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Over the past couple weeks we have had most of our kids out with illness and spring break. This is the first week we are back to normal and I'm about to rip my hair out! This morning wasn't so bad, but as soon as my SA got on the bus everything went to you know what. I'm really at a loss. During the day I currently only have my own 2 year old daughter (who is very smart and defiant) and a 4 mo old and also a 9 mo old. Between the messed up schedule of the infants and the basic care of everyone I am totally slacking on lesson plans, activities and schedule. Most of the things I plan are in the morning or afternoon when my SA is here. During the day I feel like its just managing until he gets off the bus. I know my daughter is probably suffering from boredom but I just don't know what to do. With my set up the babies nap in the family room which is just off the DC room with no door so I feel the need to do quiet activities and she just doesn't do well with those. I've unfortunately resorted to pulling up cartoons on netflix for her to watch on my computer JUST so I can tend to the boys. This is something I HATE, but it seems like if I don't things get messy. She is CONSTANTLY breaking EVERY rule and acts out and is just SOOOOOOOO frustrating. I know I need to get a better schedule but its so difficult because of the ages and differences of the kids in our day time group. And with my daughter it seems like every thing I do with her she eats the crayons or playdough or draws on something or sticks her fingers in the glue sticks and then we have to put the activity away... THEN SHE"S BORED AND ACTS OUT AGAIN. I'm just really on the verge of a breakdown. It's weeks like this that makes me seriously wonder WHY I do this.
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((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))
First, deep breath.
Second, sounds like you have some schedule tweaking (and sticking to!) to do. I would allow my own kids to watch cartoons if the infants were napping. I wouldn't love it, but I also don't think that small amount of tv is going to really hurt her.
She sounds bored. Are you able to get outside for some fresh air? I pretty much plan my day/schedule around outside and meals.
8:15-SA'ers on bus everyone to bathrooms to wash up and potty
8:30-10 outside
10 inside, everyone potties, we have morning circle, arts & crafts until 11
11-11:30 wash hands/potty and we do some dancing in the dining room until lunch
11:30-12 lunch
12:30 story time/naps
2:30 potty & snack, free play until SA'ers get off the bus, they have snack, do any homework and read for 15 minutes while the kids and I do afternoon circle
3:30-4:30 outside
inside for last potty break of the day and free play until pick ups.
If I deviate from that, I want to pull my hair out. NEVER FAILS. -
Thank you! I know she is totally bored and that's the biggest issue and also my biggest disappointment in myself atm. Seeing your schedule really helped. I do have a schedule but don't really follow it any more because it didn't work once the babies got here. But I need to re instate and tweak it. Especially now that the weather is warming up its much easier to get everyone outside. A couple days ago I went and bought a schedule display so she could see what is going to happen next (before my schedule was just for me to see) but I wasn't sure what I needed to do realistically. Now that I have a better idea I think I will put it together tonight and start tomorrow. I also think its write on wipe off so I can see what works and what doesn't and mess with it a couple weeks before I put it in permanent. Thanks for responding! happyface
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Other ideas that worked for my strong willed, challenging, high energy DS-busy bags and a timer,stool up to the sink and let him 'wash' his dishes, trucks, whatever. Counting with motor activities 1 hop, 2 big jumps, 3 baby steps, that sort of thing. Hide and seek with toys (if you have a play piggy bank with coins, or shape sorter) hide them all and have her find them, name them, count them, and get stickers,this winter the weather was SOOO BAD we couldn't get outside for over a week. I put up a little blow up kiddie pool with homemade moon sand, covered the floor with $1 store shower curtains underneath it and we had a 'beach party' everyone came with swim suits under their clothes, sunglasses, hats and we made sandcastles for hours.
HTH! Atleast tomorrow is Friday and the weekend should give you a little break!
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