Homework nightmares are nothing new. Every family has different homework challenges to deal with. Some families have kids that are school age and some that are too young for school. This poses a problem when the older kids are doing them. Usually one of two things happens. The younger kids want to play with the older kids or they want attention from the parent that they can’t get.
How to handle homework nightmares at your home?
Find a way to incorporate the younger child into the homework routine.Many times the younger child is being difficult because he or she wants to be a part of the group. It is difficult to explain to a toddler that it is time for you to pay attention to the other kids. So one way to alleviate the problem of your toddler giving you a hard time while the other kids do homework is to make the toddler feel like a part of the group.
Find sit down activities for the younger child to do.Allow the younger one to color or scribble while the older kids do homework. You could also have puzzles for the younger one to do. Sometimes all you have to do to keep the younger kid occupied while the other ones do homework is have some paper that the younger child can draw on. You have to just play it by ear to find out what your child likes and will sit down and do.What to do if you simply can’t get your kid to sit down with the older kidsOkay so you have tried everything you can think of and you simply can’t get your toddler to sit still while the other ones are busy. So what else can you do? I’m glad you asked. Here are some other things you can do when you have toddlers that give you a hard time while older kids are doing homework.
- Put on a movie.
Yes I know I said it–TV. Sometimes it is a necessary evil. I’m not saying that you should put your kid in front of the television for hours and hours. However, if you can find a movie that your toddler will watch then that will give you some time to devote to helping your other kids with their tasks. This should only be used when all other methods have been exhausted and you can’t get your toddler to cooperate when the other children are doing homework.
- Make it nap time.
If you know your toddler won’t sit down or be quiet while your older kids are working, you may need to make homework time nap time for your toddler. If you keep this routine up for a few days, eventually your toddler will automatically go to sleep during homework time. This may not be the ideal thing for you to do, but it will give you some quiet time to help your older kids.Homework time does not have to equal headache time. It can actually be a way for you and your kids to spend time together. With a little creativity, you can make this a positive time of day for your family.About the author
DeAnna Troupe is a small business coach and freelance writer. When she is not helping small business owners with their business, she is raising four kids with her husband.
DeAnna Troupe is a small business coach and freelance writer. When she is not helping small business owners with their business, she is raising four kids with her husband.