Quiet Time and Our Own Children

[kcnjason]

Do you have your own children home for the summer? My daughter is in 2nd grade and is home for the summer break. (thankfully it's almost over) Do you have them do something quietly during rest time or do you spend time with your own children while the other kids are resting? I'm beginning to feel guilty now that summer is coming to an end. During rest time, which is only 1 hour, I have her do something quietly. She usually spends the time in her room watching a tv show, coloring, drawing, etc. I am kind of selfish with the small amount of quiet time I have and I like that break. She is the oldest of all the kids and I'm thinking I should give that time to her. What do you have your OWN school aged children do during rest time? I would like any advice.

[Zoe]

I'm the same way. I love my DD who's 5 and about to start kindy, but I need my quiet time! She's in her room during this time watching a movie and playing quietly. She does this regardless of if there are dck's here or not. Always been that way so it's part of her routine.

If she were older, I may feel differently, but for her age, yes I do quiet time.

[Cat Herder]

My kids read, visit friends, hang out in their room or go off with my dh.

I used to live with HUGE guilt because of the feeling my kids were ripped off of a summer vacation because of the daycare.

I also was afraid to take full vacations for guilt of leaving my DCF's in a bind.

I now close for two seperate weeks each year (spring, fall) and spend both whole weeks with my family. No TV, phones, or other electronics. I also have several three day weekends and Holidays to spend with them.

During the summer my DH takes our kids out for the day 2-3 days a week (bowling, hiking, swimming, golfing, movies, rafting, go carting, etc).

Every weekend we plan one family outing (State parks, all from above, etc).

Guilt no longer lives here.

[cheerfuldom]

If taking this quiet time refreshes you and helps you be a better mom, than it really is for her sake too. There is nothing wrong with requiring some independence for her and you can add in mommy time in the evenings or weekends. Maybe one "date" a week would be fun.

[Solandia]

My girls are 12yo and 9yo, plus I have two one year olds. They all get quiet time in the afternoon -the oldest ones for an hour - every single day. Daycare or no daycare. Quiet time is no electronic stuff at all. No tv, no handheld games, no iPod....just quiet.

There is a huge value to continuing to develop the ability to entertain oneself, without something doing the entertaining. Even at 12yo. It helps narrow their focus fir a time, allows the brain to decompress, and resets their emotions (very important for the 12yo!!).

I do not suggest any quiet time activities for the school agers, they MUST figure it out themselves. I tell them in must be quiet, sitting in one spot, and can't be messy. No talking to each other. They come up with suggestions, because my suggestions would likely garner an internal eye roll. Lol. They a
Eventuallycome up with good ones, like I would suggest. Color, drawing, dry erase boards, flashcards, reading, felt boards, puzzles, organizing/reorganizing bandanas or other cloth items for play....sometimes they choose to rest....especially my 9yo. She naps a few times a week.

This will NOT work for school agers who ar not used to self entertaining....it will tie a couple weeks of whining, pouting, in general pain in the buttedness, and giving suggestions. I do not start kids older than just turned two....so my school agers have beenwithme since birth, and their parents have also implemented my same quiet time rules at home....it is a beautiful thing. I look at it as skill building (enjoying one's own company), rather than my coffee break/lunch time. Trust me , it IS a skill, not one easily mastered if not taught.

[TBird]

I have my 7 year old take a nap or at least lie down on my bed and watch a show. And yes...she could use one...she's the Energizer Bunny! Oh, and did I mention that she thinks she RUNS my daycare??? The 13 year old and the 11 year old will read or ride bikes. This doesn't always work...they totally insert themselves into what I'm doing and are generally driving me CRAZY!!! Is it Labor Day yet???

[Danielle]

I'm a homeschooling mom so part of nap time is school time. My son is almost 4 and has given up naps. I have him lay on a nap mat watching a movie until the younger ones fall asleep. That gives me a little bit of down time. Then we move to the table and work on school.

[Meyou]

My 7 year old naps, does crafts at the table, reads or plays outside at naptime. I clean for the first hour and then try and relax for a minute and eat my lunch the second hour. I need the break and my kids know I need it so they entertain themselves.

My 12 year old rides bikes or rollerblades, reads or edits photos on the laptop usually. Often they are both in the same room as me but it's QUIET TIME so we're all quiet.

[erinalexmom]

My kids go to thier own rooms and entertain themselves at naptime. My son is 4 but he is more mature for his age and he usually does ok. I dont let the little ones know what he is doing, I just say "go to your room for nap" (it is "nap" but HE isnt napping ) then my daughter is 6 and in the summer she goes to her room but during the school year she does her schooling on-line so I help her with that. I also take that time to eat

[Springdaze]

My kids are 8 and 5. I send them upstairs to do whatever, computer, tv, color, as long as they dont keep coming downstairs. I dont feel guilty about not spending this time with them because if I had another job, I wouldnt see them at all throughout the day. I see them alot more than most parents do and I am humbled and blessed that God allowed me to be with them and care for them ever since they were small and not have to work outside the home!