Help
With Your Rule
Time & Activities for Little Ones
Dear Holly,
I am a young mom of two sweet children--a girl (3 1/2) and a boy (1 1/2). I am a full time homemaker, and I love being with my children. However, I often find myself at a loss as to what to do with them. They're very young, so we do some play together, read stories, go outside to play and sometimes to the park. I fit in laundry, cooking, cleaning up, running errands around that, but I feel like especially my 3 year old often demands a lot of attention. I want to give her plenty of attention and I enjoy being with her, but I don't feel like I need to play with her all day. I do try to include them in doing laundry and sometimes cooking (if I'm not in a hurry). I also sometimes have projects or gardening that I would like to do, but as soon as I try to do it they are right there trying to "help" me.
In addition, what is a reasonable amount of playtime with the kids? Also, do children at this age need a lot of structure? Our schedule basically includes meals (& cleaning up) and a rest time in the afternoon with play at other times (unless we are out running errands or at play group--1 time per week). Sorry this is so long. I hope you can offer some suggestions.
Labels: 4th P Parent
posted by Holly at 9:45 AM
1 Comments:
I am sure that there will be many Moms who can give you ideas on this one! I remember asking a kindergarten teacher these very same questions!
Your post actually has many questions:
First off, on this website, "Holly's Notebook" page, there is a section on Activities for little ones - a mega list. I would refer you here for ideas on what you can do with them. I used to divide a piece of paper up into 3 columns, and write down various activities under these headings: Full Supervision / Partial Supervision / Independant. I'd post this on the fridge, and then when I needed a little work time, I'd set them up with one of the independant tasks. The Partial supervision list was something they could do at the kitchen table when I was doing dishes or whatever. The Full supervision was when I had a time set aside to do an activity with them.
Secondly, like a teacher in a classroom, you can make up a daily routine which enables you to have time for them and time for yourself to get things done. I used to have a morning routine when I had only little ones - something like:
breakfast & clean up (with me)
freetime 1/2 hour (I'd put new toys in playroom)
Table Time 1/2 hour (Some craft or playdo-partial)
Outside Recess 1/2 hour (outside fenced area)
Snack & Story Time 1/2 hour (with me)
Free Time 1/2 hour (Independant)
Video 1/2 hour (independant)
Because they knew what was coming ; because I had already spent time with them at table time & story time; because there was a variety of things to do each morning - all these things taught them to be independant when I needed them to, so I could do whatever tasks had to be done. Our afternoons were free from any routine after nap time.
The routine of basic events & variety in tasks within those times helped a great deal - I think children thrive on routine - it gives them a sense of security and order. Variety - where it's not playdo every single day at Table Time , but playdo & little plastic animals on Mondays, Paint stamps on Tuesdays, etc really really helps.
As for "Mummy-tasks" that can't be done with children, you have the option of doing them during video time or nap time or in the evening, or very very slowly when they are with you... :-)
A reasonable amount of time? I don't know that I can answer this directly - I think it depends on your sense of balance - are you giving them the time you feel they need? Are you able to do other musts around your home? Do you sense they truly 'need' you or are just bored?
For me, I think the thing that helped the most with the children doing independant play was to not have all their toys out all the time. We had a couple of large shelves way up by the ceiling - every day, at 11:00, I would change the toys- they would be fresh all day and into the next morning, bt then they'd get new ones at 11:00. This really helped. Other years, I remember having 6 baskets or so in the basement, and every day at 11:00 I'd switch baskets.
Now, all you other mothers - suggestions?
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