?? for Tristan

We’re all together. Basically we gather everyone in one spot and I read. They are allowed something quiet in their hands (playdoh, drawing materials, knitting, soft toys, or a small amount of Legos are a few examples) or they are welcome to snuggle up with me and each other. We also may have a snack ready so we can use it to start our reading time (full mouths=quiet) or use it in the middle of reading time to get the wiggly ones to be quiet just a bit longer.

I know, that probably is no help. Honestly, we’ve done read alouds since we had our first so they have all grown up with the idea that it’s a time to be sitting quietly. I remember when I just had the first 4 kids (they were 6 and under) and I would shut us all in a bedroom with pillows and blankets so the little ones wouldn’t wreak havoc. I don’t do that now, but we will sometimes still read all piled in a single bed. Or at the table. Or on the couch. We’ve done the enclosed porch and even on the floor beside the bathroom when potty training a little one.

I think if I was having trouble with little ones being noisy I would try some of the following:

– more frequent reading times (shorter) so the little ones get lots of practice. Make a big deal about picking spots to sit, picking what they want to hold/use while they are sitting, and then stop to encourage them to sit in their spot quietly as needed.

Maybe even get the older ones on board with a few days of “practice” where they know you’re reading just a few pages of a book and they’re to help be the example for little ones.

Do they have any buddies with the little ones? They can encourage their buddy to sit by them and gently encourage them to be quiet and in their spot. At my house all kids have buddies, and we change them around if a special relationship develops. For example, my oldest Makayla is 11. She used to be Oliver’s buddy (he’s 3 and very rowdy). However, he has developed a love for big brother Joseph (age 7) and Caleb (age 1) now adores Makayla, so they are buddies now. Emma (6) and Daniel (4) prefer one another because both like drawing during these quiet times.

Other things to help the little ones remember their spot include grabbing a small towel and spreading it in their place. They can’t get off the towel and you can spread them enough that they can’t be rowdy with another little one. (Blanket training is a term you might look up for more with this, we don’t do it really strictly, but have used it before when struggling with rowdy ones egging each other on).

Another way to practice is get out the playdoh. We have booster seats for all little ones with seatbelts. Click them in and read! Older ones can be spaced between littles to roll balls and snakes from playdog as needed for their buddy.

Another idea is timing. Be sure those little ones get some of the wiggles out before you start read alouds. How much can you wear them out in 5 or 10 minutes of relay races, calistenics, or other active play? Probably enough that they will welcome sitting quietly for some reading time.

I look forward to hearing others ideas on this too! Each family is different. I’ve got lots of little boys and my olders can concentrate through a small amount of noise if needed. My husband can’t, however, so when he’s home joining in read alouds we respect that and try to be ‘quiet as mice’.

Not an ignorant question at all! The family book is for the whole family and it saves time to read it aloud, but there is no curriculum police to say you must. Older students may prefer reading even the family selection on their own.

At my house reading aloud is a big deal, it has so many benefits even when a child or teen reads well. I remember my grandmother reading a chapter book aloud to my family on a summer trip driving from Ohio to Canada to Utah and back. Fond memories and shared memories. We have read aloud and will continue to read aloud books (even if they are not related to schoolwork) until our children are out of the house, and then we’ll probably still invite them to read with us…LOL.

Step by Step Blanket Training (working on self-control, can be done without a blanket for older children as sitting time) This is mostly taken from the Duggar’s first book, which is where I got the idea originally.

1. Spread the blanket/towel where you want the child to stay. This can be on the floor, on a chair, on part of the couch, etc.

2. Enthusiastically tell the child it’s ‘blanket time’ (or whatever name you pick).

3. In the very beginning this will be very short. For little ones give them nothing to do but look at you and listen to your voice. You sit nearby, within reach, and tell them how good their are doing sitting on the blanket. When they try to get up you instantly correct and encourage them to sit, then praise praise praise when they are sitting again (even though you may have been the one to sit them down).

When 5 minutes is up, training is over. Get up, lots of hugs and kisses and celebrating are totally appropriate!

4. The next step is adding a toy or activity. You may go right to this after one blanket time practice or not. Up to you. Let them choose a toy/puzzle/activity from a small box of things you’ve put up out of reach. Cheerfully announce blanket time and deposit child and toy on the blanket. Stay within reach.

– If they become loud or try to get off the blanket correct right away. Something along the lines of “Oh no! We don’t get off the blanket (or use loud voices). We’re learning to have fun while we sit quietly on our blanket!” while putting them back in place helps.

When 5 minutes is up get up and celebrate.

Practice up to 3 or 4 times a day, in different places. I try to stick with twice at first. Then once it’s easy you add a bit of time. 7 minutes, then 10, etc.

Once they are great at 5 minutes you can also step away and go out of sight, then peek and correct as needed.

– details: decide if they are allowed to stand on the blanket. We don’t let them. Leads to getting off. Stay cheerful and praise liberally for each successful minute, in a quiet voice. Don’t get loud yourself.

Does that help? Any questions?

Thank you, Tristan!  I really appreciate your step by step directions.  I can see now, that as you mentioned above, this would work best at a dedicated training time – rather than during our school time, until she “gets it”.

I am encouraged to try this again.

Have you ever had a child with whom this did not work?