Babies are such a blessing! They bring such joy and life and love to our hearts and homes! God knew what He was doing when He made them so precious and sweet! But there's more to babies than the cute, warm and fuzzy side. As they grow, they start climbing the walls... and coloring on them! Sometimes it's hard to know what to do with them, especially when you are trying to finish a school day!
My children were all born between 17 an 26 months apart. I'm currently expecting our sixth baby, and the trend continues. Here are some tips that we have incorporated into our homeschool so that we can be a baby/toddler friendly at the same time.
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I know that many homeschooling families like to begin school early in the morning so that afternoons can be free. At some point in the future, our family may be able to do this. For now, though, I find it easier to start at 10:00. This allows us to spend a relaxed morning having breakfast, reading together, doing a few household chores, and then a bit of free time before school begins. From 10:00 to 12:00, my older children do a lot of their independent work, with me needing only to get them started on their assignments, check up on them, and assist when needed. This frees me somewhat, so that I am more available to the little ones.
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My 20 month old and 3 year old are very active and busy children who play hard, so by 1:00 in the afternoon, they are ready for a nice, long nap of about three hours. That three hour time span is a great opportunity for to devote to teaching the older children one-on-one, reading books that are too advanced for the little ones to enjoy, and leading the children in various projects. Maximize those naptimes!
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Younger babies seem to want only to be held by Mommy. When I have a small baby, I use a baby carrier for many hours during the day. Baby is happy just to be close to me, and I can move about attending to the needs of the others. By the way, if you are looking for a fantastic carrier, let me recommend the Ergo Baby Carrier. The Ergo is the "Cadillac" of baby carriers, and can be used through multiple stages of development as a front, back or hip carrier. I have a history of lower back problems, which required surgery shortly after my fourth child was born. The Ergo is so easy on my back because it puts the weight on my hips. It is comfortable even after hours of carrying a baby.
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I include the little ones as much as possible in our school time. I read aloud our "Five in a Row" books earlier in the day because the little ones often like to listen in and look at the pictures. The little ones also enjoy anything related to music, so whenever I play CDs for musical education, I make sure the little ones are awake as well.
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A few boxes of baby/toddler friendly toys are kept nearby for reading time. If they are not interested in sitting in on the stories, they can sit on the floor close to me and play quietly. Blocks and puzzles are great for this.
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I don't know if this is a universal phenomenon, but in my household, little ones have always held a fascination for the kitchen. They love to climb and try to explore each and every cupboard to see what treasures may await them. A few years ago, I did some creative re-arranging in my kitchen so that one cupboard was left completely empty. I filled it with old kitchen pans, wooden spoons, muffin tins, a few old "Taste of Home" magazines (AKA "Cookbooks!"), lids, aprons, plastic toy kitchen appliances, etc. The little ones learn that they are allowed to play in this cabinet, but the other kitchen cabinets are off-limits.
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Preschoolers often love to draw and color. Encourage this!
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This is the hardest one to accept, but probably the most necessary tip: Let them make a mess. Really. That's what toddlers do. Do what you can to contain them in one area of the house, but relax on the neatness standard. When playtime is over, teach them to pick up a few toys with your help, and ask the older ones to help with some "tidy spaces." During playtime, however, we can not expect our house to look like a magazine.
If you would like some other tips, here is a fantastic resource: Paula's Archives: Preschool Activities
