HELP-doing homework

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-16-2007
HELP-doing homework
2
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 6:59am

So Hayden is in first grade now, and he has homework like never before.....usually something to read, spelling words to practice, and a worksheet or something he has to figure out and write about. He goes to Catholic school, and I don't think it is too much considering. He tends to be unorganized and really at this point needs my help to get it all done, which I am fine with.

My problem is the other kids! Owen (4) is in his face, wanting to play with him AND get attention from me. I have tried sending him upstiars by himself to play and giving him "homework" of his own, but had to revert to sitting him down in front of his LarryBoy video.

The baby is another story! She is 18 months old. I tried getting her to nap during homework time (we get home from school at 3:15) but it is too late (her naptime has usually been after lunch, and when I tried to keep her up she ended up getting grumpy and needing a nap at 2:00 which does NOT work when I have to leave to pick up Hayden at 2:30-2:45.) She is crying, whining, grabbing at Hayden's stuff, trying to nurse (NOT working trying to nurse a big baby at the homework table!) This is not a good time of day, many of you may experience the "witching hour" that usually hits at 4-5:00?

I could wait til DH gets home to start homework, and he could help, but sometimes he works late and is not home til 6:30-7, and I really like us all to eat dinner together. by 7:30 we start Hayden's bedtime routine.

Any suggestions? Or do I have to just wait for her to grow up more? I don't know how the homeschoolers do it!

Jeanne
Hayden born 4/8/01
Owen conceived while breastfeeding born 7/18/03
Kate-suprise!-born 2 months early on 2/17/06

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2004
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 7:42am

i have the same issues when my kindergartener has homework.. but i usually do is give Makayla a coloring book and crayons and that usually helps til homework is done...


HTH

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2007
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 2:43pm

I did the same as the previous poster. When my son first start school the girls were 3 and I pulled them out some crayons to color or some playdoh. At the time Matthew's homework was pretty simple and I'd get him started and make sure he knew what he was doing and I'd go keep the girls busy. If he got stuck I'd go help him again and then leave. Good luck figuring out a system that works for you.

Chelle