Outside before school?

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  • January 16, 2013 at 11:27 pm
    Sara B.
    Participant

    Quick question here:  By combining a few more things for the kids, I was able to shave off a whole hour from school (smacking head here, duh!).  So with my new-found hour, I could:

    A) Go outside for an hour before school starts & have an hour left of school in the afternoon after lunch & quiet time (I could use this for walk time, but in the winter, I have a good feeling it will just be the kids – I hate cold weather)

    or

    B) Do school all in the morning, be done by lunch, and have that extra hour in the afternoon

    I will admit, I am an introvert who needs a lot of afternoon down time.  The kids, of course, want that hour before school.  I want to do what’s ultimately best for the kids, but I also want what’s best for Mom so I am less stressed in the evenings.  But I do like the idea of a walk outside every day.

    Needless to say, I am undecided.  Which would you choose and why?

    January 16, 2013 at 11:33 pm
    Tristan
    Participant

    I would do school in the morning and leave afternoon free – but KEEP a quiet time in the afternoon before outdoor hour. That is actually what we already do.

    Letting the kids go out before school we have tried – mine never wanted to come back in and settle down to school work. Yours may be different. We keep outdoor time in view all day as our reward for working diligently in the morning.

    The exception – sometimes during the summer we will do outdoor time in the morning and school afternoon (light school, not a full day). It’s so hot that we have more fun outside in the morning at 80 degrees instead of in the afternoon at 100.

    And winter – yeah, I don’t go out. I keep little Mason in, who can’t walk and can’t feel from the waist down so being on the frozen ground is a bad idea. He doesn’t know if he’s too cold or if he’s on somthing hard/sharp. Daddy will go out with the children in winter or they may go for a short time without us, but it stays short so fingers don’t go numb. 😉

    January 17, 2013 at 12:06 am
    Kristen
    Participant

    In the spring and fall I have the kids do exercise outside for 15-20 min before school. They know that this is for exercise not for bug following ect. Then after lunch they go out for a much longer time and I have a bit of peace. In the winter we have to exercise in our living room. Not ideal but we manage and I have found if the boys especially don’t exercise they can’t concentrate at ALL .

    I like/need the longer time in the afternoon.

    January 17, 2013 at 12:10 am
    HollyS
    Participant

    I’m not sure what your weather is like, but we prefer afternoons outside in the winter (when it’s too cold in the mornings) and mornings outside in the summer.  I’d been planning on a mid-morning walk this year, but so far I’ve been unable to fit it in.  

    January 17, 2013 at 12:30 am
    ServingwithJoy
    Participant

    I ditto Tristan, again :). We like to get school done in the morning as much as possible. Then we have outdoor time after lunch…then a rest period which is also quiet reading time for the bigger kids and mommy. So I think you could get both – the outdoor time and the rest time are both essential really for perspective and sanity!

    January 17, 2013 at 2:11 am
    eawerner
    Participant

    I need to let my kids play for a solid hour before we start school.  Neither dd6 or myself are morning people so we both need that time to wake up and adjust our attitudes!  Everyone is so different though.  Regardless of what you go with, always keep a quiet/rest time in the afternoon.  It’s good for everyone.  🙂

    January 17, 2013 at 2:13 am
    chocodog
    Participant

    Ditto the above also.  Sometimes the air may be to cool and moist for young lungs.  In the spring and fall when the mold count is higher it is better to stay indoors.  Sometimes mold can cause behaviorial problems that seem to make it harder to concentrate before home work.  Just another reason to do it later on.  We do however do chores in the morning.  Sometimes it bothers my son and it is more difficult to get them focused after a bout in the barn….   IMA it seems that it works out better in the afternoon.  Then, if you run out of time you will have that extra time in the afternoon to get the jitteries out of them… 🙂  A late morning break may be a good thing too.

            Blessings!

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