What do you do while your child does independent work?

[kiloyd]

While your child is doing independent work, what do you do? I either do something with another child, do chores, or check email.

[lmercon]

Yup, I do all those things! I try to check in on him every once in a while to keep him on task and to make sure he's going in the right direction. Other than that, I try to stay out of the room so that he can learn real independence.
Laura

[inHistiming]

I'm usually working with on of my other school-age children, corralling the toddler, or doing laundry, etc. It's usually actually a mix of all of those things!

[MomtoJGJE]

fix breakfast or snacks or drinks, put the baby on my back, put the baby on the floor, work with the middles, check FB/email/message boards, message DH, and get ready for the next thing that I'm doing with her.

[kiloyd]

thanks, so I'm fine in the things I do. I think I just need to be ready to stop and help him with the next thing.

[mamanlait]

Ooohhh. This is tough one for me. I TRY to be really self-disciplined and NOT check emails, make phone calls, text hubby, etc. during school time. I TRY to devote all of my morning to my kids BUT this has been a real work in progress for me. I decided to implement this when I noticed that I would get wrapped up in reading something on the internet or in a phone conversation and would shush my kids or get off track with my school checklist. I often envy those homeschooling moms of yesteryear who didn't have all of the distractions I seem to be burdened and overwhelmed with today. Ya, ya....they had other problems. I know

That said, I do find it helpful to go to another room when both kids are engaged in a project or lesson that takes a few minutes and fold some laundry or make a bed (many times this includes my littlest child "helping" since she finishes "school" in 30 minutes and the rest of her morning is play time, storytime, or helping mommy time). I tend to hover over my oldest and hurry her along (she seems to be so SLOW at completing independent lessons) and this causes conflict between us occasionally. So, as long as she is engaged, I let her spend as long as she wants or needs and I force myself to do a motherly or wifely chore (excluding any media...like preparing supper in the crockpot, marinating chicken, prechopping veggies, tidying up, etc.) so as to distract myself from rushing her.

As a disclaimer: I think this question can be answered in many ways since we all have different needs and personalities in our homeschool. I seem to have to stay completely away from TV or computer in order to get much accomplished in my school day (much like I have to stay completely away from one cookie or I completely lose self control and eat the whole bag ).

Amy

[kiloyd]

Yes! This me, I TRY to stay off phone and computer too, that is my goal. It doesn't always work that way.

Although I did start getting on the computer and turning it off at 8am and did not turn it back on until lunch. That helped me a lot.

katherine

Ooohhh. This is tough one for me. I TRY to be really self-disciplined and NOT check emails, make phone calls, text hubby, etc. during school time. I TRY to devote all of my morning to my kids BUT this has been a real work in progress for me. I decided to implement this when I noticed that I would get wrapped up in reading something on the internet or in a phone conversation and would shush my kids or get off track with my school checklist. I often envy those homeschooling moms of yesteryear who didn't have all of the distractions I seem to be burdened and overwhelmed with today. Ya, ya....they had other problems. I know

That said, I do find it helpful to go to another room when both kids are engaged in a project or lesson that takes a few minutes and fold some laundry or make a bed (many times this includes my littlest child "helping" since she finishes "school" in 30 minutes and the rest of her morning is play time, storytime, or helping mommy time). I tend to hover over my oldest and hurry her along (she seems to be so SLOW at completing independent lessons) and this causes conflict between us occasionally. So, as long as she is engaged, I let her spend as long as she wants or needs and I force myself to do a motherly or wifely chore (excluding any media...like preparing supper in the crockpot, marinating chicken, prechopping veggies, tidying up, etc.) so as to distract myself from rushing her.

As a disclaimer: I think this question can be answered in many ways since we all have different needs and personalities in our homeschool. I seem to have to stay completely away from TV or computer in order to get much accomplished in my school day (much like I have to stay completely away from one cookie or I completely lose self control and eat the whole bag ).

Amy

[spidermansmum]

Hang out the washing- or some other chore and re direct the three year old.If I get on the computer-it totally sucks me in and I get too absorbed -so I don't fire up the laptop or answer the phone until after school is done for the day

[my3sons]

Ooohhh. This is tough one for me. I TRY to be really self-disciplined and NOT check emails, make phone calls, text hubby, etc. during school time. I TRY to devote all of my morning to my kids BUT this has been a real work in progress for me. I decided to implement this when I noticed that I would get wrapped up in reading something on the internet or in a phone conversation and would shush my kids or get off track with my school checklist.

This describes me exactly! One day I answered my dh on the phone in a crabby voice, and he asked me what was wrong. I caught myself almost saying, "I was trying to answer an email and the kids kept interrupting to ask for help with school". I realized that sounded very bad considering how much I've always prayed for my dh to embrace homeschooling and see it as a wonderful thing to do! I stopped myself from uttering those words and told him I was trying to do too much at once (school the dc, answer an email, AND now answer the phone ) and needed to get back to homeschooling. That was a wake up call for me that I can get way too into something and then not get back to my homeschooling as quickly as I should. In light of that, I don't do any media type things in the AM. Those are usually the things I don't stop well - phone calls, message boards, emails, etc. I've even gone so far as to ask my family and friends not to call until the afternoon, and as hard as it is, I try not to answer the phone until we're done with homeschooling for the day. (I don't always stick to this, and then I usually regret it later when we're late with finishing.) I also try to do things I can stop and come back to, like laundry, grocery lists, menu planning, etc. - and now that I have 3 dc I'm homeschooling, I don't get to hardly any of that anymore until we're done homeschooling. I know some ladies are far better at multi-tasking than me, but I just can't seem to do homeschooling well unless it has my full attention for a set period of time - usually until lunch. Then, we have all afternoon and evening to do whatever we want - it's well worth the diligence of the morning routine in our case; probably due to MY distractibility, it's just what works best for us.

In Christ,
Julie

[mskogen]

I am usually working with one of the other kiddos...If I am done with lessons then I try to just do chores around the house that can easily interrupted. In case they need me. I try not to answer the phone, unless it is someone I have been trying to get in touch with ...I get up early to check emails and then check them later in the day.

That's a perfect day, I do cheat sometimes

[Mommamo]

I pretty much still stay close when my dd is doing independent work, but she's not quite 7 yet! About 3 weeks ago we started doing "homework" which is really just her independent work. I'll sit with her for about 5-10 minutes, a reasonable amount of time, and then whatever isn't done she does at the kitchen table while I get snack ready. Occasionally she'll do it outside on the table while I work in the garden, but it usually works just fine to do it at snack time. I pretty much try to only do school during school time. I consider her homework after school time since I've given her 10 minutes to do it with me sitting with her. While I'm sitting with her though, I usually am helping ds (4) do a workbook page or little puzzle or whatever I've put in his workbox. The kids do school at a little table so they are right together.

[kiloyd]

Julie, thank you! I needed to know I wasn't alone in getting sucked into the computer or phone. AND the incentive to FOCUS on school all morning so we will have free afternoons.

Right now I'm enjoying taking July off! But need these reminders for when we start back up.