Homeschool Chat Part III

[polkadotsuitcase]

I'm curious to hear what others do regarding "solo" kid time. I've worked from home since the kids were toddlers, so they're used to having times during the day where I need to have patches of uninterrupted time. But there are still times when we've done school, they've gone outside, we've run errands, and I sit down to do some work...and they don't know what to do with themselves.

(Granted, now that they're 10 and 12, they're much better at amusing themselves, but they're boys so sometimes "amusing themselves" turns into wrestling matches and the thumping drives me crazy.)

We've got building stuff they still play with, some project-based books they can do on their own, books to read, etc...but I'm wondering if there's something really cool, semi-educational, and captivating that we're missing that your kiddos do by themselves to keep themselves entertained for a while.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I'm curious to hear what others do regarding "solo" kid time. I've worked from home since the kids were toddlers, so they're used to having times during the day where I need to have patches of uninterrupted time. But there are still times when we've done school, they've gone outside, we've run errands, and I sit down to do some work...and they don't know what to do with themselves.

(Granted, now that they're 10 and 12, they're much better at amusing themselves, but they're boys so sometimes "amusing themselves" turns into wrestling matches and the thumping drives me crazy.)

We've got building stuff they still play with, some project-based books they can do on their own, books to read, etc...but I'm wondering if there's something really cool, semi-educational, and captivating that we're missing that your kiddos do by themselves to keep themselves entertained for a while.

Yep!! TV!!! ha!! Some days we just pop in an old movie or a Disney show and be still and quiet for a while! I know there are times when i just want to see the tv, be entertained and not have to think! I know..terrible hs solution..but there it is......we don't sit around watching it all day or anything..but somedays I really look forward to movie time! And...going to check the link for your book right now! How exciting!!!!!

 

[Kimberly Hill]

...but I'm wondering if there's something really cool, semi-educational, and captivating that we're missing that your kiddos do by themselves to keep themselves entertained for a while.

My 7.5 year old DD is fascinated by life science right now, particularly the oceans and the body, so streaming Netflix documentaries on our tv when I need some time to get my own work done is a great solution for us!

 

[Tiana]

.......

 

[graygables]

I'm curious to hear what others do regarding "solo" kid time. I've worked from home since the kids were toddlers, so they're used to having times during the day where I need to have patches of uninterrupted time. But there are still times when we've done school, they've gone outside, we've run errands, and I sit down to do some work...and they don't know what to do with themselves.

Since I'm also a full time grad student (not for long...graduate in 5 weeks!), it's been important for the kids to understand that I have to have my own study time. They have laptops, so spend time in their rooms creating videos or digi-scrapping photos from vacations. They design clothes or cakes, or just draw (we have a pen/pad/mouse thingy) in paint. They also have to play the Wii fit 30 minutes per day and that generally leads into Mario Cart or some other game. They have chores (cleaning the kitchen) and also help with meal prep. If all else fails, there's always TV. Right now, I'm hearing Rugrats streaming from Netflix as they relive "the good old days when cartoons were funny".

 

[figment3258]

hello all!

Just thought i would say hi I posted just a few times on the other thread but its been a while.

We are still on "summer break" and we are heading on vacation next week so our official start will be around labor day.

this will be our 3 legal year and i love it! I have two daughters ages almost 8 and 4.

Life is great what more can i say

I hope to connect with some of you and get more involved in this thread.

Take care

 

[Tiana]

......

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

Yep!! TV!!! ha!! Some days we just pop in an old movie or a Disney show and be still and quiet for a while!

My 7.5 year old DD is fascinated by life science right now, particularly the oceans and the body, so streaming Netflix documentaries on our tv when I need some time to get my own work done is a great solution for us!

They have laptops, so spend time in their rooms creating videos or digi-scrapping photos from vacations. They design clothes or cakes, or just draw (we have a pen/pad/mouse thingy) in paint. They also have to play the Wii fit 30 minutes per day and that generally leads into Mario Cart or some other game. They have chores (cleaning the kitchen) and also help with meal prep. If all else fails, there's always TV. Right now, I'm hearing Rugrats streaming from Netflix as they relive "the good old days when cartoons were funny".

I forgot about Roku/Netflix. I have a boatload of history/discovery channel vids in the lineup.

Most of the time, we have a good balance of us/me time, but lately I've had a string of deadlines (not a bad thing in one regard!) and they've had to self-motivate a little more than usual. Toss in that football practices have been canceled this week, and they're getting antsy. Thank goodness for their social calendar, or they'd be bouncing off the ceiling.

Thanks for the input!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

hello all!

Just thought i would say hi I posted just a few times on the other thread but its been a while.

We are still on "summer break" and we are heading on vacation next week so our official start will be around labor day.

this will be our 3 legal year and i love it! I have two daughters ages almost 8 and 4.

Life is great what more can i say

I hope to connect with some of you and get more involved in this thread.

Take care

Glad you are lovin' it !!! Have fun on your vacation...and then you can be refreshed and ready to jump back in!!! We'll be here when you get back!

 

[ilovepete]

Homeschool Days in September for us!!!

We have homeschooled for 17 years. Our oldest is a Junior at Rochester Institute of Technology, our second is a Freshman at SUNY Jefferson, our third is a junior at home (and working to become an Eagle Scout) , our fourth is in first grade, and our fifth is four and probably starting Kindergarten.

My husband says I should write a book about the 'disorganized homeschool'; I prefer the 'relaxed homeschool'. I am a huge fan of using very little curriculum, especially in the elementary grades, with the possible exception of math. Children can learn a lot through games, observations, playing with friends, visiting museums, listening to adults, and just exploring their world. We have gone to the beach most years in Sept. since our eldest was 2. My children know more about beach ecology, erosion, birds, dunes, waves, etc. than most children we know, and we have never studied it formally. We learned about mountains by climbing them, and sometimes by skiing down them. We learned about geography by driving to Florida from NY.

My best advice is to relax and think outside the box. Everything you do is educational if you take advantage of the teachable moment. "Mommy, why does...?"

This is totally my philosophy as well. I figure, my DS just turned 5. He is just starting his first year now and he is reading and already knows everything he should know for K and more, and we have never done anything formal or used curriculum with him, so something is working. And he LOVES learning and always asks questions and is so eager to do everything. That is my main goal in homeschooling is to keep the learning fun so that they WANT to do it. I wouldn't call myself and unschooler, but really close. I think I am a mix of a few different styles.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

I think I do this to myself every year -- the annual kickoff picnic with one of our groups is today (in about five hours!) and I've got no clue what food I'm going to bring to share.

Anyone got any lightning-quick, easy-to-throw-together food ideas that's great for potluck? I'm afraid I'm just going to swing by the bakery and bring a bunch of desserts...and I think I do that every single year!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I think I do this to myself every year -- the annual kickoff picnic with one of our groups is today (in about five hours!) and I've got no clue what food I'm going to bring to share.

Anyone got any lightning-quick, easy-to-throw-together food ideas that's great for potluck? I'm afraid I'm just going to swing by the bakery and bring a bunch of desserts...and I think I do that every single year!

That sounds perfectly acceptable to me...it's probably what I would do too!! LOL

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

That sounds perfectly acceptable to me...it's probably what I would do too!! LOL

Just grabbed some good-looking cookies and we're on our way! (Glad to know I'm not the only one who does it this way!)

 

[ilovepete]

OK this is funny to me so I just wanted to share. My son just turned 5. He said he wanted to write the days of the week, so I told him to go ahead and gave him the paper and the pencil, not really sure what to expect. Later, when I looked, I saw he wrote:
1. Monday
2. Toosday (he said the double O makes the "oo" sound like Kangaroo, can't really argue with that LOL)
3. Winzday
4. Fursday (yes this is really how he says it lol)
5. Friday
6. Sirday (lol, what?)
7. Sunday
Not too bad but funny at the same time.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

OK this is funny to me so I just wanted to share. My son just turned 5. He said he wanted to write the days of the week, so I told him to go ahead and gave him the paper and the pencil, not really sure what to expect. Later, when I looked, I saw he wrote:
1. Monday
2. Toosday (he said the double O makes the "oo" sound like Kangaroo, can't really argue with that LOL)
3. Winzday
4. Fursday (yes this is really how he says it lol)
5. Friday
6. Sirday (lol, what?)
7. Sunday
Not too bad but funny at the same time.

AAWWWWW!!! You gotta keep that forever!!

 

[DawnM]

I know this is a little late, but we have potlucks a lot for scouts.

I take something easy.

Enchilada bake
Tortilla chips and salsa
Potato chips and dip

and I have even brought a tupperware full of PB&J sandwiches cut into quarters. With a lot of younger kids around they actually get eaten fast!

Dawn

I think I do this to myself every year -- the annual kickoff picnic with one of our groups is today (in about five hours!) and I've got no clue what food I'm going to bring to share.

Anyone got any lightning-quick, easy-to-throw-together food ideas that's great for potluck? I'm afraid I'm just going to swing by the bakery and bring a bunch of desserts...and I think I do that every single year!

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

OK this is funny to me so I just wanted to share. My son just turned 5. He said he wanted to write the days of the week, so I told him to go ahead and gave him the paper and the pencil, not really sure what to expect. Later, when I looked, I saw he wrote:
1. Monday
2. Toosday (he said the double O makes the "oo" sound like Kangaroo, can't really argue with that LOL)
3. Winzday
4. Fursday (yes this is really how he says it lol)
5. Friday
6. Sirday (lol, what?)
7. Sunday
Not too bad but funny at the same time.

VERY cute!

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

I know this is a little late, but we have potlucks a lot for scouts.

I take something easy.

Enchilada bake
Tortilla chips and salsa
Potato chips and dip

and I have even brought a tupperware full of PB&J sandwiches cut into quarters. With a lot of younger kids around they actually get eaten fast!

Dawn

Going to have to file away some ideas for next year -- thanks! There was a TON of food (about 200 people), and some of it was non-homemade, so I didn't feel like a total slacker. Some people even brought a bucket of Bojangle's chicken. (It went fast.)

 

[DawnM]

When we have a scouts event we allow the moms and young kids to go first, cubscouts next, and boyscouts last.

It got so that by the time the boyscouts got there there wasn't much left! So the ladies who usually serve have started reserving some out and not serving it until the boyscouts get there!

I have decided that from now on I will take an extra bag of chips or whatever because there never seems to be enough with so many BOYS there!

Dawn

Going to have to file away some ideas for next year -- thanks! There was a TON of food (about 200 people), and some of it was non-homemade, so I didn't feel like a total slacker. Some people even brought a bucket of Bojangle's chicken. (It went fast.)

 

[jacksmomma]

Can anyone give me feedback on Sonlight?