In my process of contemplating more of a schedule for our days at home, I'm trying to think of different ways to fill our time. Meals and bedtime, I am happy to say, we have down. The routines around those things usually work (though they certainly can use some tweaking, especially now as the little ones are getting older!). Its what happens around those set times that I need to work on.
Generally, if we are not going out (for preschool, outings, playdates, etc) we have "playtime" off and on all day. Basically, I say "go play!" or I pull out toys or set things up, and then hope they take to it. But all day long, this gets tedious. Sometimes, they are great at it, everyone engaged, either playing together or side by side. So awesome! Sometimes, nobody wants to do anything, they all whine and cry and annoy each other. Often, its a mix of one or two kids doing okay, one or two needing help or attention.
So I am trying to think of different ways to mix things up, things that we sometimes do but not always (or just not enough), that we can work into a more regular rotation, either daily or weekly. Here are some ideas (some I got from the book I am reading right now, some elsewhere):
"rug time" -- time in the living room (or wherever) where the girls have to stay in their assigned space (rug, blanket on the floor, etc) and play with the things that are set out there (a mix of books and toys -- puzzles, people, dollhouse, blocks, etc). They cannot get up and wander over to someone else's space. We tried this the other day when they were all getting on each others nerves, and it went pretty well! I let them rotate through the three spaces, every 5-8 minutes or so. The little ones needed some help staying put but they all did it! This kind of reminds me of "centers" in school.
"room time" -- time playing by themselves in their rooms. Like rug time, this is for independant/individual play. I think Emma will be fine with this but I am still trying to figure out what it will look like for Elsie and Delia (currently 22 months). Since the point is to be playing by yourself (but they share a room), I will probably have to move one of them into my room during this time? This won't be for a LONG period of time (similar to rug time) but I like that it encourages independent play and gives them some "down time" from each other. Ideally this is done without much assistance from me...
art projects, cooking, gardening-- pretty self explanitory! Generally needing my help/guidance for most of it, obviously.
directed play -- time where we all play together with the same thing. Pretend/dress up, little people or animals, dolls, blocks, marble towers game, what else....? This is something I RARELY do, as I mentioned in this post awhile back. And its hard for me to figure out, honestly! What kind of play do you do WITH your kids? Ideally not the same stuff they gravitate towards by themselves (which they can/will choose to do during free play times), right?
story time -- right now this happens before nap & bedtime, not sure if I want to add another time in though earlier/later in the day as well...?
cleaning/work/job time -- not just routine clean up (though that will be in the schedule too!) but things like helping me scrub things, sweep, sort laundry, etc.
outside play, porch play, walks, indoor physical/gross motor activities --I need some ideas of indoor stuff to do to get them moving, other than the crazy games of chase & wrestling that goes on sometimes...
quiet time/nap -- nap for the little ones, quiet time for Emma. My challenge right now is what "quiet time" looks like. Must she lie down in the dark and listen to her books on tape? For how long? Can she stay "up" and read books with the light on? What about drawing, quiet games, puzzles, etc? Must she stay in her room for all of quiet time? Please share what this looks like in your house, if you have no-longer-nappers!
TV/computer time -- I am not ashamed to admit, we often do this daily, generally for 30-60 minutes or so...
What am I missing? Do you do something regularly with your kids that I haven't covered?
