How do you 'split' up the kids

[1growingsprout]

by ages? interests? i have ds 11 dd8 ds6 dd3 dd1 and triplets... for outings and such... do i keep the 11 8 6 yr olds as a 'team' and the little ones alone? so i make 3 teams 11 8 6 3 and infants? i dont want the older ones responsible for the infants by any means.. im just looking for 'crowd management' some days... btw my 3 yr old still naps in the pm with the little ones??

[A&A]

I have no idea. That sounds like a math story-problem to me. (If two trains approached the intersection at the same time, going different speeds............) But I applaud you. Wow. What a woman!!

[RedWine]

I don't know either, mama -- but I admire your strength!

[elanorh]

I think it's going to vary by personalities within your family.

If your 11 year old is a nurturer, he may prefer to help out with the little kids quite a bit - or the 8 year old might - or etc.

I'm from a family of 7 (no triplets though!) -- Mom divvied us up different ways for different situations. There were times when we older kids were "responsible" for watching a particular younger sibling (say, large public events) .... I know our parents were watching just as closely but it helps to have an extra set of eyes, KWIM?

There were other times when the "Big Kids" got to do something, and the "Little Kids" had a different activity or stayed home or etc.

Mom would switch up who shared rooms, too. For me, it went this way:
1-7 years of age or so: Shared a room with all my then-present siblings (yikes!), but not so bad as some might assume. We had bunk beds etc....

7-9 - shared room/bed with my older sister (two years older than me)

9-10 - had MY OWN ROOM. Wow.

10-14 - shared my room with my younger sister (15 months younger than me) and my older sister.

14-18 - shared my room with another younger sister (4 years younger than me).

Mom moved us around in terms of who/how we roomed together, and bedsharing too, to keep us connecting with different sisters and prevent us cliquing up too much with any particular sister I think. And, in my older sister's case, I think the thought was that she was less able to sneak out if she were sharing a bed with a younger sister. And that B was more assertive than I would be about curtailing older sister's extracurricular activities.

--- Honestly, just my perspective, but while there needs to be a balance, I think it's great for older kids to help out with the younger kids. That's part of being a family, and it's how they learn to be good, competent, comfortable parents themselves when the time comes. So don't feel bad about older kids helping change diapers or etc. as that happens.

[oliversmum2000]

Originally Posted by RedWine

I don't know either, mama -- but I admire your strength!

:

[momof3sweeties]

I wouldn't try splitting up the kids, they will eventually do it on their own. They'll interact with the siblings they enjoy interacting with the most. It seems more natural that the older ones will split off and the younger ones will just because they will have similar interests and abilities. I guess you are the only one who truly knows the ebb and flow of your family. I only have 3 and the older 2 split off and do things together quite a bit. BUT...they are also boys and have many same interests. Sometimes my older ds gets invited to do things or can take a class my younger ds can't so then he is with my dd. They all interact in different ways...different days.

[momto l&a]

Just pick out their strengths and encourage them to use them. IMO

[annethcz]

Different splits in different situations. I've only got 4 kids (DS6, DS5, DD4, DD2). Sometimes it works best to split the kids by gender. When it comes to academics and maturity, sometimes the DS6 does things on his own and DS5 and DD4 are grouped together, with DD2 on her own as well.

My kids do tend to group themselves on their own when they play, and again it varies. Depending on what they're playing, and if they're playing with neighborhood friends or by themselves, they'll divide themselves up on their own.

Of course, it's good to be flexible. Especially with infants... because once you've got a routine down, the baby will grow/change and the routine will alter

[Emilie]

omg. You are amazing. WOW.
Wow. What do you drive?

Youi leave the house? LOL. Just kidding.

I am thinking put the 3 year old with the bigger kids- push the infants in the stroller I assume. Do a buddy system. 11 year old with 3 year old 6 and 8 year old together. Or however you want. I wuold do a buddy system tho- so then it doesn't exactly seem like you are having the bigger one "care" for the little one.