Loving the Learning

Thursday, September 8, 2005

Frustrations

I'm a control freak. I readily admit it. And God has seen fit to challenge me in that area with my second son. He's active and spontaneous and full of emotion - and I love all that! What frustrates me, though, is that I can't seem to find anything to entertain him while I'm working with C on his school work.

J always seems to be content playing games on one of the two computers when I start math with C each morning. But as soon as he hears us counting, he comes running into the dining room, climbs up in a chair, and begins grabbing C's pencil box. (C prefers using colored pencils to crayons for his math work.) I let him use the pencils while we're working, but that's not enough. He wants C to only use the colors he wants to give him, and when C gets his own pencil, a fight ensues. Well, not a fight so much as a bunch of yelling from J. Then it's up to me to find something else to get him interested in so we can continue with math.

Whenever C is working with math manipulatives (we use Legos, stuffed animals, etc.), J is right in the middle of things, naturally. He doesn't want to play with his own pile of things, though. He wants whatever C has. Today, for instance, we were sorting stuffed animals. The first sorting rule was ones with ears and ones without. J kept grabbing the animals and running off with them or mixing the piles up. C got so mad. He wants to help J "play" math with him, but not while he's trying to do his "work". I told him to just let J have one of the animals and I'd replace it with another one. It worked, but not for long.

Another problem is that J wants to watch TV when C is doing his schoolwork. I don't allow the TV to be on then, or even the radio. Today I relinquished a little bit, though, and let J watch Dora, the Explorer on the TV in my room. I'll have to turn the sound down more next time because C recognized the episode and told me what was happening as he worked on his math worksheet. At least it kept J occupied until we got to our first break, though. Whatever works, huh?

I know other homeschooling moms face the same issues. What do you do? What other suggestions can you give me? I'd be so appreciative!

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Comments

Saturday, September 10, 2005 - I've had the same frustrations

Posted by sdacrew

I noticed last year that DS would play alone more happily if I included him in the at the start of the school day, with either a special workbook that he could use only during school time, or we'd start out playing Candyland or Uno. Once he got his fill of "playing school", he was gone, usually in only 10-15 minutes. I've heard of folks who segregate toys and activities into days, so Monday is block day, Tues. is race car, day etc. That sometimes makes the toys seem more exciting and enticing.

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Sunday, September 11, 2005 - I am still somewhat...

Posted by RainyDayMichele

...inexperienced, too. But I have been including my little one in the first activities of the day, then I have things in practically every room for him to read, play with, mess with, or watch...while I am working with his brothers. Sometimes it works, and sometimes...well, you know. :)

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Wednesday, September 14, 2005 - Thanks...

Posted by chapter4

for the suggestions. Seems like the majority of people I've talked to have done the same thing - including the younger one in "school" activities early on. I'll give it a shot!

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About Me

An account of our homeschool journey by way of the classical education trail. I'll blog about what we're studying, what we're reading, what we're doing, and what I think of it all.