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Toddlers are a force to be reckoned with -- especially, when
you're trying to homeschool their bigger siblings.
The favorite activity of my toddlers is splashing in the toilet
as soon as I turn to give my attention to a kid who just has a quick spelling
question.
There are multiple ways of handling this. I choose to
lock myself in a room with the toddler and the school kids and forge ahead to
get as much school done as possible.
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The kids are used the noise and commotion of each
other. If left to their own devices they scream and run in a pack
together, anyway. It may drive you insane (it does me), but they seem
to be able to handle it.
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You're wearing the baby (if you have one) as an appendage (I
recommend a good sling, a bouncy seat or baby swing).
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The toddler is less likely to TRASH your home or HARM
THEMSELVES if they're in your sights.
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This is the way you get your laundry folded, your lunches
& dinners made...everything we do as moms is done with kids underfoot,
near, and around us. School is just another extension of family life
in our homeschool.
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You can save 1 or 2 subjects for each child that requires
more attention or 1-on-1 time from you for another time of the day, during
the toddler's naps. Some moms covet that time for other things
that are a higher priority for them (cuddling with an older child, getting
computer work done, etc.), but this is an option for a few subjects.
Those naps aren't long enough to fit all of school in for most families,
though.
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Take everything you need for school with you. A potty
chair? Diaper changes? A playpen for time-outs? As soon as I leave the room
to get something, chaos breaks out and it's almost not worth the supreme
effort to get everyone refocused on school.
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Keep coffee and snacks close-by, you'll need them.
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Make sure the room is toddler proof. It sounds silly,
but after they've been in one room for 2-3 hours, they'll find ALL sorts of
stuff to get into.
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Make sure they either can't get out (a locked door) or that
you're stationed by the only exit. You will need to pay
attention to your school kids and you won't be paying constant
attention to your toddler and they will escape.
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I enforce pretty strict discipline during school time.
The kids know that school-time is different than family-time (different
activities, different rules, sometimes a different room). I am the
general in a war zone. I battle their childish natures that just want
to play with each other. The war is waged by keeping my troops on
task. ALSO, a toddler in your school will turn into a preschooler
in your school and you want them to know the "rules" as early as
possible.
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No chatting with siblings except during a
"break". |
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No distracting a kid doing an assignment. |
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No touching another kids' school stuff . |
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Respecting a kid's space (so that they don't get climbed
on or hit if they don't want to). |
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No staring off into space when you're supposed to be
working. |
Have special toys that the toddler gets to see ONLY during
school. A rubbermaid tub works great for the toddler's "school
items." Some toddlers want "real school" and color
books work well. Some toddlers just eat crayons. Some toddlers
like blocks. Some toddlers just use them as projectile missiles for
their siblings heads. Know your toddler and rotate things out of the
box that aren't working for you.
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You will be "pretending" to play with your
toddler while you're teaching school. You'll get them involved in
an activity, and keep your hands moving in that activity while you're
teaching and answering and directing the other kids. Then, turn
and give your toddler a positive affirmation as if you'd been paying
attention to them all along. Toddlers "fool" easily. -
This may seem cruel, but your toddler gets a large percentage of your
time (as he should)) just keeping them out of trouble. You have to
accomplish school, too, though. |
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Change out your toddler's activities often during the
day, possibly every 10-15 minutes. |
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Distraction works fabulous for most
toddlers. If they're insisting on climbing on sister's lap during
school, or doing something else they shouldn't, see if you can distract
them by giving them one of their "toys". |
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Another idea is to sit the toddler between you and
sister and have sister practice her reading by acting like she's reading
to the toddler, while she's really reading out of her school book
to you. Before sister turns the page, she can point out a picture
to the toddler to reinforce that he's part of what's going on, too. |
Have your school child(ren) take turns doing school.
45 minutes to an hour of school and 15 minutes of a "break" to
play with the toddler.
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Your school child will see the toddler
"playing" with you and want to play with the toddler (all my
kids do). |
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It will motivate the school child that when they're done
with 2 or 3 assignments (or 1 big one) they can take a
"break". |
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It will break up the time for the toddler. |
When you can't stand the noise, chaos and multi-tasking
anymore and you're ready to run screaming from the house - end school (my
limit is 2-3 hours : somedays 15 minutes is tough). I'm always exhausted
and feel like every drop of life left in me is spent after doing school
this way -- but it gets done. Reward yourself, no matter how badly it feels
like school went. Have a special cup of coffee. I personally fix
lunch for my kids and do chores while they eat. Then I eat lunch alone
as part of my reward.
This isn't the only way to handle a toddler during school time
-- it's the best way for our family, though.
Here are some ideas of things to put in your rubbermaid
container "School Box" and your bag of tricks for your toddler : Toddler
Activity Ideas
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