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JenniferS
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| Posted: Nov 14 2006 at 10:55am | IP Logged
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I am really struggling with keeping my preschooler and baby(1 yer old) busy while schooling. I try to involve them as much as possible, but sometimes that is very difficult. Today would be one of those times! What do you all do?
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Lisbet
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| Posted: Nov 14 2006 at 11:03am | IP Logged
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Yup, I hear ya! It is a constant struggle. I have a few activities that get them doing that will keep them busy for a long time, but sometimes they just wander, getting into one thing then the next. If I remember right, Bridget had some good suggestions to keep the littles occupied. Some things I have done:
coloring, using various things, from crayons to pastels to markers and ink pens, on different paper. (all at the table with the rest of us)
About 2 inches of rice in a dishpan, works like a sandbox. This keeps my 2 little boys busy for a long time.
shaving cream on a cookie sheet. Put a smock on them and let 'em have at it.
Glory Stories (http://www.glorystories.net/) keep their attention really well. We all enjoy these immensly.
Saftey sissors and construction paper. They love to cut! We use what they cut for mosaics or collages.
Some days are just more challenging than others. I'm sorry you're having one of those days!
__________________
Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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JenniferS
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| Posted: Nov 14 2006 at 12:06pm | IP Logged
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Thank you. Those are all things I know about. I just forgot about them The prescoolers love rice play and cutting. The mess just gets so overwhelming sometimes and I am the world's worst housekeeper. Hmmm...guess I'd better relax about that for a few more years.
Jen
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Bridget
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| Posted: Nov 14 2006 at 12:31pm | IP Logged
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Lisbet wrote:
| If I remember right, Bridget had some good suggestions to keep the littles occupied. |
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Don't look at me, we had a terrible morning! I finally gave the younger kids a spray bottle with diluted window cleaner and sent them down to work on the playroom walls. That usually goes great. All they did was fight over the spray bottle. 
So i sent them outside. When i last checked on them they were sweeping the garage, happily cooperating with the broom and dust pan. Now why is outdoors the magic formula?
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God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
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JenniferS
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| Posted: Nov 14 2006 at 2:27pm | IP Logged
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Hmmm...maybe there is something in the air today. I foolishly decided to make a batch of monster cookies while the kids were working nicely, and everything fell apart(fighting and bickering, plus something went wrong with the cookies, they are gross!). My kitchen is now scary. I let them all drag out the paints and construction paper, so now the kitchen table is a mess(but I still have a budding young artist working, so I can't make them clean it up yet). Now the baby is tearing apart the sunroom/resource room as fast as we can pick it up. YIKES! NOw I am taking a break from rearranging our living room/classroom to make things easier, I hope.
I think it supposed to storm later this evening, maybe that's what is up. Anyway...thanks for the tips and for letting me know I am not alone.
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StephanieA
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| Posted: Nov 14 2006 at 5:29pm | IP Logged
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You aren't alone. My current youngest 2 are the worst to play together. With 7 kids, I can't say I have had this much disruption or bickering ever. The other kids just seemed to get along better at this age. My solution is to send them outside with an older sibling, if necessary. It was raining today, so I sent them to the garage and moved the cars out 
The problem is that the older sibling doesn't necessarily want to quit schooling in the middle of the morning, but honestly it is a necessity. Eight months along with #8, I am just not in the mood for much more messes. BUT I will tolerate messy baths....shave cream messes, color soap crayons on the walls and floor. This makes a decent 1/2 hour break in the evening while I try to "finish" school up with the rest of the crew.
It is a constant struggle....one that I am up for some days....but those "other" days, well...
Blessings,
Stephanie
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humanaevitae
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| Posted: Nov 15 2006 at 12:33am | IP Logged
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We have a gated play room for the difficult times. Our 4.5 yo or 6 yo supervises. This area is toddler proof.
I also made a toddler area in the school room that is closed on three sides. The small open side is right next to the table I give lessons at. That way, the toddler can come to me for hugs or to show me something without interrupting a lesson or destroying the room!
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Nicole-Zane 10, Elizabeth 7, Xavier 4, and John Patrick 2
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Angel
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| Posted: Nov 15 2006 at 6:46pm | IP Logged
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I'm not sure I have many ideas for you. My 1 yo twins just seem to run around making a big mess. Or they climb all over me while I read. I had been trying to involve my 3 yo in some Montessori activities -- dusting, sweeping, sorting -- plus making pictures with Cuisenaire rods, coloring, building with blocks... but that has fallen apart lately. The past few days everyone has been sick, my dh is out of town, and things are pretty much a disaster.
--Angela
Mom to 3+2 
Three Plus Two
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Nov 15 2006 at 8:28pm | IP Logged
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I've been having similar days lately. You are definitely not alone.
My only recourse is caffeine, and LOTS of it.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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JenniferS
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| Posted: Nov 15 2006 at 9:21pm | IP Logged
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Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. It is encouraging to know that I am not the only one. God bless you all!!!
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Jeanna
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| Posted: Nov 16 2006 at 2:25am | IP Logged
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People told me before we started homeschooling that the most challenging part was keeping the younger children entertained. I still was not prepared for how difficult it would be. Right now what is working for us is to do the most difficult lesson (phonics) while my 1 year old is down for his afternoon nap. The other lessons (art, religion, poetry, & math) I can do with dd while ds is crawling all over me.
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In Christ,
Jeanna
Mommy of 7 arrows.....
 dd11; dd9; ds7; dd6; dd6; dd4; ds3
"There is only one tragedy in the end, not to have been a saint."
- Leon Bloy
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ALmom
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| Posted: Nov 16 2006 at 12:24pm | IP Logged
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Jennifer:
You are definitely not alone - and outside with an older sibling seems to be the best solution. None of ours napped ever so we grew to accept that less got done when we had someone between the ages of 1 and 3 and then it took a year or two to switch back into full gear. We are seeing the end of the road now with toddler as he is 4 and I think I missed that he was changing from being a toddler to being bored and getting into trouble - so now I'm trying to remember directed learning activities that are suited for pre-readers with short attention spans and yet require only a minimal of mom set up and explanation, so I can still work with all the others.
Janet
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JenniferS
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| Posted: Nov 16 2006 at 3:23pm | IP Logged
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Our 1 year old will still nap, but the three year old stopped napping a while ago. I can lay down and read to him for an hour, and he still won't nap, however, he does go right to sleep at night. Outside with an older sibling worked today. It's just hard to get that older sibling to gear up for work afterward. Sigh...
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KASB
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| Posted: Nov 16 2006 at 6:47pm | IP Logged
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It is a challenge to work with the older children when the little ones are climbing all over, getting into everything and generally needing attention. What I have found most helpful is to have activities planned and prepared ahead and to rotate activities so the novelty doesn't wear off. I've found many ideas from the following sites -
http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/preschool_activities.htm
http://www.homeschoolhighlights.com/01_preschoolers/
http://www.mothersruleoflife.com/2004/11/little-ones-activit y-ideas.html#comments
Blessings,
Kym
mom to 9 (8 boys - 24,14,10,9,7,4,3,15 mos and 1 girl-22)
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JenniferS
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Thanks, Kym. I'll look those sites tonight.
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ALmom
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| Posted: Nov 17 2006 at 2:52am | IP Logged
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Hey, Kim, these were great - now if I can get my dh to bookmark them for me, I should be able to have useful but fun and not too demanding "school" for my 4 yo. Thanks for the post.
Janet
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Topic: Schooling with babies and preschoolers
