How to keep 4YO busy when one-on-one with 7YO?

[tammyw]

This is the first year that we are REALLY getting focused. My dd is 7.5 and we are loosely following guidelines for What your 2nd Grader Needs to Know (and some of 3rd Grader where we are ahead).

I spent MUCH time researching the curriculums, trying different things, and have landed on our "happy place". The problem is it requires A LOT of one-on-one. And during that time, I'm not sure how to keep my 4 year old busy without a ton of prep work or hands-on from me.

My dd was 4 at one point, and I kept her busy, but there was only one of her. I realize I struggle with trying to keep them both going at the same time. For the past couple days, I've been letting him play on the computer for a couple hours while we do her stuff, but it's too much computer.

I'd love some ideas/feedback. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. I LOVE what my DD and I have going on (for the first time in a long time, especially since we just made a major move from Hawaii to California). But now I realize I need to figure him out also.

Pretty please, with sugar on top?!

[skueppers]

My solution is to have the younger one in preschool. The particular preschool he's in is non-academic and offers a language-immersion environment.

I cannot imagine trying to get school done with my older child with him around.

[jlpumkin]

My current solution is 3 big tub storage bins. Each one contains different things: each has building type of toy (legos, lincoln logs or foam blocks), some puzzles, lacing or stencils, coloring books, different cars or push/pull/something trains and cars.

In the morning my 4 yo does prayer time with our family and something preK-ish... we're doing sing, spell, read & write preK level. When he's finished he is able to select a bin for the rest of the school day. If he wants more active (read: loud) play then he needs to head to the playroom which is out of earshot. He chooses to hang out with us though.

We also follow a green, yellow, red warning system. If he's getting too crazy and out of control then he's reminded a couple of times to simmer down. If he doesn't he'll lose the priviledge of the bin and have to go back to his regular toys for the day - Oh the shame We haven't had to do so yet. We are only on week 5 of our school year though. In a month or so I'll switch out some of the toys in the bins to keep them fresh. Though they seem to keep their novelty with switching between the 3 of them.

[PGTlatte]

My solution is not fabulous, but it works here. He has some tubs of pre-K stuff he can dig into and work on himself (lacing cards, big foam puzzles, beads to string, coloring materials) if he wants to stay upstairs with us. His other choice is to be in the basement playroom. I let him pick a movie and he stays down there and plays. He is an introvert and loves to play alone...I can hear him acting out voices for the toys down there, or acting out some pretend scenario he is involved in. I used to feel bad about him spending so much time watching movies until I figured out that he's not watching it - he just likes having it on while he plays. He used to get aggravated because DS1 would never leave him to play alone, and now that DS1 has school time very day, I think DS2 is really enjoying his alone play time. When he's tired of it he comes upstairs and creates his own activity while we finish. (This week it's putting toys in cups full of water into the freezer, and doing experiments with ice cubes in the bathroom.) His alone playtime is usually enough for me to get 75% through the focused work I need to do with DS1.