How many families are in pods?

[Anonymous]

Sending son to all day camp that’s designed to mimic school.

[Anonymous]

I don’t judge pods. Parents need support. I’m sending mine to daycare and they are helping him with the minimal amount of distance learning required.

[Anonymous]

We’re about to “pod” with another family that has similar COVID risk tolerance. Mostly so kids can play indoors together and so working parents can trade off no-school Wednesdays. I think some of the pod talk is conflating a lot of different mutual support options parents are developing. We know of some folks in highly structured learning arrangements, and many more families who are just kind of going about their lives with far fewer precautions than we are comfortable with (lots of play dates with lots of different families and no masks).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are waiting to see what distance learning actually looks like before throwing a bunch of money at a solution that may or may not be the right one.

Same. I might reach out to my DDs best friends mom to see if she would like to come to our house in remote days for socialization, but nothing else.

I can either save for college or pay a pod instructor, but I can’t do both

[Anonymous]

I feel like the term "pod" is being used to mean two completely different things.

1. "Pod" - Essentially daycare or team parenting where a caregiver provides supervision that includes overseeing distance learning log-ins and schedule maintenance. see, nanny, aupair
2. "Pod" - Two or more unaffiliated households who collectively hire an educator to supervise distance learning, classroom activities and supplement regular distance learning curriculum. see, tutor, private teacher.

These are not remotely the same thing or solving or the same problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like the term "pod" is being used to mean two completely different things.

1. "Pod" - Essentially daycare or team parenting where a caregiver provides supervision that includes overseeing distance learning log-ins and schedule maintenance. see, nanny, aupair
2. "Pod" - Two or more unaffiliated households who collectively hire an educator to supervise distance learning, classroom activities and supplement regular distance learning curriculum. see, tutor, private teacher.

These are not remotely the same thing or solving or the same problem.

Agree, but would amend that (1) can involve not hiring anyone, but just sharing responsibilities among adults in the families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are waiting to see what distance learning actually looks like before throwing a bunch of money at a solution that may or may not be the right one.

Pods don’t have to cost money. We pay nothing for ours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like the term "pod" is being used to mean two completely different things.

1. "Pod" - Essentially daycare or team parenting where a caregiver provides supervision that includes overseeing distance learning log-ins and schedule maintenance. see, nanny, aupair
2. "Pod" - Two or more unaffiliated households who collectively hire an educator to supervise distance learning, classroom activities and supplement regular distance learning curriculum. see, tutor, private teacher.

These are not remotely the same thing or solving or the same problem.

Agree, but would amend that (1) can involve not hiring anyone, but just sharing responsibilities among adults in the families.

Tried to capture that with "team parenting". Apparently unsuccessfully.

[Anonymous]

I think it's less than we think. It may be true that families are being quiet about it the same way they would a party to which they didn't invite all their child's friends. But I think it likely that most families decided it was easier and cheaper to do without. They are likely mostly found in the pk-k set.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were asked to pair up with three different families but declined because of high risk for covid. Afaik they haven't found partners. I think they wanted me because I have an easy going only child and am a former teacher with a flexible work schedule. They're all families of 3+ kids. Somehow they didn't want to pair up among themselves, maybe because six kids sounds like a lot.

That's an interesting choice they're making. I have 3 kids and I would hire one instructor to support all 3 of my kids and supplement with outdoor play dates before I would join 3 pods and open myself up to that level of exposure.

As far as I can tell, it doesn't look like any kids in either of my kids' elementary school classes are doing pods. I guess it's possible that they are and each kid is in a separate space, but if so then what's the point. I understand pods where kids learn together, but I don't understand the benefit if they're going to be in separate spaces.

[Anonymous]

There are many layers of equity. All around us families are podding up. My child is traditionally is included in the birthday parties, play dates , sports teams etc - but has a learning disability. We are not quite about it as naming it has provided power. "I am dyslexic - my brain works differently". I had reached out to some classmates parents and got the - we are not sure what we are doing responses. It is really isolating as the pod kids are all socializing not only through the school day - but also by default on the "pod" designation beyond that.

[Anonymous]

Feedback from microphones? A pod? The secrecy is kind of ugly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

As far as I can tell, it doesn't look like any kids in either of my kids' elementary school classes are doing pods. I guess it's possible that they are and each kid is in a separate space, but if so then what's the point. I understand pods where kids learn together, but I don't understand the benefit if they're going to be in separate spaces.

Because not everyone can work from home all day or be at home not working all day.

It's very hard for me to understand the lack of understand for true childcare needs around this forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are many layers of equity. All around us families are podding up. My child is traditionally is included in the birthday parties, play dates , sports teams etc - but has a learning disability. We are not quite about it as naming it has provided power. "I am dyslexic - my brain works differently". I had reached out to some classmates parents and got the - we are not sure what we are doing responses. It is really isolating as the pod kids are all socializing not only through the school day - but also by default on the "pod" designation beyond that.

This is so hard and sucks. But, it doesn't mean those that are sharing resources shouldn't ... it should just be easier to include more kids.

There is a boy in my daughter's class that is just tough. I wouldn't be able to handle him in my house so he was out for someone we might include in a pod. But still sucks for him and his mom. And, I feel badly about it but am just not sure what to do about it.

[Anonymous]

We are sharing an afternoon babysitter with one other family of two kids, but the sitter will not have any significant school responsibilities beyond being on time for one or two Zooms. It just seemed hard to find someone capable of handling all that for four kids. I feel bad for anyone who feels excluded. But honestly we would not pod with anyone other than close friends, and many of our actual good friends were not compatible with our schedule and risk tolerance. So we feel lucky to have anything in place. As it is a nonacademic pod, learning differences or school levels are not a factor for us.