Now that we are well into October and the school year is in full swing, we are finally organized around here. Do you remember when I asked you about TV time? How much is too much? I realized that with Diego’s busy schedule, the answer was simple. Although we don’t ban TV in our home, the bottom line is, Diego doesn’t have much time for TV or any electronics after school. Weaning him off all of the screens after a very crazy summer was the tough part. But I found this very simple and cheap solution. This dry-erase board. Isn’t it nice? All framed and everything? I bought it at Staples and it was the best $30 I have spent for my kitchen lately. No kitchen table yet.
This little white board has clear expectations. A little list of things-to-do and gentle reminders. Diego sees something like this on a much bigger dry-erase board at school so he is familiar and happy that there is a routine here as well. He wakes up in the morning and although we have been doing this for about three weeks now, he still checks the white board with hopes of me forgetting to write “brush teeth”. Ha!
Diego was arriving home from school in September exhausted and ready to surrender in front of Octonauts. Unfortunately, with homework, soccer and piano lessons on some nights, plus reading in English AND Spanish, there was not enough time. I make sure he gets time to play with his brothers and he only has two busy evenings after school. I started to realize that if he didn’t have clear and visible steps for our mornings and evenings, we were constantly disagreeing on how to spend our time.
I have been able to sneak in some screen time at the end of the day and it actually serves as a reward for Diego if everything on his list is done. Although our afternoons look structured, he has a big say-so on what he would like to do first or last. Also, writing down “play” is so vague and we have done everything from baking to art to running up and down hallways with Santi. That’s what I like to see- Diego interacting with his little brothers and not glued in front of some type of screen everyday.
How do you keep your kids organized after school or throughout the day? Would love to hear more tips!
Your friend,
Betty
by Tad Hills and we loved it! I thought about how if I was still teaching middle school, I would totally read this book to my students. I would read this book to any child. Rocket is an adorable puppy and a hesitant student at first. He chews on sticks under a tree and wants to nap instead of joining a little yellow bird who has set up a tiny classroom. The little bird decides to start lessons and begins by reading a story but pauses, creating a cliffhanger and leaving Rocket wanting more. Once this little teacher realizes that Rocket can’t read, she is determined to teach Rocket and Rocket starts to learn letters and begins to love stories. The beautiful pictures depict the changing seasons and the “school breaks” where we see Rocket waiting patiently yet practicing what he has learned, and excitedly awaits the return of his teacher.
Last week we received a summer reading list from Diego’s new school. He is about to enter Kindergarten in the fall and they are already preparing him for academic life! Haha! I was impressed by the 14 pages worth of wonderful books to pick from! Everything from notable picture books to biographies to non-fiction, and award winning ones too! There is definitely something for every little reader on the list. We were excited to head to the library right away to start reading and dive into the postcard activity also required by the school librarian.
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