honest question - what do we do with our kids after May 29?

[Anonymous]

NP--if your kids are old enough that they are occupied doing schoolwork for 4 hours a day, they are probably old enough to figure out how to fill 4 hours on their own. When I was in elementary school, I remember one summer I watched every single Disney movie (except the weird ones). i also wrote poetry. And decided to get really into calligraphy for a stint there. And Ukrainian eggs. When I was a bit older, I had a ritual where I re-read the Harry Potter series every Christmas break. YES I AM AWARE READING THIS ALL IN A LIST THAT I WAS A TOTAL NERD, but that is not the point. A little boredom is good. My kids are young (daycare and pre-K) so I can't very well set them up with a Ukrainian egg set (YET), but I still am a big fan of letting them have some time to figure out how to entertain themselves on their own as much as I can.

[Anonymous]

My guess is that some camps will do some kind of part-day distance programming. Dance Place, Writopia, and Theatre Lab already have stuff up and running, and I'm guessing Mad Science will think up something, too. It's not too active, it costs money, and it doesn't appeal to every kid, but all the summer programs will be desperate to regain lost income and many will pull something together.

There's also some lowish hanging fruit online. Our kids are at a charter school and we already use some of DCPS's stuff when the lessons won't fill the right number of hours. So maybe there are free resources online in different states. Brainpop, Brainpop Junior, Commonlit, Scholastic, Khan Academy, PBS Learning Media, and Newsela also have lots of curriculum online. It takes some parent oversight to fill out the docket, and I bet the kids will not be pleased to do this type of learning over the summer, but giving kids a chance to choose what they learn might be helpful. And maybe being honest with the kids about the parents' need to work and their need for their kids to be meaningfully occupied could build some understanding.

None of what I'm saying will work for everyone, but in case it's a start for some, I share it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I knew this was coming and I'm still SO ANGRY. The work from school and the connections to the other kids is what is keeping my kid in a routine and alleviating anxiety. This just leaves us all to fend for ourselves and is totally abandoning the kids.

I am also all caps angry. I get we can't go back. Simply deciding, just because now it's not breaking the law, to fully shut down is infuriating. And with zero explanation to the public about why that choice was made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I knew this was coming and I'm still SO ANGRY. The work from school and the connections to the other kids is what is keeping my kid in a routine and alleviating anxiety. This just leaves us all to fend for ourselves and is totally abandoning the kids.

Repeat after me: as parents we are 100% responsible for our children 100% of the time.

We are trying to have a society here. Sorry if that is lost on you, with your rugged individualism and no need for the regular social structures we all come together to build, support, and rely on.

[Anonymous]

Summer camps aren't going to happen. Seriously. Nor are there going to be programs" for kids run by "after care" companies. You are going to have to hire a nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Summer camps aren't going to happen. Seriously. Nor are there going to be programs" for kids run by "after care" companies. You are going to have to hire a nanny.

wrong. companies will ABSOLUTELY be doing this stuff to make up for lost income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are in a household where both parents (or single parent or guardian) work and are required to be working from home, what will you do with your kids after May 29?
We have two elementary school kids. Looking for ideas. Thanks!

You send your kids to the Mayor to handle, of course.

Have her address?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hire a high school kid to watch them?

This.

With all the money you'll save from lower property taxes for 2020, as proposed by the Mayor, you can afford to hire a tutor/ sitter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I knew this was coming and I'm still SO ANGRY. The work from school and the connections to the other kids is what is keeping my kid in a routine and alleviating anxiety. This just leaves us all to fend for ourselves and is totally abandoning the kids.

I am also all caps angry. I get we can't go back. Simply deciding, just because now it's not breaking the law, to fully shut down is infuriating. And with zero explanation to the public about why that choice was made.

Same. I don't understand why they made this choice and would appreciate an explanation. If the idea is to start back sooner in the fall when it will hopefully be safer, say that. If the idea is to teach teachers how to manage distance learning in the fall, say that. I hate being in the dark and not knowing what's on the table.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I knew this was coming and I'm still SO ANGRY. The work from school and the connections to the other kids is what is keeping my kid in a routine and alleviating anxiety. This just leaves us all to fend for ourselves and is totally abandoning the kids.

I am also all caps angry. I get we can't go back. Simply deciding, just because now it's not breaking the law, to fully shut down is infuriating. And with zero explanation to the public about why that choice was made.

Same. I don't understand why they made this choice and would appreciate an explanation. If the idea is to start back sooner in the fall when it will hopefully be safer, say that. If the idea is to teach teachers how to manage distance learning in the fall, say that. I hate being in the dark and not knowing what's on the table.

They did say that. Did you listen to the press conference? The Mayor said she was hoping we can start the school year 3 weeks earlier to compensate. Of course a lot will go into that like negotiating with the union, facilities, and of course monitoring the state of the pandemic.

I am not a Bowser fan but I’m perplexed by all the anger. This is a fast moving situation and I think DCPS has handled it better than many other school districts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Summer camps aren't going to happen. Seriously. Nor are there going to be programs" for kids run by "after care" companies. You are going to have to hire a nanny.

wrong. companies will ABSOLUTELY be doing this stuff to make up for lost income.

I used to live in DC, but am now in Chicago. Many, many camps have already said they will not open this summer here. And, my school district is telling teachers (but not parents yet) that ALL summer programming is not happening. I know this is hard, but I'd start locking down a good sitter before all the good ones are gone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I knew this was coming and I'm still SO ANGRY. The work from school and the connections to the other kids is what is keeping my kid in a routine and alleviating anxiety. This just leaves us all to fend for ourselves and is totally abandoning the kids.

I am also all caps angry. I get we can't go back. Simply deciding, just because now it's not breaking the law, to fully shut down is infuriating. And with zero explanation to the public about why that choice was made.

Same. I don't understand why they made this choice and would appreciate an explanation. If the idea is to start back sooner in the fall when it will hopefully be safer, say that. If the idea is to teach teachers how to manage distance learning in the fall, say that. I hate being in the dark and not knowing what's on the table.

I have the same questions. I'm a DCPS teacher, and I'm confused by this plan. This is not a criticism of it--it may well be the best choice. I just hope that they will soon explain WHY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I knew this was coming and I'm still SO ANGRY. The work from school and the connections to the other kids is what is keeping my kid in a routine and alleviating anxiety. This just leaves us all to fend for ourselves and is totally abandoning the kids.

I am also all caps angry. I get we can't go back. Simply deciding, just because now it's not breaking the law, to fully shut down is infuriating. And with zero explanation to the public about why that choice was made.

Same. I don't understand why they made this choice and would appreciate an explanation. If the idea is to start back sooner in the fall when it will hopefully be safer, say that. If the idea is to teach teachers how to manage distance learning in the fall, say that. I hate being in the dark and not knowing what's on the table.

They did say that. Did you listen to the press conference? The Mayor said she was hoping we can start the school year 3 weeks earlier to compensate. Of course a lot will go into that like negotiating with the union, facilities, and of course monitoring the state of the pandemic.

I am not a Bowser fan but I’m perplexed by all the anger. This is a fast moving situation and I think DCPS has handled it better than many other school districts.

Same

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I anticipate that there will be some kind of camps/programming that the city will hold. We have a few camps lined up for the summer that may still take place, fingers crossed. If worse comes to worst I will hire a summer babysitter from the multitudes of college/high school kids that will be looking for other work with camps, pools closed.

In groups of 10 or less right?? What is the point of closing schools if people are sending their kids to large school size camps??
The idea of keeping them closed was not losing2-3% of students and their families to death by cv-19 infection. But sure let's open the summer camps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Time to move to MD. Hogan just announced they are extending the closure through May 15. Which may give way to the possibility of maybe limited groups coming back .....like high schoolers can have a graduation ceremony.

Y'all are a hot spot. You are not going back to school.