I have been trying to come up with a list of things for Noah (4) and Zoey (2) to be able to play with or do while I am reading or working on school with Chloe. I need for these things to be stuff they can do on their own without help from me.
This is the list I have come up with so far:
Leapster (with headphones)
Computer (with headphones)
Puzzles
Lacing Cards
Coloring Books
Magna Doodle
Playdoh
Matching Game
I don't really want the kids playing the same thing at the same time, cause I don't want them fighting over which color of playdoh, and or wanting the lacing card another child has...I think it would be better to set a timer and tell them they have to play with __________ for 15 minutes or 30 minutes or whatever. Then the other problem is I don't really want them using the computer and Leapster too much, I would like to get organized enough to be able to say only 30 minutes a day for leapster.
How long should I expect them to stick to a particular activity? Is 15 minutes just right, or is 30 minutes too long? The longer the period of time, the more I can get accomplished with another child. Also I would love to hear of other things that are quiet that I could have the kids doing.
Last night I was reading Ten Things to Do with Your Child Before Age Ten and it said that it was a good idea to let the child play or do something while having a Read A Loud time, so we tried that this morning, I put Chloe (5), Noah (4), and Zoey (2) on 3 small blankets, gave Noah - Lacing Cards, Chloe -Activity Workbook (dot-to-dots, and hidden pictures) and Zoey duplo blocks, we set the timer for 15 minutes and read "Little House in the Big Woods", it worked pretty good, but I am afraid they are going to get tired of doing the same stuff all the time. So I need more ideas.
Great idea! Sounds like you've figured things out. I have a friend that has 4 kids 5 and under, I ought to share this with her and see if it helps. Thanks for the idea!!!
A couple of other things we have tried are Wiki Sticks and pipe cleaners. They're clean and easy to clean up!
By the way, I am going to answer the questions you asked me on my blog as soon as I can!
--Gena
Hope yo uare well --- you seem to be taking a sabatical from the computer as I have been. I've been away for 3 or so weeks but am tryign to get back to it and catch up with friends.
My kids generally lose interest after about twenty minutes or so. It depends on the activity though, sometimes it could be hours. I understand about the leapster thing. Good idea with the timer.
How about books on tape? They can turn the pages and read along with the story?
Coloring their own "school" pages works well to. You could make each of them a folder and put their "work" in it. If they do it, that's great, it not, no big deal.
Michelle
My word, I thought the day would never come that I meant someone else with four SMALL children. I went through your blog real quickly. I started feeling like someone was peeping in on my house, got creeped out, and stopped =-)
Are you still reading Little House in the Big Woods? We are, I read at night. The door is shut to the bedroom Mason (5yrs) is usually the only one that listens the whole time, but the others "hear" I'm sure. When we read in the afternoon, I put a blanket out and give the children tea or hot cocoa. I've heard of mothers that read to the kids while their in the tub. I've never tried that. Bath time is usually spent trying to prevent a drowning j/k
Time to read now actually--I'd love to write more---keep in touch!!!
Just trying out this blog stuff to see how it all works. I am mom to 4 wonderful children; Chloe (5), Noah (4), Zoey (2), Jonah (6 months). I am just beginning the homeschool journey and trying to become the Godly Woman I am meant to be.
