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We decided to keep Emma home from school today, partly because she woke up with a slight cough (now gone), but mostly because we feel that schools in the U.K. should be closed. I told her primary school that I was going to keep her home for the rest of the week -- and probably longer. The Easter holiday starts on 2 April; I would be surprised if she went back before then. This morning I drew up a schedule to make sure we don't all go nuts: 

Before 9 am
Wake up & eat breakfast

9 - 10 am
Screen time
  • Play Roblox or Minecraft
  • Watch Youtube
10 – 11 am
Academic time
  • Logic puzzles
  • Khan Academy, Ted-Ed
  • Times Tables Rockstars
  • Sudoku
  • Journal writing
  • Scratch
11 – 12 pm
Outdoor time
Walk or cycle
12 – 1 pm
Eat lunch

1 – 2 pm
Creative time
  • Bake
  • Legos
  • Draw or paint
  • Do a puzzle
  • Ukulele (you can use Youtube)
  • Listen to a book on Audible
2 – 3:30 pm
Screen time w/ friends/family
Play Roblox or Minecraft with friends or family members
3:30 – 4 pm
Reading time
Read aloud or alone
4 – 4:30 pm
Outdoor time
Walk
4:30 – 6 pm
Academic and/or creative time
  • Logic puzzles
  • Khan Academy, Ted-Ed
  • Times Tables Rockstars
  • Sudoku
  • Journal writing
  • Scratch
  • Ukulele
  • Play Solitaire
  • Legos
  • Draw or paint
  • Read or listen to a book on Audible
6 – 7 pm
Eat dinner

7 – 8:30 pm
Family time
Play family game; watch a tv show or film
8:30 – 9 pm
Bedtime
Shower or bath, bedtime by 9 pm

There is no need to be draconian about sticking to it, but Emma really enjoys having structure. Right now she is playing Roblox with Brynn, her best neighborhood friend from home. It is a little strange to think that this is how she will be connecting with friends for the foreseeable future -- by computer and phone. Fortunately she and I managed to get outside for about an hour this morning. We walked around the neighborhood a bit and went to a local playground, all while practicing our social distancing. We both wore gloves; we washed hands when we returned home. 

Richard & I have chosen to self-isolate, which means he is now working from home and we are only leaving the house to go grocery shopping or to get a bit of exercise. We both feel that the UK government's response to Covid-19 is inadequate and irresponsible. Who wants to volunteer to get sick in order to participate in herd immunity? No thanks. 

The other thing I did today was cancel our trips scheduled for the upcoming Easter holiday. Our week in Lanzarote is a wash; that money is gone. We had also planned a week-long road trip in the U.K. That money is mostly nonrefundable as well. We have a trip to Italy planned in late May; we were going to stay in a Tuscan farmhouse in San Gimignano. I have a feeling that that trip will be cancelled too. It's hard to know how things will be two or three months from now. 

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