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Work the 3-11 shift. We home school, so in the early morning everyone gets assignments and explanations, all questions are asked and answered about the day's assignments. After this process is underway you can go in the kitchen and start dinner for late and make lunches to refrigerate Then about lunchtime, around 11 or so, you can check the work and see if there are questions. Then give out all the "quiet stuff" like reading, any math that can be done independently, and projects for when you first start your work. Write down for them any instructions or what you think they need to know so as not to interrupt you. We take a break from 12:00 to 1:30 for lunch and then allow one video game or exercise tape (which they love to do - try Dance, Dance Revolution, it is so much fun). After that, they go outside and do chores in the yard with me for one hour and then half an hour before I start I go over their "homework and chores" that they are expected to do independently. They do fine with this and I am available to talk to (unless there is something urgent) every time I take a "break." They set the table for dinner and have chores to do and if they finish in time to my satisfaction they can have another video game. I break to eat dinner with the family, we try to get the kids and husband to wash the dishes, and then I go back to work. When I take my last break I tuck them in and that is all. It works for me. They also get extra allowance if they can work independently because the more indepedent they are they more I make and I pass that long to them. Run errands only once a week and make that on your day off. Let the kids help you with that and ask them to make grocery lists of things you need. That takes an hour here, because they actually like checking around and helping plan menus. If they are good all week and keep up with their scheduled chores and school then they get a movie once a week downtown on my day off or in the summertime miniature golf or something. We also have a pool and in the summer if they get it all together they can swim for a half-hour to an hour every afternoon and I take a break for that too, of course. Swimming seems to create very tired and happy children! We also let them know what TV show, movie (or not) they are allowed to watch quietly after dinner if all the homework and chores are done. They need to know what time bath time is and to check on their clothes for the next day too and how to put away all their things and laundry. All those chores help them be better little people, better grownups some day, and helps you too. Ours also takes awesome phone messages so as not to interrupt me!
If you don't home school your kids then I assume they are gone all morning), so you just cook and clean ahead of time which is lucky for you or not, depending upon your viewpoint. If they aren't homeschooled then when they get home give them an hour or so, depending on your schedule. Give them a snack. Have them set the table, do chores, and check for homework assignments and then get with the same plan. I find that kids with a schedule do really well and then when the occasional bad day comes along and there is chaos they can actually help you out by knowing what you and they need and when you all need it! Good luck! |
Working with Kids - nana
