getting a schedule/routine?

[haleyelianasmom]

I think I need to get myself into a routine of some sort. Any suggestions?

My older daughter is 5, but we also have a 7 week old. I feel like I need to have SOMETHING for her because otherwise I end up spending half the day (or more) trying to get myself ready and caring for the baby and doing housework. We aren't using a curriculum at this point and are sort of unschooly, though I do give her "assignments" sometimes, like she wrote a star wars story and she sometimes does her workbooks or reads BOB books. With the level that she says she's bored, I feel like I need to be doing more. Thoughts on how to schedule your days?

[accidental_hs'er]

I plan our days around external activities. They have increased quite a bit now that both dks are officially homeschooling. We attend art classes, take piano lessons, have play-dates with other homeschoolers, go to the Y, belong to a co-op and more. Each day has something. I prefer it this way.

I find it easier to configure my days knowing that Mondays at 10am I have to be at the piano teacher's house. So in the morning before the lesson we do some cooking or cleaning together and then kids do some math. Afterward we go home, read a little, have lunch and wait for our afternoon play-date to arrive. We actually do some science work with our friends that day too. Each day is very different but it gives me something to plan around.

I never plan concrete lessons I just have an idea of what we want to accomplish that week and fill in the time accordingly. I find it best to ask for input from the kids over this. I might suggest that we find a Thanksgiving craft to do (Canadian Thanksgiving is in 3 weeks) or find out which song they would like to practice on piano.

Anyway, this is what works for my family.

Michelle

[yllek]

I'm not Waldorfy, and in fact, I know very little about that approach, but I thought I would mention to you that Waldorf has some of the loveliest ideas I've seen about routines and rhythms for little ones. Maybe some of the mamas on the Waldorf board would have some suggestions for you.

I'm probably no help, but I have a 6yo and a 3yo, and we tend to do breakfast, an hour or so of play, schooly stuff for about an hour, then snack, story and project stuff for another hour or so, lunch, and then more play. Then it's errands, cleaning and play until dinner.