Interview 2: Life Skills for Kids Interview

Having children means having stuff
- and lots of it.

The bigger they get, the more stuff they accumulate, and the sheer volume of the stuff of childhood can be overwhelming at times.  Because our first child was adopted on very short notice, she came dangerously close to sleeping in a dresser drawer. The extended family however rallied together, and she ended up sleeping in an exquisitely handmade oak cradle that Grandpa had been secretly crafting for us during our years of infertility.

By the time the fourth child arrived, we had more stuff than we ever imagined possible, all squeezed into a tiny house- we were bursting at the seams with our blessings.  In those squeezed years, we learned a lot about patience, sharing, making do, and managing our space.  We now live in a house that wildly exceeds our expectations of living space.  So now we struggle with the abundance of our possessions and the slippery standard of "slobbiness".

Home management expert Deneice Schofield says that a slob is anyone who is messier than you.  The slob syndrome as she calls it, has many causes.

Setting Up A Child's Space

Our goal for young children is to have a living/playing/sleeping area that they maintain primarily by themselves.  This requires a child-friendly space with elements such as the following:

• Low shelves
  placed around the room for toy and book storage.   This way the children can reach the shelves and be responsible for replacing items.
• Personal laundry baskets and wastebaskets.
  As discussed earlier, even very young can be responsible for delivering dirty laundry to the laundry room and putting clean laundry away.  A lowered bar in the closet, or child- height hooks, will help them keep their closet orderly.  A lightweight wastebasket can be emptied by a two year old, with a parents' encouragement and guidance.
• Labeled storage boxes.
  Plastic boxes with lids are great for cars or Barbie dolls.  They can be labeled with pictures for prereaders.
• Plastic bags for storing puzzle pieces.
  Put matching numbers on pieces and boards and have a family rule that only one puzzle can be out at a time.
• Ziplock bags
  for storing little toy pieces, things like jacks or marbles. Place the bags in a larger box or tin.

Age Appropriate Chores for Kids:
What Can YOUR Child Do?

Ages 2-3

• Help make the bed- at least pull the covers up
• Hang clothing on hooks
• Carry laundry to and from the laundry area
• Help feed animals
• Help wipe up spills
• Bring in the newspaper
• Mop a small area
• Pour from a small pitcher
• Help pick up the living room

Ages 4-5

• Make their own bed
• Clear dishes from the table
• Set the table
• Retrieve the mail
• Dust the furniture
• Help in the kitchen-stirring, ripping lettuce, drying dishes
• Help carry and put away groceries

Ages 6-12

• Take care of pets
• Cook simple foods
• Help wash the car
• Wash, hang, and fold laundry
• Vacuum, sweep, and mop
• Clean the bathroom completely
• Rake leaves, shovel snow
• Use the washer and dryer
• Take out the trash

Ages 13 and up

• Any of the above, plus
• Change light bulbs
• Replace vacuum cleaner bag
• Wash inside and outside windows
• Clean out refrigerator
• Clean stove and oven
• Prepare a meal
• Make grocery lists
• Do all laundry functions
• Mow the lawn

Interview 2: Life Skills for Kids Interview

Comments & Ideas

Set up a daily schedule for your child
From: Cindy Boyce
Every homeschool teacher goes through times when s/he doubt her/himself. Please remember what works for one family may not work for you and your family. When we first homeschooled, I set up a daily schedule of what each child should accomplish every day. I became frustrated when they either couldn't finish it or finished it in a few minutes.

• What was recommended to us was to use a 25/5 schedule.
  • You work on a subject for 25 minutes and then you take a 5 minute break.
  • If you finish 1/2 a page or 10 pages in 25 minutes that is what happens and the next day you continue where you had stopped.
• We have modified this schedule.
  • For our older boys (12 yo), they do a 45/5 schedule. Our youngest (6 yo with special needs) does a 25/25 schedule.
• This gives me time to work with the older boys if needed or do things like laundry and gives time for the younger to play/down time in-between subjects. It is amazing how well it works. in peace, Cindy

Scheduling, using log books & Year round homeschooling
From: Cindy Watson
First I recommend reading The Joyful Homeschooler by Mary Hood. It helped me to relax alot. I also school year round so I know I only have to really knuckle down three days a week giving me two days a week to catch on housework or just go to the beach on a whim.

• The one thing that has really helped me this year is my log book. Everyday after the kids finish their work I collect all their stuff, review it, then under each child's name I write the next day's assignment. I circle anything that didn't get done that day and put it on the next day. I check everything that did.
• On the back I write all books finished that day and any field trips or experiments like cracking geodes or observing a boa eat a mouse. Then each kid can check his assignments for the day and whenever they start and end is up to them, also what order they do it is up to them.
• I will corral the twins to do a craft or science project together. And all the older ones to do social studies together (greenleaf guides). That's what works for me and this summer I'm doing 6 (and trying to keep my two year old occupied!)

Meet the Author
"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Homeschooling"
by Marsha Ransom
hosted by Joe Spataro
interview & FREE excerpt
Marsha Ransom, author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Homeschooling, is the mother of four children, two of whom have always been homeschooled. She serves as a homeschool resource for her local library and writes articles for Home Education Magazine, The Link: A Homeschool Newspaper, Women's International Net, and Homeschool Dad Magazine. In this interview on the Zone, Marsha discusses how she came to write this book, developing your program, homeschooling on a budget, what is happening with her homeschooled children, her future plans and a FREE excerpt which tells you how to set up a homeschool cooperative.

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