bookmomma Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 I am trying to figure out what to do with my toddler during homeschooling. She's almost 2 and right now her bedroom is right next to the school room. She has A LOT of toys in her bedroom to keep her occupied, and she wanders through the room throughout the day. I have her things on a low shelf in the school room for her to do "school work" and play. She has been quite content playing and keeping herself busy most of the time. She brings me board books and I read them to her. I take short breaks and play tea time with her. But she's becoming more demanding of my time. She's starting throwing full out fits when I don't pick her up right that second. It is really beginning to interfere with hs'ing my other two--who also require my full attention. What do you do with your toddlers when hs'ing? Your ideas and suggestions are greatly appreciated, A. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kentuckymommy Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 I have a sweetly demanding 2-dd....she is a handful, but since starting the Time Traveler's unit studies, I print her, her own copy of the activity and we do those with tthe big kids. At math time we count andshe does blocks, unit cubes, etc...We read board books and she has her own school notebook to, as we lovingly call it- destroy! She also loves to do puzzles. I tend to keep her near by to minimize disasters!;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in NH Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 I have a 2 1/2 year old little terror...a sweet little terror. We usually divide and conquer. DD plays with him, while I work with ds, and ds plays with him while I work with dd. That doesn't always work. Sometimes I get out the playdough or the moonsand or even shaving cream....and let him play. Unfortunately, the other two really want to join him during those times too! Sometimes I put him in the bath tub with a bunch of toys and let him take a bath. I sit next to the tub and do read alouds while the other two sit nearby and listen 9usually in the hallway because our bathroom is tiny). Somedays, nothing much works and we save quite a bit of stuff for his nap time. Having him do school work or color with us never works for more than 2 minutes! I hope that helps1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bookmomma Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share Posted January 21, 2009 I have a 2 1/2 year old little terror...a sweet little terror. KWYM Somedays, nothing much works and we save quite a bit of stuff for his nap time. She used to nap 2x a day, and things were better! Recently stopped that, though:( Having him do school work or color with us never works for more than 2 minutes! Yep, she mostly colors on the walls, floor, my computer, and everything BUT the coloring books or leap pad. I hope that helps1 It does. At least I know I'm not the only one who struggles. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ria Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 First, I'd make sure that your other kids don't need your full attention all the time. I'd work with each child individually on one subject, and then tell them their assignment. For example, work with Child A on math. You tell the child it's math time, go over the lesson (5-10 minutes, max) and then assign the problems for the day (Saxon, Singapore, Miquon, Horizons...it doesn't matter the program, the idea is the same. You go over the lesson and then let the child go - he/she can come to you with questions as needed). Next, move on to Child B...math, English...whatever. Instruct and assign. Also, have a list of work each older child can do without you (for us this was handwriting, Bible, some historical fiction reading, piano practice) so that if you are busy when they are finished they can move right on to something else. In between working with your older kids, read to your toddler. Do playdoh (messy, I know, but it can take up an hour of time for them!). Get out toys just for that day (I used to keep 5 separate boxes of toys, one for each day), but be sure to take them away after an hour. Take a walk outside, even if it's just for 5 minutes. Fix a snack together (even a 2-yr old can try to spread peanut butter on an apple slice). Hope this helps. Ria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in NH Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 It does. At least I know I'm not the only one who struggles. Thanks I just noticed that your children are the same ages as mine. I have no idea how your children are with reading independently, but my 8 year old is just starting to really read..so having her do independent work wasn't all that possible. She is also the type if you leave her alone with school work it doesn't get done....somwhow when i am not there she gets "stuck". ds6 isn't reading above a 1st grade level yet, so i cannot just tell him to do much either...Oh how I long for that day to come! If you don't mind messy stuff...we also have a large bowl full of raw rice and a few scoops. Once every two weeks I will put that in front of him and let him play. That is, until he starts to just dump it out! I have gotten 20 minutes with that before. The most time I have ever got him to stay on one activity is with the shaving cream and a few utensils...a paint brush, a measuring cup and a spoon. I sprayed the stuff all over his little plastic table and let him play in it....ds6 did eventually join him. Then they both took a bath. But I got to work with dd8 for over 1/2 an hour! we also do schoolwork in their room. The kids now have the largest room in the house for their bedroom....He will sometimes play for quite awhile in the room, if we are all there with him. one of the kids can be doing math at the desk, while I am going over religion or spelling with the other one. Mostly, though that is where I find I can do read alouds the most without the toddler whining and trying to take the book away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpidarkomama Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Well, I can offer sympathy, but not much advice. It's TRICKY!!! My kids are 5, 3, 2, and 1. The 1-year-old only takes one nap around 2:00. This is not the best learning time for the two bigs. Basically, I start with an activity that involves everyone (we do alef bet/Hebrew alphabet). My daughter teaches the 2-year-old the same thing I'm doing with the 3-year-old. She's super with this! And the 2-year-old feels very special. We spend about 30 minutes doing that. Then everyone draws while I read torah stories. Then our puppets teach us Hebrew. That's the first hour. We have a little snack, then 2&3 go play upstairs while 5 does a little more Jewish study then English reading, Hebrew reading, writing, and math. That takes about 1.5 hours. The last half hour of that or so 2&3 watch a Jewish video (Uncle Moishy for those in the know :)) if they want to. Then it's lunch time! In the afternoons we do outings, art, music, science, etc., mostly all together. I'm really looking forward (logistically speaking) to when the youngest is 3. I think things will be a lot easier then. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlockOfSillies Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 I try to have the kids do their chores and independent work when she's awake. I try to also have them trade off for one-on-one time with Mom during those times. We're gonna be in the "toddler tunnel" for a long time yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.