I'm often asked how to homeschool when you have babies and toddlers underfoot.
It is indeed a wild crazy ride, and one that stretches you to the limits of what you previously thought chaos could look like.
But once you embrace the madness, you will love it.
Tuesday links brings you two ideas for keeping them occupied in a delightfully developmental way while you snatch a few moments to direct an older child in his quest for an education.
Homemade playdough from Daily Decadent, who I hope updates her blog soon because she has lots to share and I miss her — also check out her soup tutorial on her sidebar.
Decadent Housewife's playdough. |
Playdough is as much a staple in a home with small children as diapers and milk. What would I have done without playdough? Make up a batch without bothering with the dye at first. Later, when they get more sophisticated, you can pull the dye out of your bag of tricks.
Egg paint from dear Ginny Sheller —
Ginny's egg paint. |
But two notes:
- Keep the little ones confined to one part of the house. Run amok they will; just don't let them run amok all over.
- I personally wouldn't do both these things at the same time. 🙂
natashamlawler says
The colors in that play dough are beautiful!
Nikki says
I am currently homeschooling older ones with a four year old, TWO two year olds, and an eight month old baby. Your number one point of keeping them contained is absolutely on the money. The best thing I did this year was figure out a way to keep them in the family room so I could school in the kitchen. Before confining them, I would find little (and sometimes quite big) messes all over the house. Toothpaste, baking soda, emptied laundry bins, and scattered toys in every room were making me crazy. Now, with them only in the family room, I am able to keep an eye on them while spending a few minutes with an older child. At the end of the morning, the room is a mess but it is one room and with the help of baskets the kids can pick it up in a jiffy while I make lunch. The kids compete to see how fast they can finish so it is a flurry of activity giving them a little break from the morning's academic pursuits.
Pippajo says
I have a somewhat related question: how do you get anything else around the house done while homeschooling? I only have Man-Cub with me during the day and he's a big boy but he requires me to be very hands-on in my teaching. I am not able to set him in motion, then go clean the bedroom or fold a load of laundry. We're in school until 2:00 and then the afternoon madness begins. Between hockey games and practices, picking up Redheaded Snippet, getting dinner ready, making it to church and just everyday tidying, I always run out of time in the afternoon and have not been able to get to what I call my weekly chores (dusting, changing sheets, cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming, etc)! Homeschooling is going very well, but my house is a disaster since I started! And I have guests coming for the weekend and no time to get ready for them! What am I to do?
priest's wife says
Ask your husband for an hour on Saturday and an hour of Sunday for helping prepping for the week ahead (either he cleans or wrangles the kids- whichever he does best)- I find that starting the week with a basically clean house, I'm able to take what the week brings.
priest's wife says
bad English- oh well
Joy says
I homeschool three boys and have a similar issue. I do most of my cleaning on the weekend so that I start my week with a basically clean and tidy house. My boys are older so I can usually steal away for a few moments to change out laundry during the week or clean up the breakfast dishes, but mostly I clean on Saturdays and we do a daily pick up just before dinner. Each of my boys has a daily cleaning chore which also helps to keep the place mostly clean throughout the week. This depends, of course, on my inspections; the more I inspect to make sure the job was done to *my* standards, the cleaner the house is. 🙂
tarynkay says
Could you make housework part of the homeschooling? Maybe fold laundry together while you quiz him on spelling words, dust together while going over the multiplication tables, etc? Have him help you prepare dinner and go over fractions? Do a geography lesson and then take a break to clean the bathroom together? I've always thought that one of the main advantages of homeschooling is that children can learn not just traditional schooling subjects, but also how to keep a home running.
womanofthehouse says
Cancel school for a day to get ready for your company. It's okay. Swat teams won't surround your house and social workers won't show up on your porch. Whenever I'm overwhelmed and need some time to catch up, I give everyone a day off. Not all the time, but once in awhile it's fine.
priest's wife says
I have 2 bigs and 2 littles- we like to set up water colors for the little ones. On the worst day, have school in the bathroom. The 'crabs' go in the water- littles in the tub- and bigs with their books so mom can help. The down side- no one can go anywhere for safety's sake, but at least some schooling is getting done and the littles are having fun
Kate says
No! No! No playdough. I haates playdough (and clay). It ends up squished in unthought of places and they always mix up the colors (at which point they lose interest). The best solution I've had is to move all the little ones' toys to one corner of the school room (after dejunking, so there is just stuff they really will play with). A little boxed off corner made with shelves and a rug on the floor. My boys' favorite toys have been plenty of little farm and wild animals and playmobils. Everything out in baskets and clear bins so it can be seen. If they're in the same room occupied and can see me and I can see them they are happy (mostly). If I didn't have a schoolroom, I'd do it in the living room (to heck with decor). On nice days we'd go outside for school so the little ones can have their fresh air and freedom. I think an attitude change is helpful too. Caring for and nurturing the little ones is the most important thing. You homeschool inbetween their needs, instead of the other way around. They'll grow, it will pass and all work out in the end. It's not about doing school in the home; it's about living and learning.
Shivayamama says
I have to agree that the colors in your playdough are amazing, and I have been wanting to try the egg paint for some time now.
I really needed to read this post, as I am beginning to have some anxiety over what it will be like to homeschool two older boys with a new little one on the way. Thank you for sharing these great tips and activities.
_Leila says
The playdough and paint pictures are from the respective ladies who posted about them. Both great photographers!
Breanna says
Playdoh works best with people at the table in their booster chair, or on a tarp if you can't keep them at a table. (Seriously. Old shower curtains rule.)
Personally I'd rather keep an eye on two lumps of playdoh than have to pick up 987 legos/animals/dollies, but then I have a pair that love to hide things in the couch.
_Leila says
Tarynkay, you are on the right track. You just make your housework part of the rhythm of the day. When I'm done with the series on cleaning the house (because you have to know what you're doing before you figure out how to do it with your kids around) I'll go in depth on this topic.
This post is really just about seeing how the little ones can be busy with their own work while the older ones study. Usually it ends up that the older ones want to play with playdough too! Homemade playdough has an enticing texture.
miriam says
Mom of five here with my two cents. I have three school age daughters, one toddler and one newborn. I find the newborn (three months yesterday) a lot easier to “occupy” than the toddler! I can nurse him while reading aloud or administering spelling lists, but I can't keep the two-year-old happy at an activity for long. I find the best solution so far is to make “stations” — legos, playdough, reading corner. I set a little timer and she tries to stay at one station for 15 minutes before asking for another station. Still working out the kinks. I love to hear how other moms handle this.
Deirdre says
Was it really that chaotic? I don't remember chaos…
priest's wife says
Anyone else impatiently waiting for a new post from LMLD?
Carmen says
The playdough looks beautiful. I must make some too.
Katie says
Just wanted to let you know that the egg paint link is no longer live. Thank you for sharing these resources!
Leila says
Thanks for letting me know – I fixed the links!