Rivka Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 My 6yo had one of those days. She didn't know anything, couldn't answer the simplest questions, kept going back to hide in her bedroom and read any time I turned my back, and cried at the drop of a hat. (And oh, so many hats were dropped...) My two primary theories: (1) She's about to come down with whatever virus her little brother has. (He has a cough and a runny nose.) (2) She stayed up way too late reading last night. She's going to bed early tonight with no reading-in-bed time, because that will help with either one of my theories and would also be an appropriate response to my secondary theory: (3) She's just seeing if she can get away with not doing school. But I'm wondering: on a day like this, do you ever just give up and drop academics entirely? Would it have been better to just send her to bed with a stack of cheesy series novels and take my little guy outside? On the one hand, school was just frustrating both of us and accomplishing nothing - and yet, on the other hand, I don't want whining and playing dumb to be a get-out-of-school-free card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 In one word, yes. Sometimes you just need a day off and the younger the child the easier it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyable Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Yes, at that age especially. I just sent my 6yo dd away from work for the day for the same reason! (yes, I know it's 3PM which sounds late, but she really didn't do much before that either!) I finally just gave up on trying to lure her back to her books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Yes here, too. We have some days where dd just doesn't know what number comes after 10 (or some other similar silliness). Sometimes marshmallows can turn her into a genius! (Like SWB's use of chocolate chips with her kids.) Other times I just have to let her go off to draw--her favorite activity. She'll usually listen to me read for a bit while she draws. She's particularly inconsolable if she's about to come down with a cold. At those times I just let it all go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMD Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 yep. It's called a write-off around here. Sometimes I'll do something fun with them instead, to renew our love for each other ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalypso Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 We didn't even start today becaue I just knew it wasn't going to go well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Yes, I don't let them just go play video games, but we do give up on school some days and just read or do crafts. My view is that if they are going to learn anything, then why should I bother teaching it only to reteach it tomorrow. Usually the next day is better. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Oh yes. I think of that as a benefit of homeschooling. I don't do it often, but please, we ALL need a mental health day every now and then. And little ones (and their mamas) need them more than anyone. However, I am not above giving some made up reason for quitting. I would never say something like I was quitting or it wasn't worth doing lessons for the day etc. I might say something like "Oh, good thing I had a really light school day planned, because we are all done!" That way, I didn't have to worry about my elder son replicating whatever behavior to try to get out of school. He was that kind of 6 year old. As an 11 year old he is quite dedicated, but he was a trickster at 6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuirkyKapers Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Oh yeah- if my kids are off because they are sick....it isn't worth the battle. My kids aren't sick that often so it really isn't that big of a deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleWMN Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Sure! Teacher inservice day? :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momof3littles Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Yep! In fact, I should do it more often LOL. I don't know, we also have days where we are in a groove and can cover more than I had planned, so I think it is okay to pack it in on a day when it is just not going well. Rather than escalating and getting super frustrated, I think sometimes it is better to bag it or change things around (do a bunch of read alouds in lieu of other work, for example). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoo Keeper Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Oh yes. I think of that as a benefit of homeschooling. I don't do it often, but please, we ALL need a mental health day every now and then. And little ones (and their mamas) need them more than anyone. However, I am not above giving some made up reason for quitting. I would never say something like I was quitting or it wasn't worth doing lessons for the day etc. I might say something like "Oh, good thing I had a really light school day planned, because we are all done!" That way, I didn't have to worry about my elder son replicating whatever behavior to try to get out of school. He was that kind of 6 year old. As an 11 year old he is quite dedicated, but he was a trickster at 6. redsquirrel has a point; I have had to throw in the towel many times---but I do not let the kids know that I am doing so. I usually have made some comment how today is a lighter schedule day, and I *know* that they can do this ____. Less is being required of them, but they do not know it. School still happened, and they did not dictate the whole day by their behavior (even if it wasn't intentional). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicagomom Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Yes we just give up for the day. Today was one of them. We did math and reading and that was all.:lurk5: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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