Time Management/planning with School, Homework, Lessons

Wow! What a job! Sounds like a lot of fun, though. We use music practice as our downtime. Obviously we don't push real hard on it. Our son gets a penny for any thing he practices. One scale = one penny, one song = one penny, extra. We also do a penny for good posture (2 actually). He loves practice. He's also very proud to have his own money to take to Sunday School, even though his tithe is only about a dime. My mom used that system with me and I loved practice and now it's working for us. We also get the day all set to go before bed the night before. Everything in a backpack by the door except stuff needing refrigeration or something in the morning. I sometimes even get everything in the car so in the morning it's just one trip with the kids. It's still early in the year, so I'm sure you'll find a system that works. GL! Have fun!

I let my son play for an hour or so after school to give him an academic break. I'm a real believer in not having too many activities (sports, etc.) so that the kids can just play and be home with family. Or, if your son is excited about his homework, he could do it right after school. It really depends on the nature of the child. My son always needed that break. I think one activity per week is really healthy. I only have one child, so I don't know how to juggle other activities for your younger ones. If your pre schooler starts a regular activity, your first grader could read or do homework while you take care of baby and watch the activity. Try to be organized with school supply stuff that you will need around the house or in the car (pencils/crayons/dictionary, etc.) Depending on when you eat (early or late) try to have homework done right before or after, well before bedtime. Make sure your younger ones know to leave your son alone while he does homework; this is an important habit/behavior for them to learn. Always keep your bedtime routine the same. Even as the kids get older, routine is still very important and comforting. It helps as they make the adjustment to new challenges (school) and activities. Enjoy! They grow up fast!!

Sounds like you got some great advice already, but just to add a little more to the mix, here's what I do. I like my daughter to feel like she has some control over her activities. I also feel like this helps her become more self-motivated. Anyway, I have two somewhat flat box-type things that are stuck by magnets to the fridge. One says 'to do', the other says 'done' (you could have a set of these for each kid, and you could have whatever kind of container that works best for you of course). In the to do one are all of the things she needs to do- 1/2 hour of homework, 20 minutes of piano, 1/2 hour of down-time, etc. (I have them laminated just to last longer). So she gets to do things in whatever order she likes. Sometimes she really needs down time right when she's home from school, some days she'd rather just get homework out of the way. This way it's up to her. When that activity is done, she puts it in the done box and moves on.

There's lots of flexibility built in if you want to create rewards for filling the done box or consequences for not doing something or whatever. You can add the bible verses as a to do, etc. Plus you can have different age-appropriate things for your preschooler. And there's consistency for the nights you are working and someone else is helping the kids get those things done. I tried being more tied to the clock before this- homework was from 5-5:30 followed by dinner and whatever. It was too hard for me to keep to that schedule!! This way you are not so tied to an actual clock! Good luck!

I have a son in second grade this year, and a three year old starting preschool. I found last year was really hard while we tried to figure out how to handle the demands of my son's first year of all day school and homework; the hours between his arrival home and bedtime were really difficult, the kids seemed so demanding and homework was just another thing for me to juggle.

Eventually I created a "tea time" immediately after arrival home from school. I make decaf English breakfast tea, set the table with cups and saucers, and set out little dishes of snacks like slices of cheese, raisins, almonds, fruit, etc. (when we finished this "brain food" we could all have a treat, like a cookie). During tea time we would all catch up on our days, and I would ask both boys to tell me two things they did and didn't like about their days. This whole thing took about 30 minutes and basically ended up being like an entire meal. But it was sooo necessary for my oldest to have this hearty snack, and the down time to reconnect with me, and time for his brother to reconnect with him (so he wouldn't bug him so much during homework time). I gave him 30 more minutes to watch TV or play. I found he was then much more able and willing to start on his homework. Fortunatley his homework was minimal, and he usually still had time to play outside before dinner.

Overall this is still working this year, though homework responsibilities have increased,and my son is even more tired upon his return home. Thus, I have implemented a strict schedule where he needs to start his homework by a certain time. This seems to work ok, but I actually really like the idea the previous poster mentioned about letting the child choose what task to do when. I might try that and see what happens.

As for whether your child should immediately do homework or have some downtime, I think it depends upon the individual child and their habits. I personally like the idea of getting the homework done right away, but that would never work for my son - he needs a bit of downtime between school and homework. I agree with previous posters that one extra curricular activity (if even that) is enough at this age. It is just too hard to ask such a little person to meet so many commitments, and there is the risk that the extra activities will no longer be fun.

Finally, this year I started laying out the boys' clothes the night before, including shoes so that we aren't looking for anything in the morning. As much as I don't want to, I make myself get everything ready the night before, including lunches packed and backpacks ready to go. I also started this year to have the kids bathed and in pajamas BEFORE dinner (I put them in the bath and let them play while I make dinner, and then quickly wash them). This has been great, because after dinner (which is nearly bed time) there is hardly anything more they must do, and it usually allows us time for what I have dubbed "family fun time" where we play a game or read together, or whatever they would like to do that does NOT include a screen :)

As for the schedules for the other kids, I don't know if this is much help, since you have one more than I do, and a baby at that! I would only suggest that you try to get yourself a few hours alone each week - even if it is just a short time for you to go over your calendar and make sure you are organized. I found first grade so hard as a mom, because I was unprepared for all the papers that came home (suggestions, anyone??) and the various meetings and activities I suddenly had to keep track of. I am still working on that, but at least this year I know what will be coming at me, and how important it will be to stay on top of it.

I am still tryingto figure this all out myself. Please keep us posted - I would love to hear all the ideas and what works or others.

I made a rule "no TV" until homework was done! Write all things down on a calendar on the refrigator when you find them out. Then plan your week according to the activities and thing that need to get done. Make sure you plan down time that is important.

I had a friend that color coded according to the person. I never got that into it.

C. B