mirth Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Does your quiet time mean absolute silence whether or not the kids are asleep? Or is a general "Don't make me see or have conversation with anyone for 1 hour" sort of thing? Or some other variant? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amsunshine Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 We call our daily quiet time "rest and reading time". Most of the time, dds read a book or two. Occasionally, they might nap. Both of these activities necessarily require relative silence, so silence is our rule. The only time we do not require it would be when they are allowed to listen to an occasional audiobook. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfunnybunch Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Or is a general "Don't make me see or have conversation with anyone for 1 hour" sort of thing? Yes, this. My boys can quietly read, draw, dream, listen to music, sleep, play with toys. They just have to be quiet, stay in their quiet spot, and they may not ask twenty times, "Is quiet time over yet?" :D My older two boys do their free reading during part of their quiet time. I pledged to myself to use at least half of quiet time to read, relax or nap so that I get a genuine break too. Sometimes I will read next to one of the boys, but usually I spend it alone too. They actually look forward to quiet time and miss it on the days we don't have it. Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 The kids have to be laying down/resting on a couch or bed. My almost 4 year old dd still naps every day, but the boys (5 & 6) don't really. They can read, but not play with toys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Governess Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 They have to be in their rooms, playing quietly with quiet toys or reading books. And this means they have to be split up, because they haven't learned how to fight quietly yet. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christielee7278 Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 They have to be in their rooms, playing quietly with quiet toys or reading books. And this means they have to be split up, because they haven't learned how to fight quietly yet. ;) :D This is our house too. My toddler and occasionally my 3 yr old nap every afternoon that lasts between 1 1/2 to 2 hours. We do science and history during the first hour or so of that time and whatever time is left is spent quietly reading or playing.....separately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cera Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 My only requirement is that they are in their room (they share). They can play with puzzles, read or play quietly with dolls (no toys in the room). If there is any bickering or excessive noise one gets put in our bed and they both have to take a standard nap (lights out, shades drawn, nothing to read or do) nap in bed for one hour. It might sound a bit strict but that hour saves my sanity many days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KS_ Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 Does your quiet time mean absolute silence whether or not the kids are asleep? Or is a general "Don't make me see or have conversation with anyone for 1 hour" sort of thing? Or some other variant? Ours is more of just spending some alone time - they are supposed to spend the time fairly quietly in their rooms. They're not always that quiet :glare: I do allow them to go outside if they prefer, and my dd especially, often chooses that in the spring/summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halcyon Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 We have quiet time but it's mostly for me :) One hour in the afternoon where I usually lie in bed and read or doze. They must be playing quietly--crafts, books, drawing or reading. But I just banned them from the craft cabinet for 48 hours because they made a huge mess that they didn't clean up :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted February 8, 2010 Share Posted February 8, 2010 We were read and rest and stay on the beders. They grew to ask for the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyWImom Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 They have to be in their rooms, playing quietly with quiet toys or reading books. And this means they have to be split up, because they haven't learned how to fight quietly yet. ;) I love it! This is our rule too. They are too old for naps, but we all need a break from each other, and time to "be quiet". We try and do it every day, for 45min to an hour, but it doesn't always happen-daily, that is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissel Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 They are too old for naps, but we all need a break from each other, and time to "be quiet". We try and do it every day, for 45min to an hour, but it doesn't always happen-daily, that is. Yes, here too. I don't do quiet time every day, but when I do, they need to be in their rooms, playing quietly/listening to audiobooks/reading. If they pop out for unnecessary things, the clock gets started over again. I'm soooo looking forward to implementing this daily. Unfortunately, I need to work the timing out, because if left alone too long, DD4 tends to fall asleep. That's a BAD thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saraintx Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 We have rest time every day after lunch for 30 mins to an hour. I can't function without it! :blush: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionfamily1999 Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 They must play quietly in their rooms. If they cannot be quiet, then they must play quietly in their beds. If that doesn't work, then they're quiet twiddling their thumbs laying in bed. If that doesn't work then my head explodes and we end up agreeing it's just easier to be quiet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whereneverever Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 You have to be quiet, but not sleeping. My two year old sleeps everyday, but the five year old reads books, does puzzles, colors, ect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homeschooling6 Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 We have two hour quiet time and it means they can play quietly on their bed, read or sleep. No coming out unless they need to go potty;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsabelC Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 For us, Quiet Hour just means that each child is in a room on his/her own, basically not bugging me. They can be resting, reading or playing. If they want to make noise, they need to close their doors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narrow Gate Academy Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 My youngest still takes afternoon naps, so quiet time means reading or playing quietly. Sometimes that is alone, and sometimes I let them play together. They know I'll split them back up if I hear too much noise. They can bring me school work to check or come and ask questions. Otherwise it's my break to do some things on the pc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Does your quiet time mean absolute silence whether or not the kids are asleep? Or is a general "Don't make me see or have conversation with anyone for 1 hour" sort of thing? Or some other variant? My kids are supposed to stay in the room they are resting in and be reasonably quiet. They are not supposed to come to me with questions or comments. They do stay reasonably quiet. They also come to me with questions and comments. I dutifully send them back to rest with, "This is MY rest time, too, and we'll talk about that when rest is over." Tara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KellyinPA Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Oh, I miss "quiet time". We used to do this but when the youngest gave up naps, we stopped. Out of curiosity, how old are your oldest children who still have "quiet time"? Admittedly, it's probably more for me than for them, but I can see where it might be nice for them to have a break from one another during the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Out of curiosity, how old are your oldest children who still have "quiet time"? My oldest is 15. She is in school, but on days she is home (like today, snow day) and during the summer, she rests too. Quiet time is for everyone. I need the break, and the kids need the down time, and I think quiet time helps kids learn to entertain themselves and be alone with themselves. Tara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissel Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 My oldest is 15. She is in school, but on days she is home (like today, snow day) and during the summer, she rests too. Quiet time is for everyone. I need the break, and the kids need the down time, and I think quiet time helps kids learn to entertain themselves and be alone with themselves. Tara I agree, and once we get back the in habit, we'll be doing it for a good long time. Plus, I think a daily rest is just good for the body and mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3byzaz Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 We have always done 'rest time.' We have a 15 minute quiet time in the am for alone Bible reading. Our rest time is anywhere from 1-2 hours depending on the activities for the day. They use that time to do homework - anything left over, free reading, audio book listening, quiet play, etc. They do have to stay in their rooms. Unfortunately, this is an on-going training process--to STAY in there, but they are pretty good. All of mine like it - they need the alone time. I definitely do - it's the only time I get things I need to do without interruptions done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tess in the Burbs Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 quiet time here means alone time. the kids are in their rooms. they read for 30 minutes and then may play 30 min alone. no bothering anyone. leave your room only for bathroom needs. it's truly quiet. I get time to do things in the kitchen or on the computer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Quiet is strictly enforced. It is the same type of time as reading time before bed. Basically it boils down to 'don't remind mom that you are here or you will pay, because it will wreck her daydream that she in on a tropical island alone' :D :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionfamily1999 Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Quiet is strictly enforced. It is the same type of time as reading time before bed. Basically it boils down to 'don't remind mom that you are here or you will pay, because it will wreck her daydream that she in on a tropical island alone' :D :lol: That's the same sort of quiet time we have here ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amsunshine Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Out of curiosity, how old are your oldest children who still have "quiet time"? My oldest is 8 1/2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elise1mds Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 They have to be in their rooms, playing quietly with quiet toys or reading books. And this means they have to be split up, because they haven't learned how to fight quietly yet. ;) That's what it is at my house, too. It is never entirely quiet, because my daughter couldn't stop talking if she was held at gunpoint, but during this hour, *I* do not have to be held hostage under her barrage of words :) ETA my oldest is 7 1/2... but I will probably have 'quiet' or 'separation' time all the way up (though if DD stays in school, it will probably move to a time after she gets home). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melenie Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 We have quiet/reading time. My girls share a room so I cannot split them up. We all stay in the same room and read or nap, no conversations allowed. This time is as much for me as it is for them. The 3 year old normally falls asleep and my 6 year old and I read during that time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelBee Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 I am trying to do this in our home. It never seems to work :) Will try again today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johanna Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 Does your quiet time mean absolute silence whether or not the kids are asleep? Or is a general "Don't make me see or have conversation with anyone for 1 hour" sort of thing? Or some other variant? Yup, thats exactly what it is!! In your rooms till I say time to come out! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lotsofpumpkins Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 (edited) So, say you have 5 children, and the 3 boys are ages 6, 5, and 3, and don't know the definition of "quiet".... :lol: (and they share a room so I can't just send them to their beds and expect them to quietly read or rest for an hour. I feel like I'm pretty strict/consistent with them, and yet they just don't listen! Bedtime is difficult around here too, unless it is late and they are wiped out). We've tried "quiet reading time in your beds" at bedtime, and unless I parked myself in the room, they got wild. And after a few days of parking myself in the room, thinking they had learned to behave, I would go to the living room or kitchen, only to hear them playing and yelling a few minutes later, instead of reading. So, how do you go about implementing a quiet time? And what time are you doing this? We are still doing schoolwork after lunch when it's time for the baby's nap. I'd love to rest for a few minutes during that time but I'm having to continue working with my 2 oldest on their schoolwork (and keep the other 2 in the playroom so they don't wake up the baby!). By the time we finish up schoolwork, the baby is up, the children want to play outside, and I need to work on the laundry and start supper. Edited February 10, 2010 by lotsofpumpkins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peela Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 I just have a quiet time for myself- I felt the kids were getting to old for me to enforce one for them. I go to my room and rest, read, sleep if I am tired. Everyone knows not to disturb me or else I will be very mad with them. Dh and I trained the kids to let us rest quietly from a very young age. When things get too much, Ive always been able to retreat to my room for a while- well, since they were school age, anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melinda S in TX Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 Quiet time around here means no talking or interacting with anyone else. Everyone is down for 1-2 hours and then everyone but the baby gets up. What they can do depends on the age/maturity of each one. 2yo naps every day for 2-2.5 hours. 4yo is on the couch with a stack of books, logic puzzle, dolls, and doll supplies. 7yo is on a mat on the floor or at the little wooden table. He is allowed books, logic games, puzzles, and drawing supplies. The older three (14, 12, 9) can be wherever they want as long as it's not bothering someone else. They do school, read, handiwork, listen to stories on tape, draw, whatever. The main rule is be quiet and do it alone. Quiet time is for me too. I usually do something on the computer or get something ready for school. More "workish" type things. My relaxing time is in the evening after they are in bed. Melinda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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