amtmcm Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 Today was my DD4th first day to homeschool. She did great! We covered all subjects right off the bat and she was a real trooper. We were finished by 1 and got to go swimming. She is a very reluctant reader and I had some apprehensions about how she would do with our read alouds. She loves Holling's Seabird. The CLE reader (not doing the Lightunits) was received with a lukewarm response. Overall she did well, but she was very fidgety which I expected. I let her play with the bobble on the light switch and hang upside down in her chair while she listened. She colored some, and that worked well, but we're not always sitting at a table. I'm going to buy her a stressball, and maybe some legos. I don't want to get one of those big balls for her to sit on. My Mom has one and DD loves it, but she also torments her sister & the dog with it and comes up with too many daring tricks which make me nervous. Do you have any other suggestions for quiet things she can do with her hands while we're reading? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindee Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 Can she learn to knit or crochet? When I knit I can comprehend what's being said or read so much better! Or maybe sewing on buttons or some kind of stitch work? Oh, my dd had those beads that you put on little peg boards to makes shapes (I forget what they're called), but that might be something she could do, then once the reading is over you can go iron the shape! I think you did very well to let her hang from her chair and color, etc.! My middle one was fidgety, and learned better while moving or saying things out loud. He also hung off couches and chairs. :D I let him do small amounts of Legos while I read. I'd ask a question now and then about what I had been reading, and he could tell me the answer, so I figured I'd continue to let him do those things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Alte Veste Academy Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Modeling wax is good for keeping hands busy. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BabyBre Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Play-Doh or a stress ball is what was recommended to us for our fidgety one. You can also get her a lap desk or a clipboard to use for coloring during read alouds. Dc keep theirs under their beds for our bedtime read alouds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangermom Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Sewing cards! I always find it so much easier to focus and listen when I'm doing embroidery or something... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 I used to have my son draw pictures to illustrate what was going on in the story. Big box of crayons one day, big box of markers the next. Different kinds of paper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amtmcm Posted August 11, 2009 Author Share Posted August 11, 2009 Thanks for the great ideas! Please keep them coming! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmacnchs Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Oh, my dd had those beads that you put on little peg boards to makes shapes (I forget what they're called), but that might be something she could do, then once the reading is over you can go iron the shape! At first I was thinking LightBrite! but then I read the rest of the sentence...don't know what they're called but I used to LOVE doing those! Anyway, LightBrite is an idea;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 (edited) Do you have any other suggestions for quiet things she can do with her hands while we're reading? Color Shifting Illusions Thinking Putty from Timberdoodle. Description from the website: These putties look their best in direct sunlight, but even under office lights, the endless color play keeps your eyes captivated and your hands engrossed. Oil Slick changes colors from purple through pink, gold, and yellow, to emerald green. Scarab shimmers with soothing blue, cerulean highlights, and royal purple. Lava swirls deep clay reds and orange with a yellow to green sheen. Each is absolutely gorgeous. Looks like the clay-colored one is no longer available, but they also have heat sensitive and glow in the dark. Edited August 11, 2009 by gardening momma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebug42 Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 I have a child like this and when I read, I either break out the jigsaw puzzles or the math manipulatives. She loves the shape ones, I think they are called tangrams. She is very happy fidgeting with the manipulatives and it helps her focus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 I thought for sure someone would have mentioned wiggle cushions! They're disks, usually bumpy, about 1.5" thick that sit on the chair, your child sits on it. It allows them wiggle movement with less effort, therefore less figity. A must for our son! ETA: sorry I did the .ca link there, but there is a .com site. :o) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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