how do you keep them occupied?

[Triniity]

Hi, 

would you share your summer schedule with me?

I am going bonkers with my adhd family and am physically exhausted. i think i need to keep them occupied, but don't really know how, any ideas?

i am looking for something like a summer program for at home, ready made because i don't have any creativity left to pull something myself. does anybody know something?

x-posted parenting

Edited by Triniity - 7/25/12 at 1:21am

[QueenOfTheMeadow]

How old are your kids?

[Triniity]

DD is 6 years, DS is 4 years and DD2 seven month

[heatherdeg]

I have an ADHD 8yo that I homeschool and a high needs 3yo.  Best thing I ever did was spend the money on a swing set and a sprinkler.  We all go in the back yard and play.  I even get on the swings with the 3yo while the 8yo is "manning the ship" and then I get to read for a total of 5-7 minutes during runs through the sprinkler.  If it's not too hot, I take them on a walk.

Otherwise, the 8yo gets into reading or his Legos and I'm left to entertain the 3yo--which I try desperately to pawn off on Play-doh, scissors/paper, wipe-erase cards for learning to write letters and numbers (I could care less if she does it right, but she wants "schoolwork" and this "qualifies" in her mind  ), coloring, paper doll stickers from Melissa and Doug, and letting her think she's scrubbing veggies in the sink when she's really just making a wet mess.

But outside is pretty big.  Especially for the ADHD.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by heatherdeg 

I have an ADHD 8yo that I homeschool and a high needs 3yo.  Best thing I ever did was spend the money on a swing set and a sprinkler.  We all go in the back yard and play.  I even get on the swings with the 3yo while the 8yo is "manning the ship" and then I get to read for a total of 5-7 minutes during runs through the sprinkler.  If it's not too hot, I take them on a walk.

Otherwise, the 8yo gets into reading or his Legos and I'm left to entertain the 3yo--which I try desperately to pawn off on Play-doh, scissors/paper, wipe-erase cards for learning to write letters and numbers (I could care less if she does it right, but she wants "schoolwork" and this "qualifies" in her mind  ), coloring, paper doll stickers from Melissa and Doug, and letting her think she's scrubbing veggies in the sink when she's really just making a wet mess.

But outside is pretty big.  Especially for the ADHD.

[lisacal]

I have a few things that help me--not quite what you were looking for but it may help.  I have a couple of watering cans, big sponges, and spray bottles that I send me kids in the yard with when they need something to do.  I also set up stations around the house with activities.  I have a listening station for my older kids and have headphones & audio CDs from the library or an iPod & audio book from Learning Ally for my dyslexic daughter.  Another station is play dough or stamps/stickers where they make pretend mail and deliver it around the house.  I try to keep them separated when I need a break from the noise, and get them all involved in different activities--it helps a lot.  Good luck!