https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Apr 2026 06:13:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-the-mask-situation-now#post-2926564 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 00:22:46 +0000 Corduroy 2926564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What's the mask situation in your kid's daycare/school now? </p> <p>Our mask mandate for schools ended in mid March. The vast majority of the students at my kids' elementary continued to wear them. I asked my kids to wear one they until spring break so we wouldn't mess up travel plans (ours or anyone else's). Post spring break all the students were requested to test for Covid twice: Sunday and Tuesday. Today my kids decided they were done with masks. However my son forgot by the time he got to school and put it on anyway. I guess it will be a day by day decision for a while. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-a-child-that-doesnt-want-to-go-to-school#post-2925973 Wed, 05 Jan 2022 16:35:10 +0000 josina 2925973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Help! I have a 4 year old DD who cries every morning and pretends to be sick because she doesn't want to go to school.</p> <p>She's in preschool, and because of extended Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks + Covid right after Tday, she only went to school 6 days in the last month and a half. </p> <p>I'm hoping once she gets back into a routine it will be better, but any tips to help speed this process? I have to put her on the bus crying in the morning. :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/decompressing-after-school#post-2924738 Tue, 24 Aug 2021 08:32:20 +0000 LadyDi 2924738@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son started first grade today and it's his first time that he'll be gone all day (our kindergarten was only half day). What do your kids do after school to decompress, other than have a snack? Screen time? Play time? I am just curious. He's coming home around 3. Normally that's his "quiet time" when he plays in his room, but I feel bad getting him off the bus and just plunking him down in his room by himself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-fir-breakfast#post-2924747 Tue, 24 Aug 2021 17:26:05 +0000 meadow 2924747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Before care mamas..... what do you send your school aged kids with for breakfast? </p> <p>Looking for ideas..... thinking of changing things up for my 5yo this year.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/packit-question#post-2924608 Mon, 09 Aug 2021 13:57:15 +0000 catgirl 2924608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you or your LO uses a PackIt lunch box or bag - does it sweat? </p> <p>DD used hers for camp a few weeks this summer and every day when we got home I would take it out of her backpack and it would be sweating so much that everything was wet! It wasn't a food or drink leaking, it was just the bag sweating as the ice melts. She didn't use it last year for school, and before that was only for half day preschool. So I'm not sure if this is normal for a full day or not... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-kindergarten#post-2924271 Thu, 08 Jul 2021 14:02:37 +0000 JennyLayneAZ 2924271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hello everyone! My ODD is starting Kindergarten the first week of August. I have scoured the school website looking for any indication of when I'll get a supply list, but, haven't found anything. I am feeling overwhelmed but I'd like to start shopping if possible. I just don't know where to start. </p> <p>Any advice? Any websites I should look into? </p> <p>I really don't want to wait until the week before to go shopping, and, really I'd like to be able to buy some supplies online without worry of shipping delays.</p> <p>Things I know I need:<br /> backpack<br /> lunch box<br /> water bottle<br /> pencils<br /> scissors (? I'd assume? DD is a lefty)<br /> some sort of notebooks</p> <p>...speaking of her being a lefty, are there any other products out there specifically for left handers?</p> <p>Crayons? Markers? </p> <p>I don't know, I'm sure I'm stressing myself out unnecessarily, but between her going to big kid school and the baby starting daycare next week, I'm feeling the need to prepare for something/anything possible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-celebrate-on-the-last-day-of-school#post-2923918 Fri, 28 May 2021 14:28:04 +0000 LadyDi 2923918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What, if anything, do you do to celebrate the last day of school? DS is finishing kindergarten and I was thinking of inviting the other kinder kids on our street over for popsicles after school on the last day (there are 4 of them and kinder is only half day). Just wondering if anyone else had any fun things planned! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/homeschooling-2#post-2923525 Fri, 23 Apr 2021 05:49:49 +0000 caitcat 2923525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm having mixed feelings about what to do for school for my now-kindergartener next year and curious if anyone is in a similar situation. We homeschooled this year, and it's gone surprisingly well. My daughter is thriving with it academically, and it's worked well for our family. (She's a very sensitive, intense kid - this could have gone many ways!) </p> <p>I think our public schools are getting kids back in person five days a week in the fall, though now they're somewhere between 2-4 days a week now, and some kids are still all virtual. I'd assumed when we decided to homeschool this year, that we'd enthusiastically re-enroll her in public school when we could next year. And now I'm not so sure. She's thriving with homeschooling, and I feel like we've really hit our stride for how she's learning. I've found some homeschool co-op opportunities with some drop-off enrichment classes for that will (hopefully) be more possible as covid conditions improve, and I feel like might be a really good fit for her next year. I'm also hopeful that regardless of what her school situation looks like, we can get back to art/dance/sports kind of classes at some point soon. My daughter is a slow merger in general, and whatever we do for school in the fall, I'm trying to think through ways now to take steps to prepare her for getting out and about more.</p> <p>When I think ahead, I don't picture homeschooling in the long run...but it's working really well right now, so I'm feeling torn about where to go from here. If we're going to jump back into public school at some point, I do wonder if going ahead and getting in the routine when everyone is getting back in the swing of things in the fall is better. I don't want to miss a window of opportunity to get plugged into a school community or help her get settled in routines at school, if it's something we do picture in the long run. On the other hand, homeschooling is working well...and very few things have come easily for us with our daughter, so it's hard to think about changing it up.</p> <p>I thought the school decision last year was tough, but I'm having an even harder time thinking it through for next year...and that's surprised me. Anyone going through something similar? Any ideas about other things to think through in this? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/outdoor-play-ideas#post-2922669 Tue, 23 Feb 2021 12:22:54 +0000 Jess1483 2922669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Help needed!</p> <p>I'm teaching a small "pod" of kids for the year. We are at someone else's house, she keeps a beautiful backyard and has a ton of flower beds that, while beautiful, the kids shouldn't go into starting in the spring. </p> <p>The kids have been very destructive outside. We don't have a lot of behavioral problems among the kids, but they break stuff constantly. This isn't a problem for any of the families individually, but when the kids get together they're a bit wild. Mostly because I think they're bored. Understandably, the mom whose house it is has stopped putting toys outside because they just get broken. </p> <p>Right now it's icy, and likely to be icy and muddy for the next 1-2 months. When there's fresh snow, or in the warmer weather, the kids do a lot better. But I'm worried about the next couple months.</p> <p>So, with all of that said, does anyone know of any (fairly cheap) outdoor equipment we could put out there? Kiddos are K or 2nd graders. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-kid-left-the-schoolyard-today-wwyd#post-2921072 Wed, 25 Nov 2020 09:12:04 +0000 erinbaderin 2921072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This morning I had a meeting at 8:30, so we dropped our kids off at school a few minutes earlier than usual. The yard is supervised starting at 8:15, and it was just about 8:15 when we left (which is to say, the yard was supervised when we left my six year old there). We then left the school property and were about 100 feet down the sidewalk when we heard people calling, looked back, and my son was running down the sidewalk after us (long story short, because we were early when he looked around the yard he only saw daycare kids and thought he wasn't allowed to be there). So he left the schoolyard (one small gate), ran across what can be a busy parking lot, out past the teacher (I think she's the vice principal) who mans the driveway, and down the sidewalk after us. About a minute after we got to him the teacher manning the driveway and my other son's kindergarten teacher (she'd seen him run past, recognized him, and went after him) caught up to us but come on! I feel like this shouldn't have been allowed to happen - shouldn't the yard duty teachers be watching the gate? On the other hand, I know there's only a few teachers out there and hundreds of kids. Am I expecting too much? I just can't decide if I should call the school or have a talk with my son about how he can't leave the yard and if he has a problem he should talk to a teacher. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-a-school-ager-whats-school-like-right-now#post-2920294 Tue, 03 Nov 2020 15:24:04 +0000 mediagirl 2920294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What type of schooling is your child getting? Full in person? Remote learning? Hybrid? Home school?</p> <p>Mine is in public school. We chose the virtual option through December. Have to decide soon what we'll do in the spring.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/store-bought-treats-for-school-picture-day#post-2918848 Tue, 08 Sep 2020 18:21:03 +0000 bees_knees 2918848@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am admittedly a cheesy Pinterest mom when it comes to school snacks. This year our preschool is (understandably) only allowing prepackaged/store bought treats. DS2 is in charge of treats on the same day as their picture day...anyone have any ideas on a store bought but festive treat? I thought about decorating the outside of prepackaged brownies into a camera or something? Something punny including "Cheeeeese" or "smile"? I don't know you guys are always so creative! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/computerstablets-for-remote-schooling#post-2917888 Fri, 31 Jul 2020 08:58:40 +0000 Dahlia 2917888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's looking like DD's kindergarten will be online at least three days a week and maybe entirely. We have work laptops, but can't let her work on those, so we'll need to get her a computer or tablet. Our school will not provide them. </p> <p>For those of you that already did some remote schooling in the spring, do you recommend a laptop or a tablet? Specific brands/features/whatever? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-pods-for-fall-schooling-thoughts#post-2917940 Sun, 02 Aug 2020 17:21:51 +0000 lioneyes 2917940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Anyone doing a learning pod for the Fall? Schools are starting 100% online here and I heard about a company that facilitates a teacher for your pod of kids. It's local to me but also can facilitate an e-teacher- Thepupilpod.com<br /> There was an article on pods in the NYT today, it seems like a good solution if you have like minded friends/neighbors. Would be nice to get a break from homeschooling (though ill still have to be a preschool teacher). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/garnet-hill-backpack#post-2917939 Sun, 02 Aug 2020 16:26:59 +0000 catgirl 2917939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Has anyone tried the backpacks from Garnet Hill? I'm not sure if we will actually need a backpack or not but I want to be prepared. I always assumed we would get an LL Bean backpack, it's what DD has used for two years of preschool and what I grew up using, but DD doesn't like any of the colors or designs this year.</p> <p>So in my search I found one on Garnet Hill that she really likes. Just wondering if anyone has used one or ordered one? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-kids-in-different-schools-are-you-making-the-same-decision-for-fall-for-all-of-them#post-2917155 Mon, 13 Jul 2020 07:19:42 +0000 HappyBaker 2917155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does anyone have multiples kids who are in different schools and are making different decisions for Fall based on the school? Or if you have more than one kid are you 100% keeping all home or 100% sending to school? No judgement as I am super confused about what to do with my 3! All 3 schools have different plans and my comfort level with each is not the same, but i feel like I’d get crap from people if I kept one home but sent the others and vice versa. </p> <p>Mine are entering 2nd (private school), entering K (public school), and 2.5 in daycare toddler/preschool class. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/outschool#post-2916935 Thu, 02 Jul 2020 09:29:54 +0000 caitcat 2916935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Has anyone signed their kids up for online classes through Outschool? I keep seeing ads for it (thanks, Facebook and Instagram!) and I'm kind of intrigued, but also feel a little weird about signing up my 3 and 5 year old for a random online class. Curious if anyone has tried it and what your experience was like? </p> <p>We do one weekly "play and learn" class online already, but it's through a kids' gym we've been part of since my girls were babies, so we're with instructors and kids we know well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teacher-bees-wearing-masks#post-2916385 Fri, 12 Jun 2020 16:34:28 +0000 DesertDreams88 2916385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I need to post / vent somewhere and the big teacher forums I'm part of are too large / conflicted and ahhhhhhhh. </p> <p>Anyway. Here's our tentative plan next year in Phoenix, AZ:<br /> No subs. Specials teachers will cover any other teacher absences, which essentially means specials will be canceled most of the time. Wednesdays off for "prep" because we probably won't have prep periods. No recess. No lunch in the cafeteria. Students stay in seats, no group work, etc. Middle school teachers teach on carts. AM/PM shifts and we have to disinfect our own classroom between shifts. No windows, so, no real ventilation. No temp checks, only self-reporting. "Teaching in a plexiglass box" was brought up. Required masks for everyone. </p> <p>Teaching next year sounds HORRIBLE and I am so, so, so sad. </p> <p>Also, I have no idea how I can wear a mask for 8hrs/day, 4days/wk. I know a bunch of jobs are doing it already but it's just going to be so hard - how will I ever build rapport with students? How will I learn their names, without their faces? How will I project my voice to the class while muffled by the mask?</p> <p>And teaching on a cart? ughhhh.... </p> <p>TBD on an online school option. </p> <p>ugh. my first day back with other teachers is July 16th for specialized training, so, only 4.5 weeks away. First day back with students in mid-August.</p> <p>How are other teacher bees feeling about this? And parent bees of course too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/fully-virtual-school-vs-homeschool#post-2916575 Thu, 18 Jun 2020 06:30:46 +0000 bhbee 2916575@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I could go on and on because I’m thinking about this way too much, but has anyone had thoughts about using a fully virtual option or homeschooling next year? </p> <p>I realize this is a privileged question to ask, and to have these options. But I’m curious for anyone else in the same boat. </p> <p>Several districts near us have announced their fall options will be full attendance (no hybrid or split schedule) or full virtual. I know many working parents will have to choose full in-person, and I’m not sure what we’ll do if those are the options our district gives as well - our state and county are in a worsening virus situation, so maybe it won’t even matter, but the state seems pretty determined to open no matter what. </p> <p>But for this post, I’m really asking about fully virtual school. I know it will be setup differently than the spring crisis schooling. My gut is that for kids in K and 3rd though, having to zoom into a classroom even a few hours a day will be challenging. That even though I’m not as good of a teacher, 1-1 face time might make true home schooling preferable in terms of the academic portion. I know so much of K especially is not about academics and those would be missed in any environment that isn’t in person. But committing to a whole year of homeschooling (especially if we’re actually trapped in the house) is pretty daunting!</p> <p>Sorry for the ramble. Anyone else thinking about this? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/fall-plans-for-k-12-schools#post-2915033 Wed, 06 May 2020 13:04:24 +0000 macintosh 2915033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in Ohio and I heard our governor say this yesterday, but it only hit me now reading the headline: </p> <p><a href="https://www.cleveland.com/news/2020/05/ohio-k-12-students-could-go-to-school-two-days-a-week-in-fall-with-online-learning.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.cleveland.com/news/2020/05/ohio-k-12-students-could-go-to-school-two-days-a-week-in-fall-with-online-learning.html</a></p> <p>If students only go to school 2 days a week with distance learning between who is going to watch our kids if we go back to work? Who is going to facilitate all this distance learning? Will I have to hire a babysitter? Will I have the ability to work from home still?</p> <p>So may questions are up in the air. Realistically, I could probably get by with a combination of working from home, DH staying home with DS (though he provides no structure), and maybe my mom (if she can flex hours) or a babysitter. </p> <p>Honestly, this is a huge crisis for working families that rely on school and before/aftercare programs. We have to stay in the workforce to make ends meet, and we've already made plans for how to make that happen - school is a big part of it! I really wish the federal government would step in and provide some real reasonable solutions to this child care crisis. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/learning-how-to-read-suggestions#post-2915101 Fri, 08 May 2020 10:43:20 +0000 bakingdoodle 2915101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is in 1st grade, reading well (actually really well, in my opinion). He learned how to read using Hooked on Phonics. It was a very good start and then he went on to kindergarten and learned so much there.<br /> Bob's books were a big fail for us. I was trying to teach him how to sound the words but he didn't get it until he watched Hooked on Phonics. Before HoP, we also tried one app. I think it was how to teach your monster how to read. He spent more time trying to move the monster than sounding the words. Big fail for us. So now, daughter will go into kindergarten. I thought she would be able to use HoP. She just memorized the video order of the sounds (mat, cat and etc) so it's not like she's reading. If I sound it with her, she can do it... but she won't do it by herself. Any suggestions? Any other programs? Doesn't have to be free but i hope it can help my daughter. Bob's books: fail x 2<br /> for us :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-anyone-given-up-on-school#post-2914717 Wed, 29 Apr 2020 15:20:38 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2914717@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm surprised to even be writing this because my first grader, the day schools shut down in March, asked for me to set up "home school" for her because she was so bummed about missing it. For weeks, up until our school system came up with virtual learning (which took over a month to do and had multiple false starts), she was diligently doing worksheets, activities, crafts, reading, etc. that I put together for her. We never pushed it, it was all her doing. However, for the last two weeks, she completely refuses to do the work that her teacher put together for them. She's excited for virtual sessions, which happen for a half hour each day and aren't learning based, and for the one virtual learning session she has on Mondays for 45 minutes, but will not do any of the offline work (they have a couple videos to watch, and an activity related to writing, math and reading each day). She won't tell me why, and insists when I ask her if she wants to keep doing work that she does, but as soon as we go to do something, she completely tunes out and starts asking how much time is left in the "school" block. Their stuff isn't being graded or counted in any way, so I'm pretty much of the "let it go" mindset on the schoolwork, but I know she loves learning and I feel like I'm not doing enough to keep her engaged. Any ideas? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ideas-to-keep-toddler-entertainedquiet-while-trying-to-do-school-with-older-kids#post-2914345 Wed, 22 Apr 2020 08:42:10 +0000 HappyBaker 2914345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Has anyone found good ways to keep your toddler entertained while you work with your older kids? Water play with a big bowl worked for a few weeks but he’s over it now. He just turned 2 and basically just yells to get our attention while we’re trying to do “school”, driving my older two crazy! We’re shooting for less than 2 hours a day so I just need a few new ideas to keep him calm and happy! I can’t do school during his nap because I’m trying to also WFH full time. (Keyword: trying) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-los-school-provided-lesson-plansare-you-doing-them#post-2912438 Thu, 19 Mar 2020 22:42:23 +0000 PinkElephant 2912438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like the internet is teeming with opinion pieces, the gist of which is “You’re the parent, not the teacher, so don’t worry, just snuggle with your kid and watch NetFlix for a couple of months”. On this board, people have mentioned siblings babysitting, concerns about entertaining their kids, etc. This surprised me, because our school district sent home lessons and materials for the kids. It made me wonder - if your LO is old enough for “real school” (so mostly public/private K or older, I guess, or public pre-k) - did your school send home work when it closed? How intense are the lesson plans? Are they mandatory? Are you doing them?</p> <p>My kids are expected to submit things on Google Classroom, check in/participate in real-time discussions (second grader only), have Xoom meetings with their specials teachers, etc. They also have hefty packets we’ve been told will be collected upon the resumption of school. The kindergartener is having tasks assigned to her (and completion tracked) on ThinkCentral. The three year old’s teacher (same school) said don’t stress about it too much, but still...the curriculum and resources have been provided, and will be collected!</p> <p>Everyone in my local peer group seems to be doing the work, and we are taking it seriously. But reading online makes me wonder if I’m in the minority? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-anyone-here-been-a-pta-presidentboard-member#post-2913424 Sun, 05 Apr 2020 16:23:33 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2913424@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm seriously considering running for PTA president at kiddo's school and am wondering what experiences folks have had, especially if you had a full time job as well. I had a great convo with the current president (who's a working mom with 2 special needs kids herself) and it's making me think it's doable but I'm worried about overcommitting. Would love folks' experiences! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/homeschoolers-please-help#post-2911738 Thu, 12 Mar 2020 18:57:54 +0000 PurplePeony 2911738@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our governor just closed schools for six weeks due to covid-19. They sent home some packets of work and DD’s teacher is going to be in touch with more, but I’m feeling a little lost on how to structure our days. I will be teleworking but am going to try to do odd hours (get up really early, work through late morning, then finish after she’s in bed). DH is also home. I’m a little wary of all the unaccustomed togetherness and I’m pretty sure DD is going to be bored and stir crazy unless we come up with a solid plan. So, could you share tips on your routines and such? And if you have any good resources for kindergarten-appropriate science experiments, art projects, and things like that, I’d love to hear them! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-things-you-wish-your-child-didnt-learn-at-school#post-2904875 Fri, 06 Dec 2019 16:14:32 +0000 josina 2904875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Any bad language? Behaviors? Sad stories? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-kids-do-their-own-projects#post-2897871 Thu, 26 Sep 2019 07:42:51 +0000 Jennibenni 2897871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Backstory: Our daycare asked for each kid to decorate a pumpkin and bring it in this week for their fall display. I let my four year old have at it with paint and my 1 year old wasn't too interested so I basically did his but tried to get him to add some paint. Dropped ours off the first day and so far all the other pumpkins are Pinterest projects done by the parents. It makes me kind of irritated both for my 4 year old who might think his isn't as good and for the other kids who clearly didn't get to help with theirs. :( </p> <p>Do you do your kids' projects for school for them? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-accidents-since-starting-kindergarten#post-2897696 Tue, 24 Sep 2019 17:45:31 +0000 JennyPenny 2897696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DS1 started Kindergarten a few weeks ago and has basically had an accident every other day for the past 2 weeks. In preschool he was basically accident free. I keep telling him he needs to go more often and he insists he goes plenty, which is clearly incorrect. It sounds like the issue *might* be having to ask the teacher but he’s also denied that since he first brought it up. Has anyone else been through anything similar? Any strategies that worked? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/packing-lunches#post-2896518 Tue, 10 Sep 2019 15:52:07 +0000 Reese 2896518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hey all</p> <p>My son started JK (JESUS👏TAKE👏THE👏WHEEL👏) and I have to make lunches ⚰️ </p> <p>I fell down the lunch rabbit hole HARD! I bought my body weight in silicone cups and food picks and I’m 1 sandwich cutter away from needing a full blown 12 step program. </p> <p>I started an IG page to keep myself accountable in using this sh*t and prevent myself from packing warm hotdogs and KD for lunch (which in 3 weeks may very well be happening... but in cute silicone cups at least)</p> <p>ANYWAY.... Short story LONG - if you want some totally average(ish), healthy(ish), cute(ish) lunch ideas - add me on Instagram!</p> <p>instagram.com/youraveragebento</p> <p>(I’m not selling anything or pushing any product... just me and my weirdo lunch making)</p> <p>How are you handling lunch packing? Have you fallen down the crazy lunch rabbit hole like I have?</p> <p>[attach=3040/19/pxmvav.277x600.A0C29DCD-B968-490B-863A-7646E441EE1E.jpeg]</p> <p>[attach=3040/19/pxmvaw.293x600.3B170DEF-DF62-492F-8A6E-74073E787638.jpeg] </p>