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albeto
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| Posted: Jan 17 2011 at 11:27am | IP Logged
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I'm embarrassed to ask, but I need some ideas for my kids. They're now 11 and 13 and are starting to talk about going back to school. I think the only reason is because they're bored at home. My dd came home from school in 6th grade and my son in 4th. I don't know if it's because they're so used to their time being organized that they don't know what to do with themselves without being told or because they don't have a momma with a hobby that they don't know how to pursue long term projects. But they're bored. Until recently I've had to spend most of my time with my oldest child with special needs. I feel like I've neglected my younger ones (which was one reason I wanted them home to school - so I wouldn't miss their childhood completely). It breaks my heart to hear they want to go to school for personal reasons, but I also think there's so much more value and opportunity when education is home-based (also, dd has a hard time in school with some subjects and I think it would crush the self-esteem she finally got when she came home). Only, apparently not in this home. :( My 11 likes engineering but I'm completely useless. My dd used to like writing but has lost interest in that. She likes art but it doesn't fill her days. I'm just at a loss as to help.
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Jan 17 2011 at 12:57pm | IP Logged
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Here are a few ideas off the top of my head. I'm just sitting here looking around the learning spaces at the areas/tools/shelves my kids gravitate toward if they have free time to pursue their own interests...
CRAFT & ART SUPPLIES
** clay & clay tools
** watercolors & watercolor paper
** modge podge
** sketching pencils
** watercolor pencils
** acrylic paints, paintbrushes, foam brushes
** popsicle sticks
** felt, yarn, embroidery thread
** Dover coloring books are fantastic and inexpensive and cover a variety of topics. I keep a good supply of them around - some coordinate with history or science topics, others are just on topics we enjoy.
** calligraphy set with nice papers and penmanship instruction book
** stencils and stamps
ENGINEERING FUN:
** K'Nex education kits make fantastic engineering tool kits. In fact, I built an entire engineering science program for my elementary science student using David Macauley's The Way Things Work and several K'Nex kits. The course is titled Boy Meets Machine and you can find more details here.
RAINY DAY SHELF:
** Origami kit
** Paper doll kits
** String Games
** Logic games from WFF 'n PROOF
** Stamp collection
** Puzzle and crossword books
** Sticker books
** Paper Airplane books (we have the Klutz book and one other, but there are many other great books with interesting instructions.)
These are the kind of activities and supplies you can use to provide tools for inspiration, but I don't use these supplies and then direct (although I do sometimes pull from our supplies for an occasional project), my kids (14, 10, 6) are pretty self-directed with these tools and supplies.
If a child complains of boredom here, I pull out my handy "I'm bored and need a chore" list. It could be worthwhile to come up with a list of household improvement activities (otherwise known as chores) to refer to and assign when a child complains of boredom.
Another idea might be to jazz up the lesson plans a bit - not talking total overhaul here, but perhaps there are a few interesting books or projects you could work in to fill in a few holes that would add fullness to the day.
Hope there's an idea here for you!
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Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Jan 17 2011 at 1:35pm | IP Logged
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Do they do anything out of the house? It could be "cabin fever" where nothign sounds good because what's really wrong is they're feeling cooped up and restless.
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All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
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Servant2theKing
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| Posted: Jan 17 2011 at 4:05pm | IP Logged
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If dd is not adverse to such things, Nerf swords have been a BIG hit here! We've also been reading all sorts of fictional and non-fictional books about medieval times, with a movie thrown in here and there for good measure. Just this afternoon we had quite a lively discussion about the historical inaccuracies of one of my favorite images...a fair damsel with flowing hair, knighting a young lad...I came in on the side of the romance of the scene...ds's chimed in on how women of that period did not bestow knighthood, the helmet not being true to the timeframe portrayed, etc. etc. etc. Do not despair, there IS fun and delight to be found in homeschooling, even on a dull winter day after many, many years of home educating! I may debate with dc, but I am secretly amazed and completely delighted by how MUCH they've learned, mostly on their own, about SO many subjects!!! They have "regular assigned studies", but they've also learned a GREAT deal more, about things I never even heard of in school, mostly on their own! Thank God for the freedom to expose them to countless good books and other resource, and free time in their days to explore them!!! Libraries are full of books to inspire budding engineers, writers or artists...many about famous people who never stepped foot in a classroom! Can you take dc to your local library, load them up with great books about subjects they've shown interest in, then let them loose in the afternoons and evenings to explore to their heart's content?
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ekbell
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| Posted: Jan 17 2011 at 6:40pm | IP Logged
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Building in opportunities for physical activity outside does wonders, particularly for those of us prone to the winter blues. [this comes to mind because of my house of grumpy children after a week of extra-cold temperatures. I expect that they'll be much happier tomorrow as it will finally be warm enough to go sledding.]
Are either of them extroverted?
One of my sisters has a VERY extroverted child and she's found that she needs to build in plenty of opportunities for this child to go out and meet people if homeschooling is to succeed. Too many days without going out and meeting people leads to low energy, boredom and lots of dramatic misery.
BTW cooking and the like can be quite interesting as well as useful. Other chores can have the dual purpose of increasing the motive to find something else to do and actually learning skills which will be needed life long.
Re-hobbies in general, one of my best realizations about homeschooling and parenting in general was that I could learn or do what I felt I missed out on even if my children weren't interested. It's had the beneficial side-effect of being a good example and increasing my children's interests in certain areas but even if it hadn't had that effect, spending the money and time on developing my interests would have been worthwhile.
And telling my children to find something interesting to do works a lot better when I can do the same thing!
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stellamaris
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I would put this back on the children's plates. When they express boredom, I would have them sit down and make a list of several different ideas, including outings, hobbies, or activities at home or out that they think would relieve their boredom. If they don't like to write, they can just think of ideas. I tell my kids,"God gave you a great mind, so just sit there until you come up with a good plan for not being bored.". Sounds a little harsh, but I learned over the years that when I provided an idea, they just rejected it. When they come up with the idea, they will be happy pursuing it.
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Caroline
Wife to dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
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Angie Mc
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stellamaris wrote:
| I tell my kids,"God gave you a great mind, so just sit there until you come up with a good plan for not being bored.". Sounds a little harsh, ... |
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Not at all! My mom didn't "allow" us to be bored, or at least to say that we were. She would sweetly reply, "Great! I have a toilet that needs cleaning." 
Reassuring children that they *can* find something to do...or that they can learn how to enjoy and be grateful for downtime...helps.
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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albeto
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| Posted: Jan 18 2011 at 10:23pm | IP Logged
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Mackfam wrote:
Hope there's an idea here for you! |
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Many! Thank you, and thank you for the links, too.
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NMMountainMom
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| Posted: Jan 19 2011 at 11:54am | IP Logged
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My 13 year old struggled with boredom while homeschooling. He has a very hard time occupying himself and I've never been able to help him fill his days enough. Now he is going to public school half days and is homeschooling half days. Having the outside structure is very helpful to him. He is still getting the benefits of homeschooling as well. It is the best of both worlds for both of us and has been a weight off of both of our shoulders.
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albeto
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| Posted: Jan 24 2011 at 10:37am | IP Logged
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stellamaris wrote:
| I would put this back on the children's plates. When they express boredom, I would have them sit down and make a list of several different ideas, including outings, hobbies, or activities at home or out that they think would relieve their boredom. If they don't like to write, they can just think of ideas. I tell my kids,"God gave you a great mind, so just sit there until you come up with a good plan for not being bored.". Sounds a little harsh, but I learned over the years that when I provided an idea, they just rejected it. When they come up with the idea, they will be happy pursuing it. |
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That kind of thing has never worked for us. I used to wonder if it was because I was just a bad mom but I think it makes my kids feel defensive. We have lots of anxiety issues around here! ;-)
Dh took dd to Michael's yesterday to buy fabric paint and an apron. Dd has expressed interest in cake decorating so now we have a hobby to pursue. I think this is the kind of thing she needed - to identify what she likes and to feel courageous enough to take risks.
We'll see how it goes...
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Marcia
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| Posted: Jan 24 2011 at 11:04am | IP Logged
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I like Caroline's comment.
Someone told me they respond to their children with....
"i'm so glad you are bored...your next thought is bound to be a great idea...come and tell me about what you will do next!"
My kids roll their eyes when I use this one on them. LOL
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Marcia
Mom to six and wife to one
Homeschooling 10th, 7th, 5th, 2nd, PreK and a toddler in tow.
I wonder why
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Topic: Help for bored kids?
