- Reading
- ‘Riting (Penmanship)
- ‘Rithmetic
You have several children, they are on different academic levels with these subjects, and they all want your attention. The interruptions are making it difficult to teach any of them! What to do? What to do?
Start with your youngest, give him your undivided attention for 20-30 minutes. The older children can occupy themselves productively. Ideas for that will come below….
Then, the next youngest child. This one gets you for the same time. Keep moving up in age accordingly. Depends on how many children there are just how long this will take.
These are the only three topics that are necessary to teach progressively, line upon line, precept upon precept, and it matters to each student. Whew!
PRODUCTIVE IDEAS
- Some of the morning chores
- Other household tasks like wiping down walls or baseboards
- Straightening bedrooms
- Playing board or card games with each other
- Older child helping a younger child develop some skill such as rolling a ball, swinging, riding a bike, using a measuring tape, arithmetic flash cards
- Learning how to use a hammer, or glue, or coloring with colored pencils
Most of what I suggest involves an older child helping a younger child. These accomplish several goals … the children are productive while you are teaching someone one-on-one. Older children are sharing their knowledge with someone and as you already know, the teacher learns more than the student. Younger children are learning to respect and appreciate an older sibling. This also helps everyone learn that they can get help from someone besides just Mom!
Perhaps you only have one child. Make sure to include this child in all your household tasks. Do not shunt him or her away to “play” or “watch tv” while you do the work. Let each person in the home feel needed and wanted. Besides, someday you will appreciate the trained helper you are raising. Be sure to schedule in some ‘alone’ or ‘thinking’ time. Everyone needs to know how to entertain themselves.
Perhaps you only have two children, so that will leave one child idle while you are with the other. The second child can have certain items that are only used during the first child’s ‘academic training,’ such as, certain blocks, or a coloring/activity book, laptop or tablet time, play dough or special books.
Three children can be ideal for my idea. While you are with the youngest, the two older ones can finish cleaning the kitchen. While you are with the middle child, the oldest one can play with the youngest. Then, during time with the oldest, the two younger ones can play together.
Everyone learns that they all get time with Mom, so they need to respect the time when it is someone else’s turn. Of course, you talk with them all during those few moments of transition between children. That is a good time to praise or encourage, or put out fires, or clarify the plan.
This plan worked very well for me for several years, even if a I had an infant in my arms. Some will recommend that you homeschool the older ones while the younger ones are napping. I don’t. If they nap, you nap. You need down time, too!