Use of English

A Busy Day at Home

When schools closed for a while, many families suddenly found themselves (0) WORKING from home and studying at the kitchen table. At first, it sounded convenient, but it quickly became clear that a good routine was essential. Most parents tried to (1) .......... a timetable that included lessons, breaks and some quiet time. Without it, children would (2) .......... off task and start arguing over small things. Food also became a bigger issue than expected: instead of grabbing something on the (3) .......... , everyone was at home, hungry at the same time. To keep things calm, some families agreed to (4) .......... turns choosing lunch, while others planned meals in advance. After lessons, play time was important too, but it had to be (5) .......... with homework and chores. In the evening, screens were often the biggest battle, so parents set clear rules and asked children to (6) .......... off devices at a certain hour. Finally, sleep made all the difference. If children stayed (7) .......... too late, the next morning was a disaster. But when everyone stuck to the plan, the day usually (8) .......... smoothly.