I need some tips for juggling better

[mom1mg]

I am currently HSing my two older boys. Usually the little ones are content to putter around or are asleep. Come Sept I don't think that will be easy anymore. Today for example the toddler and almost preschooler TRASHED the kitchen while I worked on an assingment with the older kids. My older ones ARE NOT independent workers. One in SN and the other just gets distracted. I was ok with a kitchen disaster because the little ones were having fun, safe and occupied (although messy). This isn't something though that can be an everyday thing! Come Sept I also want to start HSing the preschooler. SO mamas with many at home - how do you balance everyone???

Most days I do ok but there are too many times where everyone needs something all at once. THANK GOODNESS it doesn't last long until I can work my way through them all and get everyone happy BUT I would like to try to avoid the insanity minutes where everyone needs something and none of them are happy while they wait.

[SillyEllie]

do your kids like to color? if I'm doing something with my oldest my 2 year old is cool with doing coloring books or I'll print her out some "school work" like tracing lines and even though she doesn't actually do it she likes to try. Or if all fails I put in Strawberry Shortcake for her lol

[Kristi26]

Okay, so this being homeschooling and we're often about teaching our kids interesting new talents, I seriously thought that when I clicked on this, it would be about actual juggling tips.

Anyway, when my three are doing school, I try to get everyone in the same place. We will sit at the table and then I can go between them and help where needed but I'm never out of the room. My DS3 was 2 for the majority of the year but just turned 3 a couple weeks ago. I'd have him color pictures, do playdoh, glue shapes on paper, look at books...sometimes we go outside for school just to change things up. Then he can do bubbles, chalk, ride his bike, etc while we're outside. I like to write sentences with DD (K) in chalk as it seems to magically help her read better. I've also put trains on TV for him more than once, though most little ones wouldn't go for that I suppose.

Hope some of those ideas help!

[mommyto5littlemonkeys]

This is a huge struggle for me.. I end up putting in a move for the little ones more often then not because it's one of the only ways to keep the 2 year old distracted and even that doesn't always help. Some days I just wait for nap time that helps some.

[usnkbaal]

my 2yo likes to color, more then that she likes stickers so bringing out our big bucket of foam stickers always works for about 30min maybe more if I tell her to color first. She also has a few "special toys" that she loves that stay up on the shelf in the garage so she only gets them when I need to spend time with ds. Or if all else fails netfilx on the ipad we only have a tv in our bedroom (not by choice dd broke ours in the living room) so if she wants to watch stuff she has to be in eye site. I also let her play a few preschool games on the Ipad.