.:A Little About Me:.
I'm a believer in Jesus Christ. A lover of my sweet husband Shaun. A mommy to my three kiddos Emerson, Atticus, and Sabriel. My friends and family tend to blur together. I *make stuff up* out of scrapbooks, altered items, and miniBOOKS that reflect these relationships.
Archives
July 2005August 2005
September 2005
October 2005
November 2005
December 2005
January 2006
February 2006
March 2006
April 2006
May 2006
June 2006
July 2006
August 2006
September 2006
October 2006
November 2006
December 2006
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Children require supervision??!!
So I'm beginning to realize that just letting my kids play all day is not really working for us.
Now, I know that sounds crazy- of course my littles need to play... it's part of what being a kid is all about.
Here's the thing: it seems like unstructured play all day is leading to them being grouchy (=me being grouchy) and LOTS of mischief going on. Yesterday they pulled out all the books from the bookcase and made a track around the living room.
I could list all of the bazillions of things they have gotten into lately, but that's not really the point of this post.
The point, you ask?
Mainly, that I'm asking for your help.
I used to teach preschoolers, but never younger than 3 years old, and there's a vast difference in what a 2 year old can do and what a 3 year old can do. There's a lot of things that I think Em is capable of, but Atticus not so much. So I'm trying to figure out activities that they can mostly do together.
I'm planning on setting up a schedule for them. We are home nearly all of the time right now (because it makes me shake in my boots to think about trying to drag out all three kids and their various bags on a consistent basis) and I think a daily/weekly schedule would be really good for all of us. Everyone would know what to expect from the day, which is really important for my sanity and for the kids' growth and happiness.
Shaun helped me search for some websites with suggested activities for little ones, but I would definitely appreciate any suggestions here.
Here's the websites I have:
Activity Sites
YoungChildren
I'm thinking of doing, on a daily basis:
story time
sorting time
coloring/craft time
outside play time (weather permitting)
exercise time (playing simon says or follow the leader)
The thing is , most of these things can only last for about 15 minutes because of short attention spans... and although I don't feel like I need to fill the entire day up with a strict schedule, I'd like a few more things to do with them.
I'm also thinking about setting up a theme for each week... it may help me in my planning. For example, weather week, Valentine's week, flowers week, shapes week, etc.
Okay, so I'm going to stop rambling now and hope that you guys can give me some suggestions!
(And because I can't post without a picture, here's one of Atticus talking to Sabriel)
Now, I know that sounds crazy- of course my littles need to play... it's part of what being a kid is all about.
Here's the thing: it seems like unstructured play all day is leading to them being grouchy (=me being grouchy) and LOTS of mischief going on. Yesterday they pulled out all the books from the bookcase and made a track around the living room.
I could list all of the bazillions of things they have gotten into lately, but that's not really the point of this post.
The point, you ask?
Mainly, that I'm asking for your help.
I used to teach preschoolers, but never younger than 3 years old, and there's a vast difference in what a 2 year old can do and what a 3 year old can do. There's a lot of things that I think Em is capable of, but Atticus not so much. So I'm trying to figure out activities that they can mostly do together.
I'm planning on setting up a schedule for them. We are home nearly all of the time right now (because it makes me shake in my boots to think about trying to drag out all three kids and their various bags on a consistent basis) and I think a daily/weekly schedule would be really good for all of us. Everyone would know what to expect from the day, which is really important for my sanity and for the kids' growth and happiness.
Shaun helped me search for some websites with suggested activities for little ones, but I would definitely appreciate any suggestions here.
Here's the websites I have:
Activity Sites
YoungChildren
I'm thinking of doing, on a daily basis:
story time
sorting time
coloring/craft time
outside play time (weather permitting)
exercise time (playing simon says or follow the leader)
The thing is , most of these things can only last for about 15 minutes because of short attention spans... and although I don't feel like I need to fill the entire day up with a strict schedule, I'd like a few more things to do with them.
I'm also thinking about setting up a theme for each week... it may help me in my planning. For example, weather week, Valentine's week, flowers week, shapes week, etc.
Okay, so I'm going to stop rambling now and hope that you guys can give me some suggestions!
(And because I can't post without a picture, here's one of Atticus talking to Sabriel)
19 Comments:
Design Work
.:Blogs I Visit:.
- Scrap Etc. Inspiration Team
- Crop Addict Bloggers
- SEBC Friendlies
Scrap Etc. Bloggers
Join | List | Previous | Next | Random |Previous 5 | Next 5 | Skip Previous | Skip Next
www.starfall.com
Okay ... a few more ideas - what about snacks and food - that will need to be figured in, and maybe you can do some things to include them in preparation.
Also, what about a week centered on farm animals? They could go to the petting zoo, read a book about how food comes from the farm, do some kind of farm-ey craft, etc.
I'll keep thinking!
K
Seriously, I have a friend who has two little ones the same age as Em and Atticus. I will ask her what she does...it seems they have a pretty regular routine. She's a scrapbooker, too, so I'm sure arts and crafts time is included.
It's Traci fm SEBC. Anyway, I taught 3 year olds for two years in private preschool. We spent time in centers, snack, circle time (which was minimal instruction about our theme and included calendar, counting, a good morning song). We did lots of art/crafts, some structured some not, outside time, music/ fingerplays that help muscle movement and story. All that to say I found a lot of my ideas/crafts/themes on preschooleducation.com and everythingpreschool.com so you might check those out. Hope that helps.
http://jennwa.blogspot.com/
Another thing I was going to suggest is I got a book from the library once, ( and I'm sorry I can't remember the name) but it had books to read then you make recipes from them. Lana loves to do that! Like you read "On top of Spagetti", then make a spagetti dinner...etc...
Also I remember when mine were 3 & 1 I would make them each have a few minutes of alone time in their own rooms so that I could spend some one on one time with each of them.
Hee hee...yeah, right.
You could also include educational videos every now and then, like ones from PBS or Baby Einstein.
Another thing that would work well is to have singing and rhyme time, where you do all the nursery rhymes and songs with hand motions.
Crayola has some stuff online to print off.
I remember lots of time with sidewalk chalk & crayons & markers...Ivey colored and Robby ate them! THen there was the day when Ivey dressed Robby up in her pink tutu...watch out little brother!
I agree with the playdates at alternating houses, and we always brought food with us.
I only had one so can't relate, but my friend had 3 small ones and she has done a great job without pulling out her hair! Everyone participates in breakfast preparation, setting the table, cooking, clearing dishes. I made her a little jar with "topics" to talk about at the table to hold interest and communicate! After breakfast and washing up, each of the children had "quiet time" in their rooms (yes a play pen was involved for her most active). She would spend this short time reading a devotion and praying, and would take a quick shower.
She scheduled play dates at the park or local McDonalds close by her house. And Library day was a weekly event! She would make sure to be there for special events and such! And during lunch or dinner she would do the same as breakfast, but each day one of those times was devoted to talking about Jesus! They memorized scripture like you would not believe. Her 2 year old came and recited the entire Luke 2 chapter at Christmas just from listening to her 5 year old brother learning it during the Christmas season.
Now, they are not perfect by any means, but she has really stuck to parts of the schedule and been flexible on others. Their quiet time and breakfast is absolute and it has worked.
You can cherish this Bible verse..."And it came to pass..."
Good luck!
we keep a loose routine with short bursts of activities between nap times and meal/snack times. lots of crafts, lots of pretending. but really, i don't get a single thing done when it's just the 3 of us at home. laundry and dishes don't get done until it's almost at problem levels...
I let them play on their own, but check in on them about every 5-10 minutes to make sure that they are on the right track. After a few weeks they will get better at playing together and honoring your rules. To get them on the right track I stay with them for a few minutes. After they are done with one 'game' I have them clean up before moving onto the next thing. My boys now think that it is fun to make room for their next 'game'.
I do like to do some structured activities during the day, but it can wear you down very quickly... Basically my goal is to do one 'fun' thing with them a day.
At this age it is very important for them to develop their imagination. That is why they are getting into different things. But that does not mean they can tear your house apart.
Try to keep it fun and simple. You and them both will have enough sturcture one they start school!