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ShawnaB
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| Posted: Jan 17 2008 at 2:55pm | IP Logged
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I am wondering if anyone else can relate to this situation, and may have any insight.
One of the (many) reasons we love homeschooling is that it takes our children, especially our young children, off the treadmill of the public school system with its intense schedules and overload of extra-curricular functions. I have always believed that children need plenty of unscheduled, free time inorder to be creative and nurture natural learning.
Here's what is going on though. My son age 7.5 is ultra task-oriented. He loves projects, work, and challenge. He is ULTRA competitive, at even at his young age is passionate about team sports. And I recognize his hard-wiring: he's so much like my dh. Dh has a really hard time when there is too much free time and no plan. When he does have "free time", he's devouring a book, competing at something, or completing some project.
When we have quiet, open afternoons, my daughter is delighted. She and the toddlers get lost in immaginative play...she makes art or goes outside. Not my son. He has never been one to initiate immaginative anything. And he can become restless and grumpy if he doesn't have a plan for how he's going to spend his time.
I'm wondering, does my plan for homeschooling include too much free time for my son? There are plenty of opportunities for him: charter school classes, community choir, private classes, etc. He just started working at his Dad's office 2 hrs/week and LOVES it. But I have NOT wanted to be one of those moms schlepping their kids to 100 activities. However, perhaps my son needs more. I don't know. Does anyone relate to this?
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Shawna, wife of Jacob, mom to Abraham 8 Amelia 5 and Jillian & Jonathan age 3 years http://www.psalm121family.com
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Martha
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| Posted: Jan 17 2008 at 3:52pm | IP Logged
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there's free time and there's idle time.
free time can be refreshing and inspiring
idle time is for the devil's doing as granny would have said.
granny had 4 boys, so I'm thinking they are who she was remembering when she told me that years ago. 
all of my boys after about age 2 or 3, need free time, but they need something to DO during that time.
here's some ideas:
dangerous book for boys or backyard ballistics
painting (all of mine are loving paint by numbers right now!)
legos and/or k'nex (these come with some really intricate designs for them to follow, so they don't have to just stare at the box like a blank page at the begining of a novle, iykwim)
we have foosball and air hockey out in the garage that are well used
anything to do with critters - a good nature book, a bug jar, and a sunny day
weeding or gardening. (very theraputic if done WITH mom,not as a punishment, oh the conversations we've had while working!)
photography - buy digital!
welcome to the world of boys! it's a wonderful adventure! 
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Martha
mama to 7 boys & 4 girls
Yes, they're all ours!
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Sarah M
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| Posted: Jan 17 2008 at 6:26pm | IP Logged
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No words of advice, Shawna- just sympathy! My oldest daughter (6) seems bored anytime I don't have something scheduled for her. It frustrates me- especially since we homeschool to give her all that free time! I've read that when this happens with K-2 kids, they are going through a phase of needing more meaningful work- but that doesn't mean busywork. I'm on a mission to work that in somehow. I'm grateful for any advice from anyone else on this!
Sarah
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DeAnn M
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| Posted: Jan 17 2008 at 9:35pm | IP Logged
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Maybe you could add more activities for him...Martha gave some great ideas. Also, When I taught school, I always had those students who finished their work way earlier than the others. I developed a "Finished Folder." In the folder I had a list of things for them to do such as write a story with this story starter...use the pattern blocks to make a picture then trace and color it...Write a letter to George Washington...etc. etc. (I attempted to cover every subject.) They would check off the box that they chose and then do the activity. When they completed all of the tasks they could get a treat. That seemed to work well for those students. It gave them a purpose, a goal that they could complete step by step, and some fun extension activities.
I would also add, however, that I think I am like your son. If there is anything that God has impressed upon me for about the last 10 years of my life, however, it is to, "Be Still." Those of us like your dear son sometimes even need to be instructed on how to be still...still your mind and your heart...even if it is just for 5 minutes. Beginning to learn this now will be of great value to him and those he loves in the future. It will even increase the depth of his prayer life.
Hope that's helpful!
DeAnn
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BrendaPeter
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| Posted: Jan 17 2008 at 9:38pm | IP Logged
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Dear Shawna,
Your schedule sounds great - I wouldn't change a thing!
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Blessings,
Brenda (mom to 6)
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Jan 18 2008 at 7:59am | IP Logged
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Shawna,
I completely agree with your philosophy on outside the home activities. And I don't think you should change it either.
I really appreciated reading Martha's thoughts on boys - having a 7yo who's very much in the same boat as yours. Those are wise thoughts, and I'm going to pray about how I can best make a variety of directed physical activities available to him before we go bonkers. I know he is most at ease when he is digging up the back yard/fixing something that was never broken/building with direction.
I'm thinking of having him work on his own idea book for open afternoons next week in school. I think that will give me some more ideas for him. Then I'm wondering if he doesn't need his own "tool" box - with broken clocks/appliances that are ok to take apart, his work gloves, a map of our land with areas marked that are ok for digging, etc. I need to think about this some more.
Thank you for starting this thread...I was really beginning to wonder how to provide healthy physical activities for my restless guy. 
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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Chari
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| Posted: Jan 18 2008 at 11:44pm | IP Logged
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Martha wrote:
we have foosball and air hockey out in the garage that are well used
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Hey, Shawna......I noticed two weeks ago, the foosball at Sports Authority in Reno was marked down post-Christmas to $199.......and yesterday in Medford at $99.
My kids had such a blast playing this and air hockey at so many of their friends' homes on our Star Spangled Adventure last summer......Mary Chris and Gwen come to mind
I would get one, if I actually had a place to put one.....you have a great spot at the back of your garage.........and Jacob could be competeive WITH his son, whenever they run out of competetive things to do
See ya on Monday......if all are well here....Anne is fighting something, yet again 
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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Martha
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| Posted: Jan 19 2008 at 9:10am | IP Logged
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my in-laws just got the foosball and air hocky from there for my kids for christmas and not a day has gone by that they haven't been in use.
now, our garage is not really a garage because our van won't fit in it, so we use it as a messy craft and game room.
boys just don't handle idle time well. they seem to think best when they are doing something with their hands. just my experience.
other things my kids like, magic kits and eletric circut kits and cooking.
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Martha
mama to 7 boys & 4 girls
Yes, they're all ours!
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Chari
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| Posted: Jan 19 2008 at 10:47am | IP Logged
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oh, wouldn't Abraham love an electric kit?
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Too much free time??
