How do you hs with a 2 yr old in the room??? (Full Version)

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JJB1222 -> How do you hs with a 2 yr old in the room??? (7/28/2008 12:22:31 PM)

I've just finished my first year of hsing my 10 yr old and 5 yr old. I'm a little apprehensive about starting up another year because it has been quite a challenge to be productive with little brother running around. I try to coincide a lot of the learning with nap time, but that doesn't always happen.

Anyone have ideas on how to keep a toddler busy and happy during this crucial time of day?



Jenny-Fair -> RE: How do hs with a 2 yr old in the room??? (7/28/2008 12:28:26 PM)

Play dough! On a placemat (it can ruin table finishes) with cookie cutters and such. And only during school time.



Homegrownkids -> RE: How do hs with a 2 yr old in the room??? (7/28/2008 2:15:25 PM)

I plan on buying a baby gate to block off our kitchen area (I do school at the table with anyone that needs one on one). Our Little Buckaroo has discovered how to be on top of the table and that makes school REALLY hard! The older kids go to their bedroom, so our 18 mo. old won't bother them. This will be my 4th time h.schooling with a little one. It isn't always convenient, but it can be done.

Having a box of toys that only come down during school hours is helpful, and switching the toys around helps, too.

Also, if you are busy with one child, have the other child play with little brother. Have them take turns like that when you are doing one on one.

Oh yea... I remembered one thing. If Little Brother just wants mommy to hold him. Put him in your lap with a color, or pencil, and let him draw.



his_chosen -> RE: How do hs with a 2 yr old in the room??? (7/28/2008 3:34:42 PM)

Get creative! Perhaps the older ones can read to the youngest? Do school work during nap time. Have and older one watch the youngest while you do one-on-one with the other? Or after dinner when your hubby can watch the youngest? Or hubby do school with them?

I started hsing ds2 when he was 6yo. That means that ds3 was 4 and ds3 was 2. Honestly, I don't remember how I did it!



Karaboo2 -> RE: How do hs with a 2 yr old in the room??? (7/28/2008 3:51:38 PM)

We HS our 7yo dd, and 5yo ds ... this still leaves our 2yo ds, 1yo ds, and in a couple weeks, newborn ds. How we do it? The stuff which requires a LOT of concentration is completed during the younger kids nap times. Anything else is done while the kids are either playing in the living room (right beside where we are working), or with them at the table. As was previously mentioned, playdough works well for the lil ones ... as long as there is a mat underneath and they don't try to eat it -- messy when that happens! Also, Colour Wonder products from Crayola are great ... the special paper can get expensive if you let them use a whole bunch, but a page or so each day isn't too bad. Also, 'teaching' the lil ones as you go ... ie, if ds is working on something like pattern recognition, I would ask our 2yo to point out all the yellow circles on the page, thus incorporating him into the lesson.



JJB1222 -> RE: How do hs with a 2 yr old in the room??? (7/28/2008 6:11:52 PM)

Wow Karaboo,

I guess I can't make excuses. You inspire me. Of course, if I shared your situation with my dh he would ask, "when can we work on #4?" [sm=crazy.gif]



shadowspring -> RE: How do hs with a 2 yr old in the room??? (7/28/2008 7:35:32 PM)

quote:

And only during school time.


Whatever great ideas you use, like the Colour Wonders projects or play dough, can be kept in a special school box for school time only. What a great way to begin associating the word school with fun!

Put him close so he can participate where he can and you can keep an eye on him.

We had tons of duplos, blocks, dress up chest, etc. also stored in the school room/play room when my youngest was that little. Mom and sis would just have to nod appreciatively now and then. [;)]



Homegrownkids -> RE: How do you hs with a 2 yr old in the room??? (7/28/2008 9:35:12 PM)

quote:

I'm a little apprehensive about starting up another year because it has been quite a challenge to be productive with little brother running around.


You've had some great advice.... but don't forget to add flexibility to the list. Being flexible and "going with the flow" when you have little ones will help keep everyone calm and happy.



peculiar_lady2 -> RE: How do hs with a 2 yr old in the room??? (7/28/2008 9:59:48 PM)

we have certain things that are kept with the school stuff (and ONLY used during that time) for little ones. Things like.....
  • counting bears
  • beads for counting, or color matching, or stringing onto a shoe string
  • paper/coloring books and colors
  • water paints
  • flannel pieces cut into shapes so they can "make" different scenes with the pieces. (I also got adventurous a few years ago and made the veggie tales characters out of flannel)
  • peg boards (THESE things...though if your 2yo puts things in their mouth you shouldn't use them yet...mine doesn't)
  • fancy scissors for cutting stuff (that's more for our 3yo, not our 2yo though)
  • stickers (I hit the dollar stores and get tons of cheap cheap stickers so that I don't mind them using them up a lot)
  • refrigerator magnets and a metal cookie sheet (the magnets we have are letters and shapes...and we have made picture magnets of all the kids in the past for art projects, so they like playing with those too...those are easy to make, just magnet "paper"...print out pics, cut out, and attach with glue to the magnet sheet and decorate then put a few layers of glue over it to make them water proof and kid proof)

    I have lots mroe things, but our 2yo is going to bed now and the computer is in his room...so I will finish later



    • amybreit -> RE: How do hs with a 2 yr old in the room??? (7/29/2008 9:05:33 AM)

    You've gotten some great advice here. There was an article here on Crosswalk a while back on this very subject. Here's a link to it: Keeping Little Ones Busy



    JJB1222 -> RE: How do hs with a 2 yr old in the room??? (7/29/2008 2:04:45 PM)

    Thanks for all your great ideas. I can't wait to put them to use. Actually...I can wait...at least 4-5 more weeks for summer. [:D]



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