What are you expecting your kids to do...

Mine are in spring break this week. Especially since we cancelled our NYC trip, I’m letting them have the week.

If they are out after that, all bets are off. I assume if that happens they will be doing some course work (especially the high schooler) online.

I have seen recommendations that people in self-isolation/shut down should create a routine for these days. So: School work 9-11, outside play 11-12, household chores 1-2 and so on.
I'm not in isolation yet, but will be when I get back to Germany next week, and that is what I intend to do.

I would give mine an extra week off. I know how exhausted I was at spring break and would have loved to have had an extra week off. I would extend that to a kid, for sure. After that, they would need to be more productive.

Our schools here shut for six weeks.  The schools had sent home some packets with the younger kids, and some of the older kids' teachers have emailed things to do, but there is no online program and we're on our own.

I have a lot of things like activity books, and I am having the kids do some of those.  I also plan to do some lessons, although I admit those lessons will be about things I know and can teach, and I am making them take walks.  Otherwise, I really don't know.  I am still working (but at home), as is my husband, and, while I've heard some snarking over the years about parents "expecting schools to be babysitters," the truth is that the economy is structured around many parents working while kids are at school/daycare/activities.  This is . . . new.

Will there be an adult at home with them? I’d say that will have a lot to do with your success.

I’d plan a staycation for spring break. Walks, game nights, movie nights, a scavenger hunt, science experiments, fort building, etc. some thing fun planned for each day and down time, too. Let them rot their brains with video games and devices for the week.

Then I’d make a schedule like others have said. I would probably turn off the internet for a portion of each day. I know several online sites are offering free use of their material for the next few weeks. I’d make sure they all keep up with their math especially. If they have spring testing when they return, they will keep to keep up with it.

One thing that I did with my kids during the summer was to pick a topic. We would choose something like the Civil War, read books about it, watch a documentary, watch a movie, bake something g that they are then, pitch a tent like the soldiers did, etc. You can’t visit a battle field, but you can watch online tours. We did colonial times, the Civil War, Egypt, Greek mythology, marine biology, ... The topics are endless.

Oh, we also choose books for each other to read. It had to be a book that we had read and that we genuinely thought the other person would like. The kids loved picking their favorite books for DH and I to read. Then we would discuss them after we had read them. 

Ds9 came home with 15 pages of school work to do (it's optional, but he doesn't know that ). The school has also been posting various websites and stuff with activities/online games/etc so I'm going to put some of those on his iPad tomorrow. Today they posted a calendar of 30 Lego challenges so I'm going to suggest he do at least a couple of those a week. Friday I setup Facebook Messenger Kids for him to keep in touch with a few friends. If it warms up a bit he'll be outside shooting hoops/hitting balls/etc. Ds18 has been spending a lot of time with a very small group of friends where they're primarily outside around bonfires, fishing, etc.

The only kid at home is 17. We're asking her to make a rough schedule of what she will do each day, to include some physical activity, some chores, some time practicing her instrument, and some time for school work once distance learning starts up. In the mean time, she can spend that time doing SAT prep online because she will eventually have to take it even if the April administration is canceled.

Remote learning starts Wednesday for my kids. When I get a sense of what that's going to entail, then we'll decide what we're doing. I know we've already decided to get outside for a while every day when the weather is good. Since all the sports are canceled, I am expecting help with cooking and dishes.

We are closed for 10 days (for our high school student), but it will probably be a lot longer. College student is online for the rest of the semester. Our oldest works 2 days a week. For our public schools, we have been told the governor is waiving the 180 rule. So they may do some online learning but not sure how that will work.

So we have our 17 yr. old, 20 and 22 yr. old at home. If they don't pick up after themselves, it will be a difficult time. I'm not going to be their maid, and if they leave their stuff out, I will go on strike and not clean or cook ( I will cook for me and my husband) and just read all day!

Both of my kids will have online learning and will be required to continue to complete graded assignments - this is coming from their respective schools. We also made up a chart today to help structure their days. No way is this going to a several weeks long excuse to veg out!

I have a schedule printed out that we will be following. Academic time, outdoor time, chore time, etc. So far, I have only rationed granola bars to one per day. Other snacks tend to be perishables so they can eat as much as they want and when it runs out, I will try the grocery stores curbside service to replenish. Apples, pears, and carrots can last a while though.

Our school set up e-learning. They will have assignments to complete every day. Two of them have long term projects that will be due at the end of April, so they will need to work on those too. They are also supposed to read for at least 20 mins a day. My oldest has a year long reading project (tower of books), so she will need to work on those books as well.

We will be doing a lot of arts and crafts and science experiments. We have about 15 unused kiwi crate boxes to do. My daughter got a book full of science experiments to do, so we will dig into that.

They will be going outside to exercise everyday. They can run or walk around the neighborhood. They can play catch or kick a ball. They can swing or slide on the swing set. If it snows they’re getting on the treadmill to exercise.

The local nature center has closed its doors. But they set up things/hikes for people to come and do on their own outside for free. So we might check those out one day. I would love to take them on a walk by the beach, but I need to pick one that doesn’t have a playground because I don’t want to deal with that nightmare.

They will have to do their chores everyday. Their rooms are completely trashed at the moment, and I have f-ing had it. I want my house back, so we are going to spend some serious time cleaning and organizing. They are in charge of cleaning the dining area before and after dinner as well as setting the table.

They can FaceTime their friends, or text their friends. They can play video games and tablets. They can play board games or games they invent. We are renting movies on demand and we’re going to watch funny tv shows. We’re going to sleep in and snuggle.

We’re going to try and do the same things we always do. But without going to school. I think they will stay calm and happy if we can keep normalcy in their days.

We are on spring break this coming week. No official announcement for the following week, but I do not expect they will be in school. I’ve already let them know that they will be expected to do something to bolster learning, get some exercise and help out around the house.

I made DD13 run errands with me today bc I think chances are good that the government will require quarantines. I want her to be able to get out while we can. It seems unreal to say and mean that.

We got a Nintendo switch at Christmas - this evening we played Just Dance, and I would consider that exercise if that’s what they choose.

As far as food - I am much more aware of what we have in the house that needs to get eaten before we make another meal. There are a few things that I normally would have picked up at the store (fresh fruit, an onion, etc) but chose not to go bc I didn’t want to add to the crush of patrons. I’m not rationing per se, but I don’t plan to replace junky snacks. I’m making pancakes for breakfast and lunch will be either A or B - based on what we have that needs to be eaten before it goes bad.