Homeschooling

Can I use school as a reward or is that going to screw with his love of learning somehow?  Here is the scenario... he's a good boy; his sister takes a nap and we do school (phonics) which he loves; then we play a little and then he takes his nap... OR... he's being a whiny three year old so I send him to bed at the same time as his sister saying, "I guess we can't do school today."

On one hand, I'm thinking that we really should be at least trying to do school on most days, especially because we just started a formal study a week ago, but on the other hand I'm thinking that we probably wouldn't get anything done anyway if he's in a whiny uncooperative mood and I absolutely do not want to make school a stressful chore.  On a third hand, lol, maybe that sit down, one on one time would shake him out of the mood.  I can still hear him playing in his room now anyway.  We usually have a "lay quietly in bed for 1 hour and then if you're still not asleep, you can get up" rule.  Maybe if he's still awake when the hour's up I'll offer school then as a second chance?

I would recommend, if you can, simply making school time shorter and still requiring him to nap. It's likely that he needs the rest. What I'd do is lie down in bed with him and read to him; then ask him to take his nap.

That's what we do!

Emily
mom to Kaela (5) and Jaron (2 1/2)

My youngest has his *moments*. lol What I do is stay flexible in when we do the schoolwork. I've learned that ds does better if we wait until about 11 am, at the earliest, to do his schoolwork. He just needs time to play before he sits to do it.

There have also been times when he is uncooperative, or just unable to focus. I've had him stop in the middle of a lesson and go play for a while. When I call him back to do the work, he seems refreshed and able to focus.

..and yes, I would give the schoolwork a second chance, especially if he wants to do it.

hth

 

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