| Author | |
doris
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
|
| Posted: Oct 14 2009 at 5:44pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
What do you do when you can't even do crisis mode?!
I've read many times of people 'just reading aloud' when life is too busy or chaotic to manage anything else educational. I can't even do that with my super-active 20-month-old. This morning, I was determined to settle down and catch up on some read-alouds. Toddler was, as always, yanking the book off my lap, scribbling on the older children's drawings, grabbing books off shelves and tearing them, turning the computer on and off, crying, wanting to nurse and then not wanting to nurse, etc etc -- you get the idea!
When there's 'table time', he's on the table, scribbling on books (again) or dragging people away to play with him.
Crafts, cooking, gardening with children -- all almost impossible.
I aspired to an interest in Montessori for a while but that is completely unthinkable with my toddler in the picture.
He's very difficult to get to sleep (although he still needs a nap) so that's another source of stress. He's still waking several times a night.
He's not interested in 'his' toys. If I give him rice in a tub to play with, he eats it. Ditto playdough. He wants to play with his siblings, or me, and get involved in their activities, or mine. He seems to require constant attention.
I know he's just a normal toddler, really, but I can't get anything done and it's been like this for months. My eldest can get on on her own to a large degree but my 7yo and 5yo certainly can't. Also, while I'm not a slavish follower of CM, readalouds do, or should, form a big part of our homeschool, and they're well-nigh impossible. We do listen to some books on CD, but it's really not the same.
I'm beyond expecting any magic suggestions because I've tried lots of things and I can't imagine anything working -- but I'd love some encouragement that this is just a phase... Not least because I can't imagine going through this again but OTOH I would love to IYSWIM!
__________________
Home educating in London, UK with dd (2000) ds (2002), dd (2004), ds (2008) and dd (2011).
Frabjous Days
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: Oct 14 2009 at 6:00pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Are you getting outside and getting lots of exercise/activity? I mean for the little guy. Going for a walk with him in the stroller or a carrier doesn't help him.
How about a high chair (or booster on a dining chair) that he can still be buckled into.. that would let you do table time with him not able to climb onto the table. At first I imagine he'd cry and scream and complain but if you hold to it, you might be able to train him.. especially if you start with smaller amounts of time and have him doing things similar to others.. like coloring. And have you tried putting alum or use a salt dough for play dough?
And yes, he'll likely get better before too long.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Angel
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 22 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2293
|
| Posted: Oct 14 2009 at 6:13pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Does he nap? My survival strategy is to focus on the toddler/4 year olds when they are awake and have the older kids be as independent as possible. We do read aloud first thing in the morning, but I often have to have my older kids do the actual reading aloud, as I am walking in and out with various small children, taking them off the table, handing them crayons, taking crayons out of people's mouths, etc.
I think the advice to "just read aloud" is mostly for when you have kids who will settle for a while and you're feeling wiped out... not so much for when you have a turbo-charged 2 yo (or two) ;-) That's a whole different kind of survival...
We save anything that needs quiet, concentration, and me for the afternoon when the little ones nap (sort of).
__________________
Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SaraP
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 15 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 531
|
| Posted: Oct 14 2009 at 6:14pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Various ideas:
*put him in the bathtub, sit everyone else on cushions in the hall and read aloud while he splashes
*get everyone in the car mid-day, drive the toddler to sleep and then park somewhere and read aloud to everyone else
*let him watch a video while you work with the others (yes, I know they're not supposed to watch any videos before the age of 2)
*hire someone (even a 10 or 12 year old could probably do this) for a few hours a week just to play with the toddler while you work with the others
*push bedtime back for the older kids (and let wake-up time slide later, too) and 'do school' in the evenings after your toddler is asleep or your husband is home to wrangle him
Hang in there . . . it does pass!
__________________
Mama to six on earth, two in heaven and two waiting in Russia. Foxberry Farm Almanac
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: Not even crisis mode... Toddler troubles
