My Schoolroom is full of Chaos and Mayhem

[Jennifer]

8 and 7 yo's are sitting at their desks, trying to do what independent work they can. They are still young enough that they need me close by, if not right there for my easily distracted 8 yo. The 5 yo is busy doing preschool stuff, and I'm trying to read aloud to her. The baby (16 months) is not happy. Right now he's in his jolly jumper (in the schoolroom) which he likes as long as there's bouncy music playing-usually Sousa marches. When the baby is out of the jumper he's into everything. No one can resist talking. I need quiet!!

I've moved read alouds (history, science, Bible, etc) to snack time and lunch time when everyone is quiet and the baby is contained in the high chair. He does take a 2 hour nap after lunch, which is when we try to do projects, art, lapbooks, etc.

What should I do?
1. Get a nanny to be here for the baby in the morning hours?
2. Let mornings be a free time and then do "seat work" with the older two in the evening after dinner?
3. Pull my hair out and run away?

Please, please tell how to make this better. In all seriousness, I am really discouraged right now.

Jennifer

[Ellie]

8 and 7 yo's are sitting at their desks, trying to do what independent work they can. They are still young enough that they need me close by, if not right there for my easily distracted 8 yo. The 5 yo is busy doing preschool stuff, and I'm trying to read aloud to her. The baby (16 months) is not happy. Right now he's in his jolly jumper (in the schoolroom) which he likes as long as there's bouncy music playing-usually Sousa marches. When the baby is out of the jumper he's into everything. No one can resist talking. I need quiet!!

I've moved read alouds (history, science, Bible, etc) to snack time and lunch time when everyone is quiet and the baby is contained in the high chair. He does take a 2 hour nap after lunch, which is when we try to do projects, art, lapbooks, etc.

What should I do?
1. Get a nanny to be here for the baby in the morning hours?
2. Let mornings be a free time and then do "seat work" with the older two in the evening after dinner?
3. Pull my hair out and run away?

Please, please tell how to make this better. In all seriousness, I am really discouraged right now.

Jennifer

(((Jennifer))))

I only had two dc, and they were almost 4 and almost 7 when we started, so I don't have experience to draw on. I do know, however, that there are *many* hsers with many more dc who manage to do it, so I know it's possible.

I'm thinking that although #1 might be fun, it's really not practical in the long run.

#3 only works for a day or two :-)

What about a modified #2? Do the seatwork when the baby is napping, keep the read-alouds at lunch, and do lap-books and stuff in the evening?

[Brenda in FL]

OK - here's what I would do . . .

You say that your 5 yo is doing preschool stuff. I'll take that to mean that she's not officially in Kindergarten yet. With that assumption, I would not try to schedule school things for her. That way she and the baby can occupy each other, nearby, but that leaves you to work with the 8 yo. Plus when things are going smoothly, she can jump into the projects and listen along to read alouds when you do them with the 8 yo. You will be amazed at how much the younger two will absorb over the next few years. Especially the baby.

Regarding the 8 yo, he'll soon be more independent - give that some time.

During the baby's nap time you can work with the preschooler.

I find that trying to do any seat work in the afternoon or evening backfires on me, as they are just too worn out from the day to concentrate.

Next year when you begin Kindergarten - keep it light, reading, some math and handwriting. The baby should be able to play more independently as well and that will help.

Oh - and if you don't object, as a last resort - get some dvds to occupy them. The Letter Factory DVDs are awesome, schoolhouse rock, and anything that's educational.

Hang in there - don't pull out that beautiful hair!!

[Riverfront Headmistress]

Option C - Can I come too?

[Jean in Newcastle]

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I've moved read alouds (history, science, Bible, etc) to snack time and lunch time when everyone is quiet and the baby is contained in the high chair. He does take a 2 hour nap after lunch, which is when we try to do projects, art, lapbooks, etc.

It sounds to me like you you should do projects, art, lapbooks etc. in the morning. Those are noisy activities in our house - times when a baby rocking out to Sousa wouldn't be an issue. Or when you could give the preschooler and baby their own paper and scribbly crayons so they can join in. I'd do the seat work during baby's naptime.

[Cadam]

I just kept saying "this to shall pass, this to shall pass". Now that she is on the cusp of 2yo it is actually getting better. She is still a 2 yo :eek: but she can color now and doesn't put crayons into her mouth quite as much and that kind of thing.

I would assign one big kid to play with the baby for 20 min while you work with the other and then switch. Lap books? Projects? what are those? Wait a year for that stuff.... or maybe two years :o I seriously was a totally boring mom last year at this stage. It's just to hard. My kids survived and this year we are getting to the occasional fun activity.

This to shall pass.....

[Jennifer]

Thank you all for the ideas. I think that a nanny is out of the question, for lack of funds plus that fact that all my kids would want to go and play with her.

I think I'm going to use the morning for the noisy stuff, read alouds during snacks and meals, and seatwork during naptime.

Wish me luck!!
Jennifer