The Million Dollar Question
Well I didn’t get a chance to blog last night because I was still writing my Valentine’s Day Post over at Peace, Love, and Blessing! Yesterday was a work day for us, and although it started out well, it didn’t end as well as it did on Monday! The kids were just off the walls and there wasn’t much I could do about it. I felt like all I did was run interference all day long. I redirected more then they did anything and I was so exhausted by the end of an hour. Tadpole is just unable to be around anything that can be moved without throwing it or beating someone over the head with it. So, as much as I really really didn’t want to, I sat him in a booster seat for quite a bit of the work day. I gave him different trays and works. It sort of worked, but if really was a rough day! So I am asking all of you out there with older kids and younger kids, how do you do it? How do you keep everyone in the school room and keep them happy and working? I just cant seem to find the elusive combination of interesting work, enough time, and keeping everyone working together. I literally just cant seem to do it. I know that Bug and Tadpole are only here two days a week, but there has to be a way to make everyone work together without hurting each other. When its just my girls everything is really fine, so I know that I they can work, but you add the other two and I just cant seem to keep them working together. So what do you do when there are younger kiddos disrupting all efforts toward good work? I guess its the million dollar question, but I am hoping that someone has an idea! 🙂 For those of you who stopped by for more then a shameless begging for help, here are few pictures of the work that we did get done!
February 17, 2012 @ 12:32 pm
Wow, you got a lot of great work accomplished even with all the disruption. I understand your frustration though. I have a small home preschool and my youngest student is 16mths…all the rest are over 3. We have built a knee wall to enclose an small area of the room. He has toddler appropriate work in there….when all is going well I leave the gate open and he has free excess to the entire room but once he has trouble remembering not to touch someone else’s work, close him in there….It works really well, he still feels like he his in the room with us and I can still see what he is doing. He doesn’t like that his freedom is limited though. This week he has been great and I havent’ had to close the gate…..he has been working beautifully.
Blessings, Sharon
February 18, 2012 @ 3:28 am
I really wish my basment had a place that I could section off like that, but it is just a large rectange so there is no way to put a gate anywhere. It is a good idea though. Maybe I can figure out a way to section something off. I have tried having Bunny watch Tadpole for a bit, but he is just too much for a 6 year old and she is the oldest. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
February 18, 2012 @ 3:17 am
Wow that is hard! I am thinking of taking on a child or two in the future in our Montessori home and am scared to death of something like this. I think if you give them lots and lots of time and try to really, really peak their whatever they’re interested in, it will take time, but they’ll get there. Your girls have grown up in this kind of environment for quite a while and they do well as it’s just life and normal for them. The other two will become more normalized in time, I’m sure. You just have to keep trying and keep your sanity somehow! I wish you all the best…and I may be asking you for my own tips in the future. 🙂
February 18, 2012 @ 3:33 am
Hi Jen! Thanks for stopping by! I really have tried so many different thing to keep him interested. The problem is that he is only here for 2 days a week, so he never really build concentration. I also think that he does this at home for attention (this really does get him attention). I do keep trying, but I dont know what to do about the hitting. I am afriad that he is really going to hurt someone. I really wish you luck with your child watching adventures! It can be frustrating, but it is good too! It’s not always this bad! 🙂
February 18, 2012 @ 4:54 am
Yes, I can see how only two days a week would make things very difficult, plus bringing in home behaviors that work. It does look like he’s seeking attention. Just brainstorming, I have no idea what your day looks like, but is there a time that he has or can have just with you? Maybe his hitting would lesen?
I have already been thinking that I want to watch a child who is Ty’s age or a bit older, but your experiences makes me want to do a screening process or trial period too! 🙂