I know that everyone's schedule gets out of whack during the summer. But I am having a hard time keeping these kids occupied! The problem is that I don't often have a car, so we are confined to our own house. The weather has been alarmingly tolerable so far this summer, but if it gets much hotter, I will not want to venture out on foot for any activities elsewhere.With that preface in mind, do you have any ideas for me to keep my kids from fighting all day and simultaneously driving me crazy?
We usually don't have such a hard time, even staying at home, but the kids have been at each others' throats this week. I have been dishing out way too many time-outs (they have all been deserved). Today, I finally put Jonah and Eden in their rooms for naps. I don't use sleep as a punishment, but after whining over toys for the 15th time today, I needed them to take naps. They are now sleeping peacefully and I think it's the first quiet moment I've had all day.
Levi is a gem through all of this, of course. He is usually the one being bullied by the other two, which is sad because he does nothing to deserve it.
Sorry for the gripe; I know things could always be worse. On Monday Jonah and Eden start swimming lessons, so hopefully they will be able to get some wiggles out there and nap in the afternoon. I am also saving up for a trampoline for the backyard; that should make it more fun for them to go outside.
10 comments:
Dido to your whole post! I feel like I'm yelling more than I'm breathing. It's always, "Stop doing that," "Give that back," "Leave him alone," "Play nicely," and you get the idea.
The best relief comes after we play a learning game. They like having a project to do. Example: Give them legos and tell them to build a house that looks like yours. My kids also like to feel helpful so sometimes I'kll create taks for them to do.
Good Luck! We all need it!!!
I hear ya, Woman!! I am about to lose it! Sorry I don't have any suggestions, but if you get any good ones, please pass them on. I like the one above, but I don't dare buy legos!! Maybe I'll have to figure out a spin on that...
i would say have a "craft time" during the day. i'm not sure if that's a good idea or not, but that's what i would do. give them each their own project to do. the trampoline is a great idea. hopefully you can get one soon. :) hang in there.
I'll be back when it's not so late, and my thoughts are not all jumbled... but James today made a WIPEOUT course in the backyard {minus the big balls because we didn't have any} {no cost}
that kept him busy for about an hour.
Oh, and you can have them paint rocks.... that might keep them busy for a while, and... it's pretty cheap!!!
Since, like you said, it's not to hot yet we've been letting them play in the backyard. Our kids also love it when we take a blanket and bounce stuffed animals in the middle.
I guess I should be grateful with the mommy phase that I'm in. I guess it's safe to say that even kids need a little break from eachother.
I have to agree with everyone else. Find some little project that is new and exciting; something that will help them be creative and distracted :)
Good Luck!
Stand them up in front of the fireplace and take a picture of them! But you have to wait until they are ALL crying. Wait...you don't have a fireplace.
The problem is that I'm the one crying, not them, Mom.
I understand your plight! I'm trying to plan at least one fun thing a day. (In advance is better... b/c the anticipation of the fun event sometimes breeds better behavior). It doesn't have to be a big production or even cost anything. Give them paintbrushes and cups of water so they can "paint" pictures on the concrete. Have a picnic in the backyard or nearby park (could be breakfast, to avoid the heat). Story time in a weird spot (like under the kitchen table). Help them build a huge fort. Let them help you bake some cookies or something simple. Make playdoh creations. When you do have the car, you could go to the library (see if they have story time). Or set up a standing family playdate with some a friend or sister who has kids your kid's age, alternating host homes each week (this also gives you a nice time to get some adult conversation time in!). Go online and see what interesting things are in your area (check out your city's home page)... there may be things nearby you've never seen. For that matter, you could go online and search for fun things for kids to do or make. We've also just instituted chore charts with an accompanying allowance... which also helps (although they are already starting to fizzle on it a bit). Good luck, sista'!!! We are all in the same boat!
backyard, a hose, some toys. They have fun, they wear out. They will take a nap even if they usually don't. Let them get dirty. It will be worth it.
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