Homeschooling with a toddler

[seamonster]

I have a question for those of you who homeschool older children when you have youngsters around. My sister is moving in with me and will be arriving in just a few weeks. I'm going to be homeschooling her, but I have a 15 month old, too. How do you structure your day so that the toddler gets his attention from you but are also able to help the older child? Do you just homeschool during nap time?

 

[heart of peace]

How old is your sister?

 

[CelticRose]

Where possible include. Even real littlies will enjoy any hands on activities modified to suit. ie cooking, a toddler can use dough or batter like playdough while an older child will measure & pour. All children love paint or drawing activities. Let your toddler *help* with science experiments. If your school age child is reading independently allocate independent learning times when your whole focus can be on the little one. It always sounds much harder than it actually is. A child who reads will often enjoy reading aloud to a younger child, which benefits both. Older children are often, inadvertently, very good teachers for little ones because they are proud of being able to show a younger child how it's done & how much they themselves know. Granted there are times when it can get a little hectic but n the whole it generally sorts itself ut rather well. Enjoy.

 

[seamonster]

Thanks CelticRose. That helps a lot

MsDahl - she's 10, almost 11, so she can do a lot on her own, but she's also skipping a grade so I'll be helping introduce a lot of new concepts that will require 1-on-1 time.

 

[Neenie1]

Where possible include. Even real littlies will enjoy any hands on activities modified to suit. ie cooking, a toddler can use dough or batter like playdough while an older child will measure & pour. All children love paint or drawing activities. Let your toddler *help* with science experiments. If your school age child is reading independently allocate independent learning times when your whole focus can be on the little one. It always sounds much harder than it actually is. A child who reads will often enjoy reading aloud to a younger child, which benefits both. Older children are often, inadvertently, very good teachers for little ones because they are proud of being able to show a younger child how it's done & how much they themselves know. Granted there are times when it can get a little hectic but n the whole it generally sorts itself ut rather well. Enjoy.

I don't homeschool, but this is really good advice.

It sounds a lot like our school holidays when I have a 6 year old (a reasonably bright 6 year old, who reads at grade 2 level when he is only grade 1) and a not quite 3 year old.

I don't really have any ideas of things you can add. How does your 15 month old play by himself (obviously in the same room) does he play quietly, at times. Is there toys activities that he loves to use while he is sitting near you? If you child proof the area you are working in, and set out some toys that he likes, you should be able to get some things done while he is wandering around the room.

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

Structure your day around good times for your toddler. Introduce new concepts or more hands on activities while toddler is napping. You could also introduce new concepts in the evening before when your husband is home--that way the next day it's had to to germinate--and your sis will likely be better able to work independently.

My psycho boy (16 mos) is a wild man--but plays pretty well in the morning--so that's when we try to do math and grammar and things. We save science and history projects for nap time.

 

[seamonster]

Thanks for all the input, ladies. My husband is military and will likely not be home much (if at all) this fall, so I'm pretty much on my own with the two kids. I think we may end up saving much of the schoolwork for the evening time when baby is asleep, since that way we won't have distractions.

 

[Robinsegg]

If you have a playpen or somesuch, you can put toddler in that with special "school toys" to keep him busy (and happy). Keep him in the same room or just in the next (where you can hear him).

Give him time where you "do school" with him 1-on-1, too. As they grow older, it will seem more natural, and he's less likely to begrudge your time with her, knowing he'll have his time, too.

Include both in a story time, where you're reading a book aloud that goes with her lessons . . . a great habit to get into, and they'll both likely enjoy the time with you. Just don't expect him to sit still unless he's snuggling with you.

Give her time to "teach" toddler things. This should increase the bond between aunt and nephew.

Rachel