5 Ways To Manage 5 and Under - Kgomotso King
The high energy gene is very strong in our family; adults and children alike! When I met my husband Sean, it was one of the first things I noticed about him. Little did I know the combination of my energy and his would produce three fireballs of expression, love and passion. In homeschooling Josiah and Jordan, I would often get overwhelmed and feel outmatched but remembering that I am God’s perfect choice for my kids had me dig deep and discover the “teacher” in me. I also realised that when God said “train up a child in the way they should go” (Proverbs 22:6), He didn’t say only in spiritual things, but in all things. In this season all includes phonics, counting, brushing teeth and tying shoe laces. That said, I wanted to share 5 things that we do in our family to not only get through the day but thrive in this season!
1. Stations
Through trial and alot of error, I’ve found that when I set up work or play stations for each child according to their age, they get engrossed in what they’re doing and are able to focus better and are more productive. This makes school time more effective and they’re able to channel their energy into what they’re doing with less distractions. Their concentration has improved since making this adjustment. This also allows me to move in-between stations and spend one on one time with them as well as help or see how they are getting along with their tasks or activities.
2. Have Extra Snacks on Hand
True story, my kids are always hungry! My go-to snacks are the quick and easy to assemble type, with as little sugar as possible. Popcorn, apples (I use a wedger, which takes the cores and wedges the apple in one move!), dried fruit, crunchy kale, and veggies and dip. PB & J never disappoints, neither does cheese and crackers. I also found that keeping them hydrated helps with the frequent visits to the kitchen, so water is your friend.
3. Screen Time
Apart from limiting screen time for my older kids, I’ve learnt to use screen time to serve what we’re doing with the kids. Instead of putting just anything on, Sean and I find and screen shows that enforce what we’re currently teaching the kids. For us, programs like “Daniel Tiger” which teaches moral and social conduct in song, and “Cat In The Hat” which explores science. We also love educational sing along shows. I’ve found that bible story shows like “Superbook” and “Storykeepers” help reinforce what we are teaching them from the bible and now with online kids church, we also watch the service over and over again. We like to use screen time for helping with schooling; sometimes if I’m struggling to explain a concept to Josiah, I let him play a game and do activities around that concept on an app. This way, we both get breakthroughs. This helps me learn the language to best explain what I am trying to teach him while he learns that the concept is actually doable, which gets his confidence up - win, win!
4. Laughter, Joy and Atmosphere
Our house is three kids deep which means there is always noise. This used to exasperate me sometimes, until I decided to turn the noise into a joyful noise. Music is my tool. With music comes singing, dancing, praise parties and breakouts of worship. I encourage the kids to engage by singing and dancing as well. We have an air band which often results in more laughter! Through music and fun, the atmosphere of our home has changed. The noise is pleasant, our praise is more intentional and the kids quickly engage in worship.
5. Go Deeper in God with Them
Before I was married, my God time was hours on end with me and my bible. I got married and this reduced, but I could still go for a fair amount of time. I had my first child and this dramatically changed, I started considering a few minutes a win. What’s my point? God time looks different in each season. I’ve found that doing mine with the kids in this season allows me to be refueled and set for the day, but I also get to model it to my kids. My hope is that they will grow up with it being a lifestyle.
Written By Kgomotso King
Kgomotso is married to Sean and they have three beautiful children.