CM CLUB - Need some tips for re-gaining control of my 4 x 2's and under!!!

LT thanks sooooooooooo much tbh my routine is very similar, I have been trying to basically do an 'out of house' activity in the mornings, but i think the mistake i have been making recently is i was trying to do an afternoon activity too, its just too much for them. My mindees come september will be about the same age as yours, dd will be at school then, except mine are boys. will keep you updated

Sorry I didn't reply sooner - the joys of so many young ones lol.

All my mindees are girls, they are 16 months, 2.1 and 2.3. All these girls love anything baby related (but they constantly fight over it all, even though I have 3 prams, LOADS of babies, 2 cots, 2 highchairs etc etc!!)

Fighting aside (as this is the age!!)......they love:

Kitchen play with play food etc (I get them to make me things, name fruits, colours etc.....it helps their learning no end )
Dancing to children's music
Singing songs with actions (wind the bobbin up, peter rabbit had fly upon nose....etc etc).
Shopping with the shopping trolley, basket etc.
Stories (sometimes!!! mine prefer to pretend to read to each other but they all do like books!)
Drawing, painting, sticking, playdoh etc.
Playing at the park, in the garden, with water etc.

Puzzles is something that I can't seem to get them into right now HOWEVER I have a big foam alphabet and number mat and they enjoy putting that together (which is like a puzzle) and it's helped with hand/eye co-ordination, learning about colours, letters and numbers.

My own ds who is 11 months now just plays with the same stuff that's out (LOVES play food).

It's very hard work having so many so young BUT it's also very rewarding. Routine is VERY VERY important imo, I couldn't manage working 7.30am-6pm with 4 x just turned 2 and under if I didn't have a good routine in place!!!

This is my rough routine (say rough as some timings are slightly different each day and I don't want to list each days routine for you, just to give you an idea):

7.30/8am - mindees start arriving
8.15/8.30am - set off to school
(let me know if you need help with transporting etc ideas)
9.30am - back home by this time
freeplay whilst getting ready for group
Group (snack at group)
Back by 12/12.15pm
Make lunch as fast as can, wash all hands, sit at table.
1pm - start naps (I slightly stagger)
(most of the time they're done until school run but if not, just freeplay when they get down)
Line up for nappy changes (obviously done throughout day too)
School Run then play outside (take snacks & drinks - line all 6 kids up for this - they are very good with this as they know we don't walk about when we eat!)
Get back around 4/4.30 (depending on how long played outside)
4.30pm - Make dinner
5pm - wash hands & sit down to eat
6pm - pick up time

6-7pm - tidy/clean
8pm - kids in bed - phew!
8.01pm - grab nearest alcoholic drink and collapse in heap
9/10pm - remember not eaten and make dinner! lol

We don't do groups every day, when we don't do that we either do some messy play, baking, make playdoh etc. or go for a walk, to the park, feed the ducks etc.

Hope that gives you some ideas

Good luck

loonytune, can I ask what activities you do with them? Come September i will have 3 2yo and a 1yo and I want to sort out a routine

I do lots and lots of luck!

If you think that's funny you should have seen me skipping along the main street with two pre-schoolers wearing teddy bear ears ehhh the things you do

My DD (9 on Sat) reckons I'm THE MOST embarassing mam ever! to which I said not much embarasses me luv, so she walked with us to school wearing her pink octopus shower cap! on her head. Of course I WAS so but I would never admit it, as this wasn't embarrasing enough for me she said she would put her knickers on her head the next day (she didn't realise it was Fri, and I didn't remind her) just commented "well just make sure you've got some on your but too" this is one of our little jokes as once DH dropped her at nursery about 3yrs old at the time and a very indipendant miss she forgot to put her knickers on so had to wear some nursery spares. I often remind her of this

that's cracked me up!!! This wouldn't have worked yesterday as the problem was I was carrying my heavy 11m old in one arm, a diddy 16 month old in the other arm so I had no arms for books!! Anyway, realised earlier that yesterday was the first time with this mix on a school run! From now on I'll leave my own ds in the pram outside and it's only on Mondays I'll have the other 3 (other days with that many it's a different lot and most are older). So fingers crossed it won't be too bad after all

I like the school idea but not so sure it's going to work? Sounds like they are worried about the children being so young and getting themselves to the right classes.

It's not actually drop off that's a problem for me as one of them always comes at 9.30am. It's the pick up time and this school is VERY busy with lots of kids and parents rushing around but there is one last idea which I'm going to run by another teacher tomorrow. Wish me luck

Looneytune, dropping off at school is a nightmare, we have arranged on occasion with two schools we drop / pick up from a designated meeting place (usually reception) so we drop all kids off (regardless of class / age) at one location and pick up the same way. The children are able, once safetly in the school to make their way to their own classes, quite a few childcare providers do this around here, and it's a norm. The school should be able to accomodate you and should make your life a little easier if they all get dropped off at the same time and same place, no need to take anyone out of the buggy then.

With the problem walker I tried this (please dont laugh) it worked, after trying everything else, when LO freezes or just sits down, plonk yourself down on the floor, dead casual like and chat about something else like can you see that cloud, or do you reckon it's gonna rain again, take out a book and start reading it, I swear you might look like a total numpty , but the one I had was totally gobsmacked said what you doin are we not goin now? Only did it the once . And if your'e bothered about lookin daft I figured it was better than having a screaching toddler having a dicky fit with everyone looking anyday.

Think I know what you mean.

I asked my ds1's teacher about the classroom thing but looks like it might not be an option. Have another option but need to speak to the youngest mindees teacher first.

not dragged along... more like 'hanging off' their reins!... as they lift up their legs (to drop) but dont end up falling...

must be unconfortabe but wont hurt as such...

as i say my stubborn little 2 year old didnt like it and very soon gave up / put his legs on the ground normally and walked properly

do you mean like they get dragged along??? If so, tempting but I'd worry what people would think! I'd have no problem doing that with my own children but i suppose i worry what other people would think (not knowing that i've tried everything else!).

Fingers crossed with the classroom thing.

Tbh, mindee was upset when they had to go in the pram. They said 'no pram, walk...walk, walk, walk' - I reminded them about yesterday and said how they didn't listen etc. and now they have to go in the pram. I'm hoping that they'll be that annoyed with it that when i go back to trying walking, they'll start behaving better

my stubborn then 2 year old used to freeze or refuse t walk.... he had reins on and would be dangled along.... it actually never took him very long to realise it was much more comfortable to put his feet down on the ground and walk.

i think that bringing all the children to the same classroom sounds like a great idea

I see what you're both saying and this was my arguement to them recently and they allowed the backpacks. Yes, I could go through the conversation again and say I insist on wrist straps BUT I DO have an alternative so it isn't an issue. I've got the triple back in the car, problem solved A wrist strap wouldn't help in the slightest with the problems I have with this child as if they don't want to do something/go somewhere, they just freeze or fall to the ground (sure you all know what I mean by a toddler doing this ) so no reins or straps sorts that out.

I think the classroom thing is definitely worth looking into, will ask teachers today. There is a LOVELY assistant in the classroom of my youngest (which happens to be the worst location) and I might ask if there is any way she could take that mindee to the room next door where the next youngest is and get ds1 to meet them there too. This way, I can keep the kids in the pram whilst I dash in - this wouldn't be an option for the other classroom.

Thanks for all your help

looney I have in my policies that reins ans wrist straps are you be used, if parents dont agree, I dont take the child.

We have a duty of care and taking several small mindees out near roads means that we need to use reins.

I would implemnt a new policy and get all parents to sign in, stating that it is a safety issue if need be.

i cant see how it isnt up to you really...

you have 4 very small children and need to be responsible for them all...

have 4 is very different to one or even 2 children (as im sure you know) and if you need to do it to keep them safe i cant see how you as the responsible adult cant overrule!

still not up to me though

I use wrist reins and I far prefer them to traditional reins or those back packs with a lead.

nannyL - I know BUT......it's not up to me is it!! I could actually understand the strap thing more than reins but could never understand the rein thing!!!! So....I told the parents that this child wouldn't be able to walk then, even though more than capable and could actually do with the exercise. The family are LOVELY, just one of those things they didn't want so what can you do. Obviously I could give notice if I wanted to but no point over just that

i dont get why you arnt allowed to use wrist straps?

who says?

and if the alternative is stubborn 2 year old having a strop getting run over OR wrist strap i know which i would choose!
(you can also attach wrist strap to reins (I have done this and its fine) and then they cant get off

NannyL - I've got the triple in the car now so that will help on most days. I'll give her the option to walk but can put her in the pram if needed. I always put my hands over the hands of the other ones BUT can't do this with these little ones as they can't reach that far up (and I can't push this sort of pram from the sides as too wide). Also, wrist strap not an option. I wasn't allowed to used reins but they finally allowed me to use these special harnesses I got (expensive!) - little monkey backpack with a bit that clicks on (I call them tails) and there is a loop on the end I put round my wrist. NO WAY will they allow a wrist strap!! Tbh though, I can deal with this situation being back with the triple, it's more the classroom problem.

Oh, and I do have a litaf seat to go but never used it. If a child is kicking off, does this actually work? As they don't have straps do they. Just interested as looking at different options right now. The only problem would be if I had the double with one of those seats and then both toddlers kicked off as the 11m and 16m have to be in the pram so only one could go in the seat thing (unless it would actually attach to the triple??? I doubt it would though )

Thanks again Off to group so be back later.

I take 3 under 3's into school most afternoons and have work out that if I get there 10 mins earlier then I can get through the school without the battle of pushing through everyone. Spoke to the teacher and DS is one of the first to go many times so I can get everyone out safely otherwise it's abattle as people/kids are rushing around and knocking mindee's over.

also i can hold childs hand onto buggy while pushing buggy (they dont like it very much).... so if they wont hold buggy, can u not hold there hand under your hand while pushing? perhaps if you do that for a minute they will choose to hold buggy nicely themselves

stickers for walking nicely / being good?

wrist links when walking... (put them on tight enough that they cant get them off)

tbh i always have a buggy seat avaliable for a 2 year old, so when they strop they can just be strapped in and life can carry on regardless...

Can't be bothered to change name back - it's ME

Thanks for all the comments, coolj - they do have harnesses on with straps that come off. The problem is, if they don't hold on to the buggy, they end up falling over sometimes (then I feel like saying 'well, you should have bloody held on then!! ). I do take the strap bit off when we get into school as tbh, if they are going to freeze, they'll freeze with or without them on and if I give them any free reign inside, we all just get tangled up as so hectic inside.

I'm loving the idea of picking up from one classroom!!! Will definitely ask about this . But yesterday's experience had nothing to do with different classrooms, all that happened in just the one and it was fine going to the other class as I just put the little monkey in the pram and kept her there for ds's classroom.

Will ask about classrooms. It just so happens so the youngest child's classroom is the worst location-wise!!

Right, time for school. At least I don't have any mindees with me for the run this morning (coming later today)

I like the idea of the teachers sending the kids to one class for you... makes sense!

I also have 4 lil ones. They know my rule... 'You don't hold onto the buggy when we are out walking, we all stop and go back to the house'. They listen. I have never even had to use reigns. I know a couple of the mums have with the kids I mind, but I have never.

Another one that the school send all my mindees out together, I pick up 4 from the same school, all different classes, older ones are all sent to youngest class, where I can be seen outside from the door.

They also do this for a Mum with two toddlers and 3 in school.