Trying to accomplish school with a toddler around

[pinkmint]

This is probably an age-old question, and I'm sure many people have successfully homeschooled with a toddler around. Sometimes I just don't see how it's possible though. 

 

My 20 month old kept 2 naps for a long time, so his morning nap was the only way I could do school. Now that he's finally transitioning to 1 nap I have no idea what I'm going to do. I guess I could do school during his mid-day nap, but that is the absolute worst time for my energy levels. I will have to slog through it with very low mental acuity. Should I just do this until toddler is older?

 

I guess I want to hear that things will get better. I'm at the point where I don't even want to try keeping the toddler busy while I do school. I guess there are toddlers out there who this will work on (more likely female ones, is my experience). But have you ever had a toddler who will just scream and or find a way to sustain severe injuries or destruction if you try to make them be independent for 30 minutes? I can't school with a screaming toddler, and by the time I train him out of that he won't be a toddler anymore anyway. 

 

Any insights? He is hanging on me whining right now. 

 

For the record, my best energy levels are first thing in the morning. Doing school at that time would be ideal. As it is, my toddler wakes at 5:45 daily and I'm ready to go to collapse by the time it's his nap time. 

[Kat w]

No help for ya today . my mom sent candied....apples. Apparent were supposed to be delivered sat. They were not.

 

Now they are hyoer and my 4 yo grd is single-handed ly disassembling ber moms scrap book from when her mom was 8:)

 

When my big kids were little. I would try it before the toddler got up . around 7 am. Got about an hour in...then again at morning nap. I know those r hard...maybe even quiet rest time or mom cuddling him while I try to listen to one read to me.

 

Afternoons your right. Not ideal.

 

Sometimes...all ya got :/

Sorry. The toddler grows up tho! Lol :)

Oh. And hubby left this morning on a business trip :/ oiy)

Edited December 7, 2015 by Kat w

[4KookieKids]

If your older kids are only 7 and 5, I would just trim down your expectations to whatever you feel is the most basic thing you can do. For us, that means we do reading/writing a la Spalding and math a la Singapore. Everything is else is informal: just library books, walks outside, daily conversations, etc.. I believe there's lots of time later to "learn", whereas what I want from kids right now is to learn to *enjoy* learning - and that doesn't happen when mama's always stressed about school work and constantly trying to divert the toddlers while not making older kids jealous of the toddler's extra playtime. :)

 

ETA: It sent before I was done my thought. The very small amount of table work that we do then gets done while the younger children do "towel time" -- a set of 3 towels, each of which has a particular toy or basket of books on it, and I rotate the kids through 10-15 minutes on each towel. That gives me just enough time to "squeak" in our lessons, assuming the 6 month old doesn't melt down in the mean time! Sometimes, we skip it altogether, and I just don't worry about it so long as we get it done a few times a week. They still make plenty good progress!

Edited December 7, 2015 by deanna1ynne

[Hilltopmom]

I feel YA- we have a mobile baby and a toddler. Nap time is school with mom & making dinner time. Sigh.

 

My big kids are teens though & do most work alone. My SN kiddo doesn't do a lot of sit down school. We also use weekends when husband is home to wrangle little ones in another part of the house.

 

I'd cut back, if I were you. We didn't do sit down school at young ages- just lots of books & games & play. And audio books! Get them used to playing lego or something while listening to a story- that worked for years! Anything by Jim Weiss:)

[Monica_in_Switzerland]

My fourth is my first destructs-baby.  He gets into everything.  Luckily he cannot open doors, so when we are schooling, everything is closed and he is stuck in the living/dining area with us.  He has toys that he throws around, a rocking horse that he'll rock on a bit, and then there's always hanging off my leg and screaming.  That's fun too.  

 

He does like snack, so I usually get 10 minutes of play out of him, then sit him up for a snack while we work on the next thing.  Everything has to be kept out of his reach, or else he'll wreck it.  After snack, he might do another 10 minutes of "quiet" play.  We get a LOT done in those thirty minutes.  lol.  

[desertflower]

Coffee!  ;) 

 

My kids are almost 7, 5, and 3.  So pretty close to your kids ages.  At this point in time, I usually have the younger two play together.  What also has helped is sports activities. So while the 5 yo or 3 yo is taking gymnastics, I can teach my 7 yo while my dh takes care of the the one not in class. 

 

I would drive around and time it around the same time my then 2 yo would nap.  I would teach then.  Either Sotw audiobooks, or Sassafras twins book, or mental math, or just read other books to them (my older 2). 

 

I notice that my youngest is more compliant when I give her attention first. 

 

I would also try to include the then 2 yo.  For example, handwriting.  I would print out the same pages for all three, so it looks like they are learning the same thing.  I also did this with other stuff, such as Sotw.  My then 2 yo would color the pages offered in the activity guide. 

 

At this point in time, I also have Home Art Studio and Draw Write Now.  This is something all three can do.  I of course, will help the youngest.  DWN has copywork as well.  I using DWN for copywork and handwriting.  2 for the price of one.  ;) 

 

I used to have to do lessons in the evenings when dh was off from work.  or weekends.

 

I hope this information was helpful.  It'll all work out in the end.  I just don't have high expectations.  I don't set myself up to finish this book in 5 months, etc.

 

Things will get better!

[wintermom]

I completely understand. When my youngest was a crazy-active toddler I was 40, and his afternoon "nap" was definitely my nap time, too, just for survival. Morning school with the older dc was shorter with a lot less sitting for everyone. For a year we had to completely drop me doing read-alouds and go to audio books in the car.  On the flip side, this kid was the one demanding school books at a very early age, so we were able to jump back into a regular school routine by the time he was 3. There have been PLENTY of years to "catch-up" from those months of toddler activity.

 

Different seasons in the life of a family require different looks to the homeschool.  

[HomeAgain]

Today I have a 1st grader, K'er, and a 2yo.  Our day goes with a lot of cuddling, a lot of 'sharing', and a lot of just bringing everyone else along for the ride.

 

Example - the 1st grader will have dictation here in a minute.  At the same time, the K'er will build words with magnetic letters and the 2yo will alternate between a drawing board, my lap, and an aquadoodle.  I'll move on to helping the K'er read while the toddler plays with magnetic shapes on her board and the 1st grader does reading comprehension independently.  Set the K'er up with math blocks to play while I check the comprehension work and set the toddler with the bilibo to rock in (helped by my foot).  Art this afternoon will be me giving direction to the older two while showing them by helping the 2yo.

 

There's no independent work here at these ages.  Everyone needs something, I just have to adjust and bring them all in.

 

[AnniePoo]

My advice?  Ditch MFW.  Your story basically mirrored mine last year, right down to using MFW.  School was great until toddler quit taking his morning nap and then I nearly lost my mind.  MFW is fantastic, but it does contain lots of extras that really are not necessary unless you have the time and patience.  

 

Right now your 7yo need math & LA and your 5yo needs no more than phonics, handwriting, and basic math.  

 

Do stuff around the table when you're there anyway for meals.  After breakfast, while still at the table, break out the flash cards and then teach the math lesson to your older child.  He can then (hopefully) work on the assignment while you're hanging with the toddler.  During morning snack, do something similar.  Read aloud while everyone is eating then have child start spelling.  

 

Repeat with meals.  

 

FWIW, if K is taking longer than 30 minutes, pare down.  

 

Looking back over my years homeschooling (I'm 2 years ahead of you), it's obvious that academics are important, but fluff is not.  Stick with what is sustainable and don't stress yourself out.  Stick with the basics (3 R's), read a bunch of picture books, and call it good. 

 

FWIW, I have 4 children.  9, 7, 5, 2

Edited December 7, 2015 by AnniePoo

[Hilltopmom]

Oh, and I started letting the toddler watch a show, thank you Netflix;)

 

I prefer no TV for little kids, but you gotta do what u gotta do....

 

Or put the trouble maker on my back in a carrier so at least they aren't throwing trucks at each other.

[Momto6inIN]

Maybe have the 7 and 5 year old take turns playing with him while you do a lesson with the other in the mornings.

 

Then after putting the toddler down for nap, take a quick 5 minute power nap (those help me soooooo much - much better than a long nap when I wake up groggy and disoriented) while the older 2 look at books quietly by themselves, then do the rest of school with them during the nap and toddler's after nap snack time.

 

We usually only spent about 1 hour on school at age 7, other than read alouds and stuff that we did at mealtimes, so maybe that would be enough?

[Momto6inIN]

Oh, and I started letting the toddler watch a show, thank you Netflix;)

 

I prefer no TV for little kids, but you gotta do what u gotta do....

 

Or put the trouble maker on my back in a carrier so at least they aren't throwing trucks at each other.

 

Oh, and I second this :)

30 minute shows are worth their weight in gold during the toddler years.

[Ellie]

If your older kids are only 7 and 5, I would just trim down your expectations to whatever you feel is the most basic thing you can do. For us, that means we do reading/writing a la Spalding and math a la Singapore. Everything is else is informal: just library books, walks outside, daily conversations, etc.. I believe there's lots of time later to "learn", whereas what I want from kids right now is to learn to *enjoy* learning - and that doesn't happen when mama's always stressed about school work and constantly trying to divert the toddlers while not making older kids jealous of the toddler's extra playtime. :)

 

ETA: It sent before I was done my thought. The very small amount of table work that we do then gets done while the younger children do "towel time" -- a set of 3 towels, each of which has a particular toy or basket of books on it, and I rotate the kids through 10-15 minutes on each towel. That gives me just enough time to "squeak" in our lessons, assuming the 6 month old doesn't melt down in the mean time! Sometimes, we skip it altogether, and I just don't worry about it so long as we get it done a few times a week. They still make plenty good progress!

 

:thumbup:

[wendyroo]

Once my toddlers stop sleeping during morning nap I turn that into independent play time in their crib or room.  I have found that my toddlers are much better playing by themselves if they cannot see or hear anyone or anything else.  They choose two or three toys from a special stash that is only available during that time, I turn on some fun music and they play for 45-60 minutes.  This continues until they are preschoolers and are ready to join us at the table during school time.  By then, they are starting to drop their afternoon nap and that becomes their rest/independent play time.

 

I have three boys (6, 4 and 2) and a newborn girl.  Our general routine is:

6ish - Kids wake up and read/look at book in their beds

7am - Everyone up, chores, breakfast, get ready for day

8 - 9:30ish - Play time, clean up and snack

9:30 - 10:30 - Toddler plays in his room while the big kids do school

10:30 - 12ish - Play or errand or park or speech therapy

12ish - Lunch and clean up

1ish - Toddler down for nap, Preschooler into his room for rest time, First Grader does his math and then has rest time

3ish - Everyone up and snack

 

Wendy

[Kathryn]

I have a 19mo. She's as destructive as, if not more so than, my middle child at her age. I keep myself sane by counting down the Kings until age two because that's when it got better last time. She takes one nap and its in the morning, so I try to squeeze school that needs me right there during that.

[Kristie in Florida]

My daughter is older and more independent than yours, but my toddler is in the process of giving up his naps. I hear ya.

 

I didn't read all of the replies. I actually just locked myself in my room for a few minutes of peace before dinner and saw this. Just want to offer a hug.

 

My toddler will pick up any writing implement that was left around and will scribble on the closest book. Usually it is a math textbook. We've started to sign his name and date it because these textbooks will most likely be his one day.

 

Every day is certainly an adventure. I seem to pretty much let him make a mess of his toys and we just school around it. If he gets too loud I'll either send my daughter up to do something independent in her room or try to get him down for a nap. Lately those naps have been hard to come by though! We had to drop or change some curricula because I couldn't be in two places at once.

[Camy-7 boybarians 1 lady]

See this website for LOTS of great ideas:  http://preschoolersandpeace.com/

[FO4UR]

With olders at 7yo and 5yo, I'd streamline their school day and add in things that they can do via computer while you chase the toddler.

 

Spelling City

Prodigy Math

Read, Write, Type by talkingfingers.com

Time4Learning

 

 

Then it's a matter of finding a way to entertain and contain the toddler while you school with the olders.  Even if you are just able to gradually teach him so that next year runs smoother, do it.  When the weather warms up, the park is a nice place to school.  Start teaching your older kids to spend 20min playing with the toddler.  Actively teach this.  If you can get in 20min with one while the other is playing with the toddler, that is something.

 

And the good thing is that 7yo and 5yo really do not need much intensive teacher time.