Remote learning with 6 year old grandchild

You may not find this productive, but the child IS 6 YEARS old! ‘Educationally so far behind’?
Please, don’t be concerned. I’m sure, between them, the parents and the school will come up with things to help keep the children occupied. At the age of 6, everyday activities provide so many learning opportunities, and most early years learning is play based. Why do you even think parents should be ‘learning the profession of a teacher’? The ‘forming of social groups’ is not really common among such young children, so I think you are worrying needlessly.

Whilst I admire your willingness to help out, the reality of getting a six year old onto a video chat with you to then engage in school work is (imo) unrealistic. It’s hard enough getting children to engage with coursework online with the parents troubleshooting any tech issues without then adding another remote (in terms of geography) adult into the equation.
What our extended family have done is ignore the school hours and do work in blocks when there is an adult at home able to give an hour or two one to one with the children to get through some of the school work, which frees up the bulk of the day for wfh. Unfortunately this impacts the teachers ability to provide feedback at for the children at the same time as classmates, but we need to make it work around our obligations.
I do understand your concerns, but would caution against making it too big of a deal - parents and children working through this are (again only IMO) under pressure already and having extended family (no matter how well meaning and heartfelt) looking to get involved would only add to that stress and pressure.

I'm helping with an (almost) 10 year old. In fact, she doesn't need a lot of help or occupying. Her father has her organised so that they both sit down to work when breakfast is over - the routine really helps - and when she's finished the school work that has been set she more or less occupies herself.

I've set her simple challenges in Maths, activities such as throwing a ball against a wall and catching it (clapping before catching) etc. Sometimes I read her a story and get her to draw a picture.

There is so much material on television for them that there's not much left for us to do. Perhaps you could arrange to watch something at the same time and then talk about it together on FaceTime.

Different things each day and not for too long at a time should work.

I agree with lolo81. It is not the end of the world at all

Is there anything the parents have asked you to do? How do you think you can help?

What we do at home is set alarms with my daughter's class schedule, and my dh and I coordinate based on our meetings and agenda.

We also help her if she has technical difficulties.

Granny2mice it might be helpful to consider that education is about so much more than what happens in school. One of my grandchildren is seven and has come on in leaps and bounds in this most recent lockdown. He goes to a good State Primary but has lost a great deal of confidence in his ability because of a succession of changes of teachers in the previous two years. He is positively thriving with home learning.

Thank you first of all for ploughing through my rant and taking the trouble to comment It was in fact productive in that it was exactly what I needed..a good shake in a message!
Having spent my working life teaching ....the full range, up to year 13, in some ways I know too much so can overthink the situation, and obviously value education enormously
I find it easier to come to terms with the circumstances of the other six, the eldest second year reading Chemistry at university and only been in labs twice this year etc, two in year nine so coming up to options , one in year five who was in tears with announcement...but they can all read and work independently..unlike the little ones
I m guessing you re not a teacher of littlies...they learn an enormous amount in those early years Looks like play but is very guided
Yes they do learn a lot through play...which was why it was upsetting passing a school and hearing the happy sounds of children doing exactly that, not just in their little restricted family groups but as they should be with groups of children of a similar age We are not 'in this all together' which always makes a bad situation more bearable
Shall read your message through again now and pull myself together! With thanks

By the way...parents and grandchildren know none of these feelings...only...'It ll be fine What can I do to help?' And granddaughter has been very enthusiastic about 'What would you like to do first...you read to me or me read to you or chat?' And we ve happily done them all
Thank you for all comments...new to this...it s great!