I was wondering if anyone has ideas on what I can have my 1st grader do while I have one-on-ones with her older siblings that she could do independently? She is a beginning reader, so she is not able to read most instructions on a work page or book without help. My daughter, like most little ones loves excitement with her learning and can get restless if it becomes monotonous work. However, I have no idea of what to give her, to occupy her time while I work with the others. Should I simply let her play, which she enjoys mostly? But, I really would rather she be in the environment, learning with her siblings as well. Looking for correction and direction.
How about being “in the environment,” but quietly playing at the same time? She will pick up more than you’d imagine, especially if you’re reading aloud. Maybe she would like to do a puzzle, arrange pattern blocks into patterns and shapes, string beads, color or paint, or listen to music or an audio book with headphones. Or if your space permits it, let her go outside and play, explore, dig for bugs, look through a magnifying class, sit and look at the sky…
You could also try having a “together time” with all your kids before you start individual work (maybe you do this already), where you sing a hymn or song together, read poetry, do picture study, listen to music, those aspect of the Charlotte Mason feast that each child can experience and respond to on his/her own level. Then she would have had some time together with all of you and some beauty poured into her day before you’re working individually with her siblings.
My children could do Explode the Code phonics workbooks on their own once they could form their letters correctly. I worked through it with them in the beginning until they got the hang of it. Instructions are simple and repeat in each section but with a different phonics word family. Pages are black and white with small pictures which can be colored.
They could also use Leap Pad books on their own. Each book has a cartridge for the unit with the sound and activities that go with the books. Some books are phonics based and more educational than others that are based on popular cartoons.
Playdough is still good at this age for fine motor skills/strength. My children love to use scissors with it. We found some nice watercolor paints at the Dollar Tree. They are in a black plastic artist’s pallet looking thing.
Our library has many children’s storybooks and nonfiction read on Playaways (a small screen device). The volume is loud enough for the child to hear without earphones but not so loud as to be distracting to everyone else. I check those out usually when we need uninterrupted time for a special project (like deep cleaning some really messy rooms this summer😀).
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