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Kerry
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| Posted: April 05 2005 at 1:09pm | IP Logged
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This may have been a previous thread..if so, I apologize. I am desperate. Have any of you found any magic tricks in being able to read aloud to your older ones with the toddler present. My 2 yo , if she doesn't like the story (9x out of 10), will throw the book and/or scream until I read "Her" choice. My 31/2 yo interrupts the story constantly to ask questions which is ok for a while, but is difficult for my 51/2 yo to not get distracted. We end up reading alot of books suitable for my 2yo, and only what I consider to be the bare minimum for my oldest (ds51/2).  Help!
thanks.
Kerry
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Kerry
married to DH John 8/8/98,
mommy to Daniel 8/6/99, Isaiah 7/10/01, Gianna 3/28/03, Samuel 10/11/04
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Karen E.
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| Posted: April 06 2005 at 8:52am | IP Logged
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Okay, one more email, then I'm outta here ... 
I find it helps if I let Kate(our two year old)pick something first. We read her choice, then I find something she likes to play with while I read to the other girls. She often likes to play with her dollhouse while I read. Or, if we're reading at the kitchen table, she can play with Play-dough or paint, or something that really keeps her little hands busy.
This doesn't always work, though, and sometimes we just shoot for her naptime.
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Karen E.
mom to three on earth, and several souls in God's care
Visit my blog, with its shockingly clever title, "Karen Edmisten."
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Meredith
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| Posted: April 06 2005 at 5:18pm | IP Logged
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Hi Kerry, we all struggle with this on a daily basis I am certain, you are not alone. There seems to be this "only my books or the highway phase" gene linked to toddlerhood  . We try doing the older kids' RA during lunch and teatime and bedtime when the littler is able to be busy with his hands eating or playing with his trucks or napping/sleeping. There are so many times when he WILL sit for a surprising amount of time and listen to the older's RA, but we have usually spent time reading his books first as well. Sometimes between chapters (if we're on a marathon RA) we let him slip in one of his special books. It's hard to be patient with the interruptions too and distracting for the olders, but just remember that the toddler phase and their little curiosities are at work and it's for such a short time. Sometimes it's fun to make a guessing game about what might happen next in the chapter and encourage the littlest to really try and listen so they can guess too. You might also try and have them do a sticker picture of the story or chapter while they listen and then reward them with one of their books when you finish the chapter. Just a few thoughts. Have fun with it, they are all still learning even if you think they aren't really listening.
I know there will be so many more suggestions for you from the fountain of wisdom here.
HTH.
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Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
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Kerry
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| Posted: April 06 2005 at 8:02pm | IP Logged
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Thank you Meredith. even just the tone of your email made me feel better. I do need to work on my patience...perhaps that's why our good Lord has sent me my children spaced the way they are....I get lots of practice.
I see you are due soon. Many blessings to you and your little one as he/she prepares to meet the rest of your family.
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Kerry
married to DH John 8/8/98,
mommy to Daniel 8/6/99, Isaiah 7/10/01, Gianna 3/28/03, Samuel 10/11/04
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Meredith
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| Posted: April 07 2005 at 10:00am | IP Logged
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You're welcome Kerry, I hope I didn't come off being condescending, I kind of use the "learn as you grow" with a family concept. I do know the patience factor weighs BIG no matter what our children's ages or spacing is. You're doing a great job having your littles around with you and they will truly benefit from it. God Bless, and thank you so much for your prayers, 11 days to go if not before!
Warmly.
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Meredith
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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: April 09 2005 at 10:01am | IP Logged
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Well, we have just come out of the "you have to read my book and only my book" phase with my 3yo, so I can tell you that it will pass! (We'll go through it again, I'm sure, with the 2yo.) I'm afraid that the only things that worked for us were waiting for naptime, listening to books on tape, or sending the little ones outside. As a result, we just didn't manage to read together much last year. This year is totally different as the 3yo is more willing to listen or read on his own or wait his turn.
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Faith
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| Posted: April 09 2005 at 10:45am | IP Logged
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I haven't read the previous posts, so forgive if I repeat things. I have about 3 minutes here! Things I have done with various toddlers all who were very unwillingly to be quiet while I read to others:
1) Have older kids listen to story tape while you read to toddler.
2) Read to older kids while toddlers/babies are napping.
3) Read during mealtime when your toddler is chewing on cheerios etc. (this only worked for one of my kdis, actually)
4) Have one child play with toddlers while you read to others. This works if you have an older child who has already read the book or really isn't that interested in hearing particular book.
5) Have your dh take over the read alouds in the evenings, while you read to toddlers/babies at night.
Numbers 1 and number 5 have served me for several years now. My current 3 yo is just now able to tolerate listening in on older siblings books, if I read to her first and don't go longer than 15 minutes with the older ones AND have something for her to do, like sewing cards or cutting up paper.
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Kerry
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| Posted: April 09 2005 at 6:08pm | IP Logged
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Ooohh.thank you! I especially like the idea of reading during mealtimes. I am definitely eager to try that one. Dad does read aloud some in the evenings, but even then, they all fight over who gets to sit on his lap, which story to read etc. etc. since they haven't seen him all day. Poor dad.
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Kerry
married to DH John 8/8/98,
mommy to Daniel 8/6/99, Isaiah 7/10/01, Gianna 3/28/03, Samuel 10/11/04
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: reading aloud w/ toddlers present
