Homeschooling with Young Children

For many homeschooling families there are children of different ages all needing their parent's time and attention. That can cause problems when trying to teach an older child and keep a younger child entertained. Preschoolers and toddlers that still require lots of energy from their parents can be distracting, but with a little creativity and a lot of patience you can find a way to work everyone's unique needs into a harmonious day.

If your younger child seems to be always underfoot while you are trying to teach your older child creating a separate play space for your younger child may be the perfect solution. Set up an area custom made for your younger child to play in however he or she wishes. You do not necessarily need a large space, the corner of a room or underneath the kitchen table can be used to your advantage. Decorate the area with pictures, scarves, old curtains, and anything else that your younger child will love. Choose just a few toys and books that can be set on low open shelves, in small boxes, or in easy to carry baskets. This not only makes the area easier to manage it also helps your younger children be able to find specific toys easily on their own. Try not to choose toys that will be too stimulating or will require your constant help. Pretend toys such as puppets, dolls, a doll house, or dress-up clothing works great for this purpose. How ever you set it up keep the area in a specific and consistent location to help build a routine. Help your younger child to transition into their special play time while you work with your older children at the same time each day and in the same location, this will help your younger children deal with the time easier.

If your younger children are interested and eager to "do school" too you can include them in the daily work with their own activities. Young children love to mimic the adults and older siblings in their life, so finding a way for them to participate in the schooltime is a great way to not only keep them busy but to also begin the homeschool process. Set your younger children up with special coloring books, washable markers, crayons, simple workbooks, stickers, and books that they can use at this time. If you keep all of your older children's homeschool supplies in a specific place add your younger child's supplies as well, it is a great way to make them feel more involved. Do not worry about actively teaching your younger children, just have fun. If you have a preschooler or kindergartener you can set out chalk, waterpaints, fun dough, lacing cards, puzzles, or just a few pieces of paper and a pair of scissors. Often just being there and being a part of the schooltime is enough to make your younger children happy, and gives them their own "work" to show off.

You may also have to change the times that you can work with your older child. Taking advantage of nap times, later bedtimes, or time when the other parent is home and can keep the younger children occupied may be the easiest way to get one on one work with your older child done. Remember that homeschooling does not have to follow the same schedule that public school does. Rearrange your schedule so that the subjects that demand your attention can be worked on when you have the free time to do so. If you still need more you can squeeze in a few more minutes during the day at times when your younger child is contained. During meal time while your younger child is in a highchair eating you can help your older child work at the table, or while you bath your younger children have your older child sit in the bathroom to read aloud.

While you are trying to find a way to make extra time for your older child do not forget to spend some one on one time with your younger children as well. Sometimes they may want to interrupt and cut in because they are feeling left out. While your older child is doing work that does not require your attention spend some time reading to, playing with, or just cuddling your younger children. Let them see that while you do have to take some time to be one on one with their older sibling that they also will be special time all to their own. Try to keep things fair for all of your children. If you expect thirty minutes uninterrupted to work with your older child then offer your younger children the same uninterrupted time.

For some, however, the best solution may be to find a new approach. If you are having too much trouble finding time to sit down and give your older child the attention he or she needs then you should try to find other ways to teach. Often younger children are content to go out being carried in a sling or riding in a stroller. You could take frequent "field trips" to the zoo, to museums, to hiking trails, and more to help give your older children a more hands on learning experience while your younger rides along happily. If you have a local homeschool group or have any friends who are also homeschooling you could see about working together to trade childcare services for lessons. This would give your older child a chance to work interrupted and give your younger children time to play, without either getting in each other's way.

What ever you choose to do stay flexible and open to change. What works great one day may be a disaster the next. Do not try to force your children into a tight schedule or expect them to get it all done in one day. Try to be open to all of your children's needs, even if that means changing your plans half way through the day. While homeschooling with toddlers and preschoolers can be a challenge, it can also be rewarding for all. And with a little creativity it can certainly be doable.