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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Help With School Agers!
melissa ann 07:56 AM 12-13-2011
So yesterday was the first day for my new family. 1 boy and 2 girls. The boy is well behaved, plays well with others. His 2 sisters are another story. They are AWFUL! They are in school, 1st and 2nd grade so they here for about an hour in the morning and about 2 hours after school. They run back & forth, stand/jump on/off the sofa, the one sister is rough with her brother. Yesterday after school, I had a project set up on the kitchen table and they did that, then they did their homework. But after that, it was horrible. I kept telling them to knock it off. Then, my own 2 kids (who know better) joined in. I put in a dvd, hoping that would help. That lasted like 10 mins then it was back to taking off the cushions on the sofa, running around,etc.
I heard some of you say you would never take school age kids. Now I know why!
I heard some of you say you would never take school age kids. Now I know why!
queenbee 08:17 AM 12-13-2011
School-agers = evil!!!!!!
I only provide care to school-agers in the summer, and they are the ones who have been with me since infancy. I love the dearly and they know my rules verrrrrrrry well
I only provide care to school-agers in the summer, and they are the ones who have been with me since infancy. I love the dearly and they know my rules verrrrrrrry well
Heidi 08:26 AM 12-13-2011
can you send them outside? THAT IS OUTDOOR BEHAVIOR! 
melskids 08:54 AM 12-13-2011
Originally Posted by bbo:
can you send them outside? THAT IS OUTDOOR BEHAVIOR!
I agree! We plan outside time EVERYDAY for the schoolagers after school. They need to be able to decompress from the day. can you send them outside? THAT IS OUTDOOR BEHAVIOR!
Just yesterday, my son (who's 9) was wound up tighter then a yo yo after school.
I said "T, pleeeeease. I listen to screaming and yelling all day. I just need you to be quiet. "
He looked at me and said "But mom, I have to be quiet aaaalllllllllllll day. I just need to scream and yell!"
I hated to admit it, but he was right.
melissa ann 09:00 AM 12-13-2011
I will try taking them outside when we come home. Then, we will do a craft and homework. Although, they behave like that at 7 in the morning too: (
Thank you!
Thank you!
melskids 09:07 AM 12-13-2011
well, the other thing i wanted to mention is, with SA, you have to lay down the law right from the start with them, or they will walk all over you. don't let them get away with anything!
find out what the girls are really into, and maybe even ask them for some ideas. when you involve them more in the decision making, they are usually more willing to comply.
My SA love crafts, art stuff, legos, polly pockets, the marble run, cooking, science experiments, and helping me with the little kids. the boys like computer games, of course, but they have to earn those priveledges here.
find out what the girls are really into, and maybe even ask them for some ideas. when you involve them more in the decision making, they are usually more willing to comply.
My SA love crafts, art stuff, legos, polly pockets, the marble run, cooking, science experiments, and helping me with the little kids. the boys like computer games, of course, but they have to earn those priveledges here.
melissa ann 11:57 AM 12-15-2011
So yesterday after school, I told them we were going outside for awhile. It was pretty nice out. Sunny, upper 40's. After about 30 mins or so, we came in, had a snack, did a craft, worked on homework, then they played. What a difference. Unfortunately, it's raining today: (
mismatchedsocks 12:02 PM 12-15-2011
Try this for rainy days with school agers.
Have races. One idea is to start everyone in the same place. Get stop watch, most cell phones have them. Tell them one at a time they willl have to touch 3 doorknobs, knock on 2 doors, find and work a kiddie puzzle of 24 pieces, and do 25 jumping jacks and give all the littles high fives. Maybe one of them can write it down, one can do stop watch etc. Then they can root each other on, remind each other what to do, etc. SOon after you start this "race" they may make up their own.
scavenger hunts. I have lists made up for inside days/outside days and give them to the kids when they are getting antsy. For example one yellow ribbon, farm animal, stuffed animal, one red lego, a book about bunnies, a movie with "the" in the title, etc.
Have races. One idea is to start everyone in the same place. Get stop watch, most cell phones have them. Tell them one at a time they willl have to touch 3 doorknobs, knock on 2 doors, find and work a kiddie puzzle of 24 pieces, and do 25 jumping jacks and give all the littles high fives. Maybe one of them can write it down, one can do stop watch etc. Then they can root each other on, remind each other what to do, etc. SOon after you start this "race" they may make up their own.
scavenger hunts. I have lists made up for inside days/outside days and give them to the kids when they are getting antsy. For example one yellow ribbon, farm animal, stuffed animal, one red lego, a book about bunnies, a movie with "the" in the title, etc.
AfterSchoolMom 12:21 PM 12-15-2011
I definitely agree with giving them as much physical activity as possible when they get home from school. Last school year, I used to have homework time before play, and it was a huge pain in the butt for me. I switched it up and let parents know that we'd work on homework, but not until a half hour before pickup, and that if they didn't get finished, it was on the parents to help them finish up at home.
As far as discipline, if one was acting up, they got a time out - I usually had them sit and read as far away from the group as I could put them while still being able to see them. I've also done sentence writing (with the parents permission) and that works as well.
If the whole group is getting rowdy, they sit in a circle in a quiet room and stare at one another without speaking. It bores them to tears and works very well.
Finally, I have the rules posted at all times and we go over them frequently. I make sure that they know what the schedule is and what the rules are from day one. That way, there are no surprises.
After all that, I know it sounds funny, but I miss my school agers!
As far as discipline, if one was acting up, they got a time out - I usually had them sit and read as far away from the group as I could put them while still being able to see them. I've also done sentence writing (with the parents permission) and that works as well.
If the whole group is getting rowdy, they sit in a circle in a quiet room and stare at one another without speaking. It bores them to tears and works very well.
Finally, I have the rules posted at all times and we go over them frequently. I make sure that they know what the schedule is and what the rules are from day one. That way, there are no surprises.
After all that, I know it sounds funny, but I miss my school agers!