Please note that the times are merely guides, and I try not to be too rigid about sticking to the exactly. Flow from one block to the next is more important.
7:00-7:15 Wake Up
Lately the boys have been waking up earlier than this. We have some quiet playtime in their rooms for a short time before heading downstairs to begin breakfast.
7:30 Breakfast
Once downstairs, I begin fixing breakfast. I ask L for help with this task. Some days he helps pick out food or set the table, other days he chooses to play. I give him the choice.
8:00-9:30 Free Play
After breakfast, I ask Lucas to help put his dishes in the sink, then we begin free play. This is just open time, but by calling it "free play", L seems so much more excited about it. I ask him what he wants to play with- some days it's something very specific, other days he just floats from toy to toy. I try to interact with them during this time, but I also allow myself some free time in this block, to do some light cleaning, check email, etc.
9:30-11:00 Project or Outing
After free play, we pick up our toys and then we have a dedicated project or an outing. I try to look at this as special time with them, and I try really hard during this time not to get on the computer or clean so as to give them my undivided attention. Sometimes I'll have an idea for a project, but usually I'll let L pick from a few options or leave it completely open-ended. I try to let L make choices as much as possible. J is too little at this point to pick, but he is starting to show interest in doing what we do, and most projects he can do with a little help.
11:00 - 12:00 Lunch
12:00 - 2:00 Quiet Time
This time fluctuates a bit depending on J's napping needs, sometimes he needs to go down sooner and so we cut lunch short or have a big snack or something to allow us to get upstairs sooner, but slowly we're getting closer to a noon-ish naptime. I get J to sleep and L gets quiet time. I would like for him to read in his room, but right now he's taking his quiet time playing on the computer. He does very well, but some days J will take a 2 hour nap and so L will spend 2 hours on the computer, which is a bit longer than I'd like. This is an area I need to work on. I either do my work on the computer during this time or close my eyes and take a little nap with J.
2:00 - 4:00 Free Play
More free play, same as above. When the weather cools off, I'd like this to be our regular out-of-doors time, but for now it's more time spent inside.
4:00 Begin dinner
This may seem early, but in order for me to keep it together, I usually start dinner around this time, while the boys continue to play.
5:00 Dinner
Boys eat, I usually eat with them, sometimes I wait and eat when M gets home from work.
6:00 Bath
6:30 Stories, Off to Bed
Both boys are usually asleep by 7.
Lately the boys have been waking up earlier than this. We have some quiet playtime in their rooms for a short time before heading downstairs to begin breakfast.
7:30 Breakfast
Once downstairs, I begin fixing breakfast. I ask L for help with this task. Some days he helps pick out food or set the table, other days he chooses to play. I give him the choice.
8:00-9:30 Free Play
After breakfast, I ask Lucas to help put his dishes in the sink, then we begin free play. This is just open time, but by calling it "free play", L seems so much more excited about it. I ask him what he wants to play with- some days it's something very specific, other days he just floats from toy to toy. I try to interact with them during this time, but I also allow myself some free time in this block, to do some light cleaning, check email, etc.
9:30-11:00 Project or Outing
After free play, we pick up our toys and then we have a dedicated project or an outing. I try to look at this as special time with them, and I try really hard during this time not to get on the computer or clean so as to give them my undivided attention. Sometimes I'll have an idea for a project, but usually I'll let L pick from a few options or leave it completely open-ended. I try to let L make choices as much as possible. J is too little at this point to pick, but he is starting to show interest in doing what we do, and most projects he can do with a little help.
11:00 - 12:00 Lunch
12:00 - 2:00 Quiet Time
This time fluctuates a bit depending on J's napping needs, sometimes he needs to go down sooner and so we cut lunch short or have a big snack or something to allow us to get upstairs sooner, but slowly we're getting closer to a noon-ish naptime. I get J to sleep and L gets quiet time. I would like for him to read in his room, but right now he's taking his quiet time playing on the computer. He does very well, but some days J will take a 2 hour nap and so L will spend 2 hours on the computer, which is a bit longer than I'd like. This is an area I need to work on. I either do my work on the computer during this time or close my eyes and take a little nap with J.
2:00 - 4:00 Free Play
More free play, same as above. When the weather cools off, I'd like this to be our regular out-of-doors time, but for now it's more time spent inside.
4:00 Begin dinner
This may seem early, but in order for me to keep it together, I usually start dinner around this time, while the boys continue to play.
5:00 Dinner
Boys eat, I usually eat with them, sometimes I wait and eat when M gets home from work.
6:00 Bath
6:30 Stories, Off to Bed
Both boys are usually asleep by 7.
This is how it's been going for us. Some days it works, some days we have a doctor's appointment or errand and it gets thrown off. I think we'd hit a good rhythm if we could just stay home for a few weeks, but the boys get bored and I get stir-crazy, so we have to keep resetting every few days. Still, having this as the goal means that most of the time we're fairly consistent, and that's what matters most. Also, for us it's really helped to emphasize the transitions- such as, "ok, let's clean up our breakfast dishes and then we can start free play!" It also allows me to have designated time for email/Facebook, designated offline time, etc.
We try to maintain this on the weekends as well. L goes back to school in a few weeks, so I'm not sure what our days will look like that. I'll have to alter the rhythm somewhat, but hopefully I can maintain the general idea.
We try to maintain this on the weekends as well. L goes back to school in a few weeks, so I'm not sure what our days will look like that. I'll have to alter the rhythm somewhat, but hopefully I can maintain the general idea.
Tomorrow I'll talk about our bedtime routine and sleeping arrangements.
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