Parents urged not to be so hard on themselves as they do their best to teach kids at home

Parents have shared their experiences of home-schooling which range from dressing up as a dinosaur to making soup.
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As thousands of families face just short of another six weeks before schools might even begin to reopen, parents are trying to mix up the ‘school’ day, keeping children engaged, entertained and educated.

On Wednesday evening it was confirmed that lockdown measures will remain in place until at least March 8 and that Boris Johnson has earmarked that date to begin the reopening of England's schools.

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The Prime Minister confirmed that hopes of all pupils returning to class after the February half-term have been abandoned as the battle with coronavirus remained "perilous".

Parents are making the best of home-schooling.Parents are making the best of home-schooling.
Parents are making the best of home-schooling.

So, it is back to the home classrooms for english, maths, science, history and pretty much everything else.

However, these Leeds parents shared the best tips that are working for them.

Clare Pittaway said: “Take it one task at a time, parents and kids should not get stressed. We will do our best, most importantly we are keeping our kids safe at home.”

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Lindsey Dawes, who has had dinosaurs in her 'kitchen classroom' said it was the hardest job she had ever done: “Some days are so much harder than others. Try so hard not to get cross/upset with each other but (like many others) with two key stages to cover and both needing help, this is the hardest 'job' I've ever done - I'm confident that I'm doing my best by them.”

Lindsey Dawes keeps home-schooling upbeat for her kids.Lindsey Dawes keeps home-schooling upbeat for her kids.
Lindsey Dawes keeps home-schooling upbeat for her kids.
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She said: “I'm just encouraging my children to try their best and try and balance other important activities. But I've got to say the teachers have been amazing and I think my children have been very lucky with the support they have received from both schools.”

School dinners may also seem to have improved with parents taking the opportunity to prepare nutritious, hearty food with their children.

Lindsey Bell said: “Today we both had cereal, lunch is noodles for her and sandwiches for me and tonight we are both having slow cooker chicken casserole with yorkies and mash.”

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Laura Elizabeth Louise Bailey added: “Chicken sausage casserole was really enjoyable. My daughter is making soup tomorrow.”

ExpressionsUK is based in Chapeltown and pre-COVID provided a platform for undiscovered creative and artistic talent within the northern region. It is currently working with women and families across east Leeds and providing food parcels where needed.

Sabrina Collins told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "On a whole, the ladies that we are dealing with - they are struggling with home-schooling because it is hard to keep the children focused and they are getting easily distracted. Mums are having to do chores and things around the house.

"We are giving moral support and linking with agencies that might be able to help them like mental health or the Black Health Initiative. People are suffering with depression, it is a lot and it gets on top of people, especially single families. Mums are at home separated from families and we are encouraging them to reach out to organisations that might be able to help."

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Jake Harrison is a private tutor and has some advice for parents who feel they are not top of the class.

He said: “It is a nightmare for parents. Parents and students are worried about the disruption to education. Even when they went back different year groups got isolated or teachers were off. Even when they were at school there was still disruption.

Parents have full time jobs, other kids, it is unrealistic to expect them to manage all the teaching. There is an element from parents that they feel guilty that they can’t do it themselves. You would not expect them to remember it from 20 or 30 years ago but I get a sense they feel bad.”

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