Remote Learning & Grandson

I'm a retired teacher and shielding.
I do an hour's remote teaching with my 5 year old granddaughter four days a week.
If you have health conditions, why is your daughter putting you in this position?

Thanks for your responses. I know that there are many risks and that I have to deal with this tomorrow. I’m sure there must be thousands of grandparents in a similar position, but it’s so difficult to say no. I do feel sad that after telling me no contact occurring, that mixing has occurred. At the end of the day, it’s life and death and teaching can be put on hold till we get the vaccine.

I home schooled my 6 year-old grandson throughout the first lockdown. It was enjoyable but exhausting.

How many hours are you doing and is some of it actually childcare rather than home schooling? Sitting with a child across a desk for a few hours is not likely to be so risky but engaging with all his activities throughout the day is more so.

If you really are concerned, your grandson might actually like having a session with Granny every day on Zoom.

Why not suggest that you will continue schooling your grandson once he has quarantined for 14 days (or whatever the current guidelines are). That shows you are willing but not prepared to risk your health.

If I had underlying health concerns, I would not be mixing with anyone.

Unless your daughter and son in law never leave the house ie work from home, have food deliveries etc, then you are at risk of catching Covid from them.

I am also a recently retired teacher but luckily no one has asked me to directly help with teaching although I have worked with my 13 year old nephew remotely when he was struggling.

Could one of the parents find just a couple of hours to home school while the other works then swap over? My friend runs her own business with her husband and usually they are both at the office/warehouse while a childminder sorts out school runs etc. At the moment, they do a mix of each taking a morning off to stay to home then taking their 8 yr old to their unit to work or play there until tea time. They do have to spend time in the evenings at home catching up but they are making it work.

Your condition was no mixing with others, that’s been broken, irrespective of their job or whether they’ve had Covid, I would stop now.

You must do what you feel comfortable with.

I would not take any risks at this stage, the vaccine is on its way and I have stayed safe so far. I am very wary of children as they often have no symptoms but can pass it on.