4Real Forums: Meeting the needs of my 3 and 6yr old

Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.

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Topic: Meeting the needs of my 3 and 6yr old

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Erin
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Joined: Feb 23 2005
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Posted: June 10 2005 at 2:20am \| IP Logged

For a few years now I have struggled with the knowledge that my younger children don't receive the attention throughout the day that their older siblings did at the same age. Our day tends to revolve around the older childrens education.

I have tried to juggle time slots during our morning 'lessons' to fit them in but it hasn't worked. I have tried the afternoon but they want to be off playing with their siblings, and quite frankly I am needing a break by then. I have felt really guilty about this but have been unable to find the 'solution'.

Finally I have found a way that seems to be working. My older children often don't make their way down to breakfast until 8.30/9.00am.

However the younger three are up and feed by 8.00am generally. I have begun using this hour to gear readings/activities appropriate to their level.

An hour really doesn't seem enough but it is a start. We spend the first half hour reading 'Treasure Box', Bible stories, "Leading Litle Ones to Mary" etc The second half we are reading picture books and then basing an activity around the book, sort of like FIAR but just what suits me. ie. We read Eric Caryle's "Hungry Caterpillar' then pulled out the paints and 'painted' butterflys. Often the older ones wander in and listen/participate.

I am really excited that I have found a way that works for us. No more guilt.

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Erin
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Molly Smith
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Joined: Feb 08 2005
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Posted: June 10 2005 at 6:19am \| IP Logged

Erin wrote:

I have tried the afternoon but they want to be off playing with their siblings, and quite frankly I am needing a break by then.

I have the exact same situation here. I'm glad you found something that works--thanks for the suggestions!!

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Molly Smith in VA
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amiefriedl
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Posted: June 10 2005 at 6:38am \| IP Logged

I have a 7yo and a 3 yo only so far, and it is worth pointing out to you that they do not get too much more than an hour of school in the mornings anyway.

I'm picking up on time for my 7yo, but certainly when he was 6 it wasn't more than an hour.

You are doing a great job on this completely, imo!

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Amie
Blessed with an awesome hubby and Mom of ds10, dd7, dd3 and dd 10months.

ALmom
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Posted: June 10 2005 at 11:45am \| IP Logged

I think what you speak of must be a common problem as we also struggle with the same thing. I feel so guilty when I seem to be always putting off one of the younger ones. I treasure the moments and am grabbing time over the summer to focus especially on the younger.

Glad you found a solution.

I never even got around to doing much at all with the 6 yo and felt so badly. Our state requires records at age 7 and I was worried about how doing nothing for so long might hurt the younger ones. But that 6 yo is my best learner and does a lot with his 11 yo brother now. It has been very humbling to learn how little my teaching help meant.

We always do night stories and the littlest gets their very own while the oldest share a chapter book. Whenever we do arts or crafts with others we make sure to have extra supplies and one of the older can help the littlest join in. Also the 2 yo loves cutting and often he will sit at my feet and cut paper into thousands of tiny strips while I work with an older one. A glue stick will extend the activity even longer.

Janet

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