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As much as like keeping our days flexible, I'm feeling like some of the behavior issues with my 2.5 year old are probably from lack of a routine. I was also wanting to figure out a way to start LHFHG 1/2-speed with the 4.5 year old and have that be a special time for him. I decided that rather than try to do LHFHG with him in the playroom/schoolroom surrounded by his siblings, that we would do that in the living room instead, so that his siblings could be nearby in their bedrooms playing (our schoolroom/playroom is at the opposite end of the house from everything else). So, anyway, here's what I came up with. What do you think?

7:00 (or later!)- baby wakes up. Nurse. My devotional (haven't been doing this, but I need to!)
8:00- everyone else wakes up and comes to breakfast. Eat, clean up dishes, get dressed, make beds, brush teeth, brush hair, start a load of laundry. Then free time if they are finished early.
9:20- LHFHG with ds4.5 in living room (Bible and History boxes on M/W; Rotating Box, Rhyme in Motion, and Storytime boxes on T/Th). dd7 plays with the baby in their room. ds6 and ds2.5 play with trains in their room.
9:50- Get baby ready for nap (nurse). Other children put toys away.
10:00- Baby's nap. Rest of us in schoolroom for Phonics time (I bounce around between the three oldest). ds2.5 plays with toys or colors.
10:30- Quick Snack
10:35- Math Time (dd7 does her spelling lesson while I get ds6 started with his math. Then I help dd7 with her math. ds4.5 will do a couple of pages from a R&S ABC Workbook). ds2.5 play or color.
11:00- Baby wakes up. Change diaper and bring to playpen in playroom/schoolroom. Continue math
11:10- ds6 Reading. dd7 Penmanship (M/W) or Poetry Copywork (T/Th). ds2.5 computer game. ds4.5 draw.
11:30- ds6 Penmanship and Worksheet. dd7 English. ds4.5 computer game. ds2.5 play.
12:00- Lunch, clean up, free time.
1:00- dd7- Reading (Emerging Readers). (Still free time for the rest of the children)
1:20- Get baby ready for nap (nurse)
1:30- Baby's nap. dd7 and ds6 BLHFHG Bible, History, Poetry, Rotating Box, and Storytime. ds4.5 and ds2.5 read quietly or nap (getting the 2.5 year old to rest is my BIGGEST challenge in this whole schedule!!!)
2:00- (or when done with Beyond)- R&S Music worksheet (Mondays only), Zoology (Tues/Thurs only), or 50 States study (Wednesday only)
2:15- Free time to read, work on copywork, or continue art projects or other activities from earlier
3:00- Baby gets up from nap. Snack for everyone. Play outside, prep supper, chores, etc
5:30- Supper, clean up, piano practice, play outside, etc
7:00- Small snack (low sugar!), baths, brush teeth, family read-aloud, Bible story, prayer
8:00- Baby nurses and goes to sleep. Other children can read in bed quietly.
9:00- Lights out.

Sounds lovely. I find that when I first make a schedule, it sounds great. Then when I actually implement it, I make some tweeks. You will definitely see what works and what doesn't - but it sounds like a great start.

Thanks Rebecca. I'm just excited to have figured out a plan that will help us get some structure and order around here. I'm sure we'll have to tweak it, but I'm happy to have a starting point.

My primary struggle will be the 2.5 year old. I'm going to have to start rotating his school time toys again, because the other day he got bored and was throwing blocks at his siblings while they were doing their work! You'd think we had never raised a 2-year-old before, but really, he's a different creature from the others! (I say that lovingly; he's just a challenge!). I'm hoping that having a predictable routine will help his behavior.

Boy, do I understand! LOL I only have 2 boys, but they are as different as night and day! My youngest is 6 and, in many ways, he is still very much a "baby" whereas my older son was doing things (that the youngest is not yet doing) by the time he was 4. Kids are very different.

I remember when I got my Managers of their Homes schedule finished - ahhh, what a relief and an accomplishment. We have tweeked - and I am realistic in knowing that it is not going to go that way every.single.day; however, any day that I can look at it and say, "wow...we followed it pretty well" is a GOOD day!

Sharon,

I just wanted to applaud your effort at making a schedule. I know how tough it can be to sit down and try to figure one out, especially with toddlers and babies in the mix! I agree that it feels good to have some sort of a routine to go on, as it helps everyone (kiddos and hubby included) to know what to expect when.

I know you'll have changes to the schedule, but I just wanted to encourage you as I know what a task it must have been!

Blessings,
Carrie