Parenting - Venice,FL

Hi!

This is what I do. The morning is pretty much for my daughter (park, activity, etc... - except for the days when I have to run errands. We have lunch, I do some chores and then I put her down for a nap. While she naps I do some reading for school and I try to fit in a little more housework. When she wakes up, I pick up my twins from school and we have a snack together, do their homework and then off to swim practice. I have trouble getting organized when it comes to dinnertime b/c that's when my daughter gets fussy, but I seem to manage ok. HOpe that helps.

For that age I wouldn't really be concerned with a time frame schedule but more of a routine. It's very hard to say how much actual time to spend on an activity because each child has different attention spans. A basic day could look something like : wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth, activity time (this is a great age for early learning such as sequencing, sorting, coloring. There are tons of websites, I love preschoolexpress.com), maybe a chore time to make her feel important (help fold washclothes, etc) snack time, read together, lunch, read a book or watch a movie, nap or quiet time (preschool power is excellent movies to teach skills for this age), outside time for physical activity, free time to let her do what she chooses, have her be a mommy's helper and play with the baby, set the table for dinner, family time to play games, bath, bed. Chores for this age is really learning activities such as folding clothes (large motor skills), putting up silverware (sorting) etc. Make some lacing cards, this helps fine motor skills and will really help when it is time for her to learn to write. Mostly be read to and feeling part of a family is most important. I love this age!! Have fun. Do alot of imaginative play.

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I went through this with my 3-year-old. My sister is has her Bachelor's in early childhood development and has worked in numerous day cares in the 3-4 year old rooms. There is little structure to a 3-4 year old day. They spend no more than 15-30 minutes on any one activity. The days consist mostly of coloring sheets or blank pages. There is a book read, nap time, and outside time. My daughter has no time set structure. She wakes up, eats breakfast, gets her medication. Then we put on an educational DVD or Noggin and she plays for the rest of the day. She reads, writes, and plays MyNoggin.com for a few hours a day as well. As long as you interact with your child(ren), you are doing fine.

The more time you spend with them the better off they will be. Read, Read, Read and then Read more. Shape sorters, blocks, etc.. are great. Only you can judge how much time you need to spend with them. Each child is diffeent.

Hi S., I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter and a 7 month old! They both stay home with me. My 2 year old will begin preK3 next year.

To answer your question, I'll let you know what I do, which works pretty well for me, maybe you can get some ideas for yourself.

My days begin anywhere between 630am to 730am (depending on the time that my 7 month old wakes up), usually 700am.

The girls have their milk, I make breakfast, I dress them and myself and I am OUT THE DOOR! Whether its My Gym, Music Classes, the Park, or at the moment Swim Classes. I'm usually out the door between 9 or no later than 930am. (By this time my 7 month old is ready for a power nap, which she takes in the car on the way to whatever activity, this works out very well).

Between 1000am and 1100am (1130 the latest), they are busy with their activity. (I always make sure to pack snacks for my 2 year old, such as Fishies, sliced apples, raisins, juice box, water) and then I either feed my 7 month old (approximately 8 oz of milk) before getting back in the car if I know I have to take a long drive to my 2nd destination (the 7 month old usually falls back asleep ) or not if I'm going straight home in which case I feed her the second I walk in the door.

I feed the baby another bottle, and my 2 year old and I have lunch no later than 1230pm. After lunch... NAP TIME... for both of them. I find that putting the baby to sleep first makes it easier, then my 2 year old goes down. (If there is anything you take from my schedule, it should be this... putting BOTH of them down together for the nap, that way you have time for yourself!) Although the baby usually wakes up first, they nap anytime between 100pm-300pm.

By this time, I already know if weather permits if I'll have another outside activity or if I'm staying in. And when I say activity, its more of a mami activity, Target, WalMart, Publix... an errand I have to do... my 2 year old gets a snack while I feed my 7 month old her "lunch" pureed veggies, fruit, oatmeal... with her tummy full we are ready to go. If we stay inside, my 2 year old might watch a movie, or play with her blocks, or dolls or paper and crayons...

We have dinner (or at least I try to) no later than 530pm. By this time my 7 month old has already had another 8 oz bottle and fruit or veggie or yobaby yogurt for dinner.

600pm bath time. I place both of them in the tub. the 7 month old goes in her little tub inside the big one with her big sister.

I feed the 7 month old her last bottle and by 700pm she goes to sleep.

The 2 year old sometimes has some milk or water, we read, and no later than 830pm she is in bed.

That's pretty much my schedule in a nutshell. Hope that helped.

What is most important? Spending quality time with your children. Keep in mind that quality of life for them may also be some time away from you, so make sure you take some time for yourself-- whether it's at a gym with them in the nursey, or with your husband while you go meet with friends, or with a trusted sitter or relative while you and your husband go on a date. Try and make sure each day includes an outing, even if it's just a walk in the stroller around the neighborhood

Your childrens attention spans will vary by their age mostly, but factors such as a good/bad nights sleep, mood, etc can effect it as well. In whatever activities you do with them the most important thing is to be flexible. If you start something and see it's not working, don't push the issue - move to something else and come back to that later that day or later that week.

My sons class (3 year old) has a color of the week that they work on. Games are geared toward the color of the week. They also change it up: Realize that your kids will not be able to sit still for 5-10 minutes straight so if you are doing story time read the book ahead of time yourself and find ways to make it active for them. (Ex: The bear went through the woods (put your hand over your eyebrow and look around - get them to do the same), he climbed up the tree (climb up just alternating your arms and legs in the air - get them to do the same). This allows you to get the story to them but they will retain more of the story because they are moving. Studies show that children who are active just before or during a learning period will retain more. So you have 'gym' time just before reading time if the book is not really one you can be interactive with. 3 year olds and under can do situps, pushups, rolling over head first, rolling around side to side. Play some upbeat music and make it fun!

The best lesson we can give our kids is that learning can be fun - Otherwise they will be just like I was and feel school is boring (because I didn't know how to make it fun).

Other ideas are playing dress up. Sounds silly but their are lessons you can teach in doing this. Have a tea party and teach her about how to set the table. Teach her about putting/keeping your napkin in your lap. Teach her about being polite and offering your guest (the stuffed animals) their tea and cookies first. Etc. Etc. Etc.

Grow a garden. Take dates to the library.

Think outside the box - Whatever you do, make it fun, don't fret if it doesn't turn out how you imagined, and you will be a hit!

Hi S.,
I am a stay at home mom and part time student, I have a 2 yo daughter and have found that she is a much happier child if we stick to a routine. Not a set in stone agenda, but if she generally knows what to expect from her day, we have far fewer meltdowns.

Generally we have breakfast and get dressed for the day, then we leave the house for a playgroup, park or running errands (depends on the day). I try to get home at least an hour and a half before nap time to allow for lunch, some quiet play time (puzzles, coloring, finger paints, etc.) then story and nap time. After nap, she is allowed about 1/2 hour of tv time, then she "helps" me cook dinner and set the table. After dinner we play outside with the neighbors, take a tubby and start our bedtime routine. You'll notice I did't note times. That's because we stick with an activity until she loses interest and then move on to the next. I do, however, pay attention to the time for nap, dinner and bedtime. Those three things stay consistent and we structure the rest of the day around them.
Seems to work pretty well for us, hope that helps.
N.

hi S., my name is T., and i have a toddler son. my days with him, go as, the most important things of all are of course, carein for your kids, medicaly/cooking,feeding them/ i personally only "clean- up what is absolutely nessesary, then theres the grocery shopping, paying bills/ i always spend time with my son daily, playing with him, takeing him places, parks,etc.) /(and then theres sleep,) naps,etc. i can really say the exact amount of time i spend on each topic per day, because they vary daily; but i do keep a general schedule/ routen.p.s + i am in school part time to, of which my inlaws watch him. but yeah, my days are sooo filled with these things, that theres really not much free time for me, but hes worth it. mom of one toddler son.