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Chandra
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Joined: March 03 2007
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| Posted: March 10 2007 at 1:29pm | IP Logged
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...with a 19 month old, very busy boy while you try and get school done with the older ones?!? This is our first year homeschooling and I am at a loss! Michael is our first boy and he is so different from his sisters! He doesn't enjoy sitting at the table with us while we do school, I've tried certain blocks/toys just for school time and they each last about 5 minutes and then he's off to find mischief. I feel like I am constantly interrupting the girls asking them to go check on their brother.
The only things that work so far are *gasp* buckling him in his high chair in front of Little Einstiens. He will sit and watch 3-4 episodes in a row before he gets bored. Or as soon as my Kindergartener gets done with her school (she can usually finish in a half hour to 45 minutes) I make her keep him occupied. We do save the harder subjects for when he is napping, but I am finding myself needing to nap at the same time as this pregnancy progresses. So, what do you do with little ones that are sooooo busy while you are trying to school a few older ones?
Chandra mom to,
Lexi 9
Tori 8
Liz 6
Gen 4
Becca 2
Michael 19 months and baby boy due in June
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JenniferS
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| Posted: March 10 2007 at 3:14pm | IP Logged
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I am relatively new to hs'ing, too. My kids are around the same age as your's. I usually have one of the big kids keep the younger two occupied while I work with each of the biggers. They rotate. It is not perfect, and I still run interference when needed, but my 16 month old doesn't generally want to be on my lap or sitting still for much time at all. Blocks usually turn into weapons at this point. HE pelts whoever is within throwing distance with them. So...having the bigger kids rotate time with the sixteen month old, and sometimes with the three year old, is the best solution I have found so far. Some days we are all together, and it does work, but most days we rotate.
HTH.
Jen
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teachingmyown
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Joined: Feb 20 2005
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| Posted: March 11 2007 at 12:28pm | IP Logged
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Rotating the big kids to watch him is a good idea. Another is to toddler proof the house or at least parts of it. Lock bedroom doors and bathrooms. Secure all scissors and writing utensils that don't scrub easily from walls. Also, strategically place different toys/activities around the house that would catch his eye while he is looking for mischief. For example, instead of giving him blocks or puzzles, put some on a bench in the hallway. If he thinks it is his own idea, he might be more likely to use it.
It has been a while since I had a toddler boy, my youngest boy is 9, but my 3 yr old dd is just as mischievious as any boy! I think she has written on every wall and door in our house. She has cut her hair, smothered the coat rack with Desitin, scrubbed the bathroom mirrors with handsoap, and so on. It is an almost constant cry around here "Where is Kateri?!" 
One thing that was a life saver for our little active guy years ago was a Jump-o-lene
He would spend hours playing in this. These days he spends his days on the trampoline outside.
good luck!
__________________
In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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Maryan
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| Posted: March 11 2007 at 3:10pm | IP Logged
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This is my first year homeschooling -- and my toddler gained TONS of weight when I first started because my solution was to give him a snack every time that he wandered!!
On a serious note, I looked in the Montessori forum here and took some of the "practical life" suggestions and made baskets for 2 year old in the kitchen. Some of his favorites are washing the patio door windows and pouring beans.
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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extremeknitter
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Joined: March 08 2007
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| Posted: March 15 2007 at 11:16am | IP Logged
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I have the girls take care of their brother, too. I have them take turns. Sometimes we'll move school to whatever room necessary so I can sit on the floor with him while going over math lessons or doing dictation or whatever.
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blessings and peace,
~knitter
mom to 6 terrific kids (ages 21 down to 1) and 10 little saints
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: So what do you do...
