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masterly activity when littles are napping
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I have a rising 2nd grader. We are planning to start school on Aug 11th so I am trying to finalize my plans and schedule for him. I also have 4 and 2 year olds, who take naps daily. I am trying to get a better feel for what people’s afternoons look like who still have little ones napping. Right now DS does a “rest time” with resting and reading. He LOVES reading. However, I am realizing that he doesn’t really have a chance to have playtime with his sisters during the school day. We are only spending about 2.5 hours doing his school stuff, but that time is while they are awake, and then in the afternoons they are napping (and I need a break!). Obviously they are all together at meals and they will be playing outside together after the girls’ naps. One of my main reasons for homeschooling is so that my kids get a chance to be close and play together. How does that work in this situation?
Mostly his day is school stuff, then a table activity (painting, sewing, etc), then playing alone in his room (they all appreciate time to themselves). Lunch, a bit more reading (science/history/geography), then the girls are getting ready for naps and DS does his reading time. After naps it is snack and outside time, then dinner. Soon after dinner is bedtime. My kids all still sleep a good 11-12 hours at night, so there isn’t that much time in the day. Comments, please!
I guess my question is two parts.
1. What sort of masterly inactivity do your older kids do (quietly) while your littles are napping?
2. How much time, if any, do your older kids spend playing with your little ones who still take naps?
Could he do the table activity (painting, sewing) while the littles are napping? That would open up a small window of free play with his siblings.
I have exactly those aged kids, but my 4 year old rarely naps anymore. They spend nearly all day together playing, but it’s usually time to get out play dough or paints or board games while my youngest is sleeping.
He loves reading and would do it all day if I let him. Is there such thing as too much time reading at this age?
I love that my older 2 love playing together, but my 4 year old definitely still needs her nap or she is a grumpy girl!
My ds 10 is the kid that I have to tell to put down the book and go outside! I don’t think there’s such a thing as too much reading at any age! He will read 5-6 hours or more a day if I let him. But of course, he does need to play, eat, do chores, bathe, and other things, so a 5-6 hour reading day is a rare occurrence for him, but I do make it happen occasionally.
Since you’ve still got little ones napping, maybe don’t worry about how much time they’re all playing together? They’ll outgrow those naps before you know it, and will be playing with big brother every afternoon.
There are some great nature coloring books on Etsy that would make a lovely afternoon activity. We had Melissa & Doug stamp sets that my kids loved at that age and would stay busy and quiet for a long time. If you provide something, anything, and tell him it’s his special activity for when the littles are napping, I bet it will be very special to him and will keep him quiet, productive, and busy!
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