Let's Talk
- ID = 6
- Category = General (1)
- Created = Jan 27, 2010
- Author = Kara
- Question = Q: What do I do with my younger children (toddler(s) /preschooler(s)) during school?
- Answer = A: (Kara) Any time you have work to do, whether it is
housework, school work, other work, you have three choices for
dealing with your young children-include, distract, or ignore
them.
Include: Whenever possible, include your young child or children
in what you are doing. Recently, we added map study to our weekly
activities. I printed eight blank outline maps of the United
States. I instructed the oldest five children (ages fifteen to
eight) to label as many states as they could. I told them to
check their answers with the atlas and to color every correctly
labeled state. I helped my four- and six-year-old find our state
and instructed them to color it with a colored pencil. Then we
located the state where Grandpa and Granny (my parents) live.
They chose a different color for it. Where does Grandmom (Steve’s
mom) live? It was shaded another color. We live near the border
of a state, so we found the state where our church is located.
During this time, the two year old looked over my shoulder and
scribbled with a colored pencil on his map. The baby sat on the
floor and as long as I occasionally looked at him and said
"Virginia" with all the expression I could muster, he cooed
happily.
Distract: After this activity, I listened to the six- year-old
practice reading. He uses three-by-five cards scattered over the
coffee table to practice letter sounds and words. Did I mention
we have a two-year-old? Including him in our practice would have
greatly increased the six-year-old’s frustration level. We
distracted the two-year-old when we brought out the block tub,
defined a play area, and encouraged him to build a tower and
knock it down. He played alongside us. Create a list of possible
distractions-toys and activities-from which to draw. Consider
including household objects such as manual egg beaters and pots
and pans. Make a long list . . . two-year-olds have short
attention spans!
Ignore: Later that day, my six-year-old was adding and
subtracting with our hands-on math curriculum (A.K.A. m&m’s). We
do not ask two-year-olds to resist the temptation of chocolate
candy at eye level spread over a table. (We do not ask that of
forty-year-olds!) We ignored him . . . while he took a nap. In
addition to sleeping times, preschool children can be taught to
spend a designated time each day playing alone in a safe place
such as their bedroom or a playroom. Some toddlers and babies are
content in a play yard or play pen. We set up ours in the main
living area so he can be part of the household activities, but
not underfoot, or worse, roaming free!
Unfortunately, no one suggestion will work every day at every
time. Try to rotate between including, distracting and ignoring
your little ones throughout the day so there is a balance in the
attention your child receives.
Don’t forget that training in obedience, and the discipline that
accompanies it, is a very important part of your young child’s
education. Your older children learn how to parent as they watch
you deal with their younger siblings. They also learn valuable
character lessons, as do you.
Cheryl Bastien gives excellent suggestions for profitably
occupying preschoolers here.
http://www.homeschooltoday.com/news/172/30/Creative-Ways-to-Occupy-Preschoolers.htm - Answered By = Kara
- Answered On = Jan 27, 2010
- Approved By = Kara
- Approved On = Jan 27, 2010
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