Another day of petty squabbling and far too much screen time, with reluctance to go outside (it did rain somewhat, which didn’t help) which culminated in tears at bedtime when Small wanted to play as they barely had all day, while Big wanted to be read to. So instead I convened an impromptu family meeting to discuss how things are going and what we might change.
Much to my surprise both children agreed instantly that the way things are going isn’t working out for them. They were very open to the idea of rationing computer time – Small suggested 4 turns each a day, but when we worked out that that was 4 hours that they couldn’t play together, he dropped it instantly to 2 turns each. I’ve a feeling that he’s going to feel hard done by when we try that out, but it’s his suggestion so we’ll go with it.
Then I suggested the idea of a box with activity ideas in it for each of them, and they leapt on that. Small grabbed pencil, paper and scissors and made 9 pictures of activities he wants in his box – maths, science, space, reading, playing, drawing, history, the world around us, and something else which temporarily escapes me. (Can’t reach the piccies from where I’m sitting with my twitchy legs up on a footstool!)
Ah, remembered. It was go outside. With a nice big picture of the sun 🙂
Big’s list was similar but slightly longer. Think she included languages and music and had macrame instead of drawing 🙂
So tomorrow it’s back to the garage to find the index box and cards, and we’ll transfer the ideas to cards (or stick the pictures to cards, whichever works best for them) and then it will be up to me to start coming up with ideas to satisfy the named activities. I think I’m going to have to do some resource hunting and make myself a bigger box up – some of our stuff has appeared out of boxes, and also I want to do some things relevant to the local area. Tim found a site that has old maps of various areas so I could link historical investigations with environment and geography. Of course, as we get going it could well be that they come up with their own ideas and resources, which would be good too 🙂
I do find it amusing that my own schooling keeps breaking through – it’s not really relevant to break up learning into these subject areas, but at the same time, I want to offer a wide range of experiences to the offspring at this point in their lives – they can specialise any time really. Thinking about it in subject terms lets me do that. And we need to change the dynamics of our day as there is far too much squabbling and petty fighting atm, and I think it’s because they are bored.
I have been considering a type of box system, but I was taken aback by their enthusiasm for it, and I’m way happier about doing it if they’ve chosen the activites that go in the boxes. Although I did prompt them to include maths, and suggested things like the world around us/ geography.
So, a new start, tomorrow. And let’s hope that it brings a bit more harmony to the house!
In other news, the ten sided dice have arrived – I’ve had two requests for spares, will drop email to those ppl to get their addresses, but I’ve a couple more if ppl want them. (I bought 10, and I don’t think we need 10 really.) And our other somewhat bigger purchase arrived today, a sewing machine 🙂 Quite looking forward to getting to grips with that.
And it was veg box delivery two today. More courgettes, more carrots, and two cucumbers this week. No beetroot thankfully, as I’ve still got two left from last week! Tonight we had vegetable and halloumi kebabs, or at least, Tim and I did. Another new rule – if there are new foods on the plate, at least one must be tried. Didn’t work desperately well tonight, as Small spat his courgette out 🙁 Still, may be something we need to build up to! He did try the pepper, although announced it to be eww, disgusting. Good stuff.
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