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Do you find the estimated time for HOD to be pretty accurate? I'm hoping to start LHFHG and BHFHG this year or next. LH is about 9.mins and BH is 3.5 hours. If so, besides the regular daily things, what do you do for the rest of your day? I need ideas.

Thanks!
M~

Marcee,

I'll move this post over to the Main Board where more moms will see it. All new posts begin on the Main Board.

Blessings
Carrie

Hi Marcee!

Welcome to HOD!

I can only give you an answer for LHFHG because that's what we're using this year. I hope someone else can answer you about the BHFHG.

The 90 minutes estimated for LHFHG is very accurate. We opted to use our own Phonics & Math resources, but even with doing those we are done in 90 minutes or less. Of course, it also depends on your children and how they work independently. I know a few time my son has been distracted while doing his math and has spent 20 minutes or more just completing one math paper.

My kids end up playing the rest of their day away inside or outside. They also get a set amount of time to play a video game or computer game each day. Some of their favorite indoor toys right now are Legos, Playmobil sets, and dress-up props & costumes.

Sometimes I will plan other activities for them to do. On Fridays we have begun having our own "storytime" since our local library no longer offers it. I pick 2-3 books around a theme and an easy craft. I have also taken them to an area YMCA that offers PE classes to homeschoolers every other week, and next year we're hoping to get involved in a local homeschool co-op which meets one day a week.

I can only comment on LHFHG since we haven't used BHFHG yet. I'm finding that 90 mins. is just about right if not a little on the long side. 90 minutes is the *most* it takes us and sometimes less. HTH!

I'm smiling because I just wish I had more free time.

Really though, that's a good 4.5 hours of school work (total), plus there are chores, lunch, laundry and regular household duties, playtime, PE time, plus any added schoolwork like reading, foreign language, typing, music lessons, etc. We always start off with kids doing chores first thing before school. During school time, we add in typing for two kids, latin for one, and piano for all three. It really makes for a full day. Now not all kids are doing 4.5 hours of school, but basically my oldest is. My younger ones will play, do puzzles, color, or occasionally watch tv (educational videos).

For all of them I have found a series of videos I like called the Animated Bible stories (or close to that title) from NEST entertainment. They also have historical figures like Colombus, Marie Curie, and others.

Hope this helps.

Alison

Marcee wrote:Do you find the estimated time for HOD to be pretty accurate? I'm hoping to start LHFHG and BHFHG this year or next. LH is about 9.mins and BH is 3.5 hours. If so, besides the regular daily things, what do you do for the rest of your day? I need ideas.

Thanks!
M~

Hi Marcee! Yes, the estimated times are on track. For the older guides, the estimated times take about 2-4 weeks to achieve because it takes additional time to establish a routine and a flow of the boxes. So, for LHFHG, I'd say you'll be at 90 minutes quite quickly, and for BHFHG, I'd say give it a few weeks or more and you'll be at 3 to 3 1/2 hours. We stay home during the week, so our afternoons look like this...
1-2 PM Outdoor playtime (ride 3-wheelers, scooters, baseball, rake leaves, sidewalk chalk, garden, sand box, bikes, sledding, etc.); if poor weather than they do an indoor exercise video
2-3 PM Creative time (playdough, origami, perler beads, art time, erector sets, lego creations, make cards, puzzles, write a story - anything with a product)
3-4 or 4:30 PM Playtime with toys
4-4:30 or 5:00 Educational video (Magic School Bus, Zooboomafoo, Liberty's Kids, Bee the Creature, Reading Rainbow, etc.)
5-5:30 Quiet time in rooms (read books, audio books)
5:30-6:00 or 6:30 play board games or educational computer time

We did LHFHG and BHFHG together a few years back and thoroughly enjoyed them. Our kids still remember the activities and look back on them with fond memories.

In Christ,
Julie

I'm only dong LHFHG right now, and it does take us 90 minutes or less. RIght now my kids usually play in the early morning while I do some housework. Then we do phonics. If dd3 is cooperative, we go ahead and do History, Rhyme, Music, Bible Study. Sometimes she does these things with us. I often let them watch something while I do a bit more work and make lunch. Now that the days are shorter, we play outside after lunch. Ds5 and I finish up school during dd3's nap.

We go to a preschool music class, storytime at the library, and preschool sports. We do each of these once a week.

Hope that's helpful!