I have three kids this year not official school age. I don’t know about your kids but mine have these awesome abilities to make the most catastrophic messes in only 60 seconds!! If they really are showing off this amazing skill, maybe in even less than that. With that said, homeschooling the older two while trying to keep the little ones safely and quietly occupied is hard. If you have this issue here are some things I do to keep my wild critters occupied without them destroying the home.
- Busy bags: I use cheap sandwich or snack baggies to store little activities that will hopefully keep them occupied. Activities range from simple matching printables, paper dolls, to little crafts.
- sensory play: I have a small basket of empty containers and measuring cups that i will let them use with rice, beans, or water play. I just put a couple towels down on the floor to help with any messes.
- coloring/ arts & crafts: my kids LOVE coloring so I will print a few coloring pages of whatever their current favorite character is.
- tot notebooks: Each little one has a composition notebook where they can scribble, use stickers, or dot marker in.
- Cheap workbooks: I know workbooks aren’t very Charlotte Mason friendly but they do sometimes keep the littles interest when I am trying to do school work with the older ones. Some of the ones I have are BrainQuest Prek workbook, wipe clean Numbers, and some Rod and Staff workbooks for prek.
Each kid has their own cheap backpack. I will keep a couple busy things in the little ones’ backpack and they can only get their bags when it is school time.
Here some of my favorite resources for printables and/ or ideas for little ones:
*** Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Any opinions stated about these items are 100% my honest opinions. Thank you!
Since I mainly have a couple of little ones, our schooling is often being disturbed. That is just the way it’s going to be. You have to handle it day by day and evaluate each situation as it comes. Seize the moments that you see is a good time to sneak in with an older kid. Sometimes those moments are only 5 minutes, one page, or half a lesson. Sometimes that quick 5 minutes might be all that you might get in that entire day or even week!! Stop and breathe, it’s going to be okay. Cherish the good times (even if they are short) and learn from the bad times. Like the saying
“The days are long but the years are fast.”
It won’t always be like this. Seek our Lord’s guidance and to our Blessed Mother for her motherly help.
Do you have any tips or advice for entertaining your little ones while trying to homeschool older children? If so comment below!
