Erinthe3 Sun 14-Jun-20 09:44:32

Have written to them each week including activity sheets I have downloaded and various tick lists I have made for them, like bug hunts, what they have eaten etc, and a little treat too. They have even written back! Lovely to see them now in garden but can’t wait to se them indoors, cuddle them and be able to help with home learning and childcare while parents can work, such a struggle for them working and home teaching, daughter been getting up at 5 am to do work. Come on Boris, let us younger, fit grandparents help our children again!

geo44geo Sun 14-Jun-20 09:47:10

PLEASE, THANK YOU AND BEG YOUR PARDON MANNERS THAT'S HOW THEY LEARN.

rizlett Sun 14-Jun-20 09:54:13

I have found listening the most important way to develop my relationship with grandchildren along with everybody else.

Instead of telling them the answer if they ask a question - which only demonstrates what I may or may not know - instead I say:

Wow, what a great question. Where do you think we might find the answer to that?

Patsyfagan Sun 14-Jun-20 09:55:07

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.

wallers5 Sun 14-Jun-20 09:56:33

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.

Biddysue Sun 14-Jun-20 09:57:45

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.

Heather51 Sun 14-Jun-20 10:01:08

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.

noahsark Sun 14-Jun-20 10:10:54

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

Libubs Sun 14-Jun-20 10:11:22

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.

glenka Sun 14-Jun-20 10:13:32

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.

obydob Sun 14-Jun-20 10:17:09

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 ❤

inishowen Sun 14-Jun-20 10:17:15

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.

Coco51 Sun 14-Jun-20 10:19:21

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