How do you home educate with younger siblings at home?

[HairyToe]

Just out of interest really. DD1 in Yr1, DD2 and DS at home. I'm happy with DD1's progress at school but have been trying to supplement it with some help at home and find it almost impossible for us to be able to concentrate on anything with the others demanding my attention, particularly 8 month old baby.

It got me thinking how do home educaters manage?

Sorry that should read educator. Maybe I need a bit more tuition myself first!

As soon as the baby is down for a nap - even if only a quarter of an hour - grab that chance to do something with your older one. If the time is spent one-on-one (or two), it is ultra-efficient. You can listen to older ones reading whilst you're breastfeeding, etc.

Having them able to observe everything that is involved in looking after a small baby is hugely 'educational' in itself - child-development,nutrition, altruistic caring... etc.

Conversation with an adult (parent, grandparent, aunts/uncles, shop-assistants) - about ANYTHING - is another under-rated 'learning tool'.

Home educators are able to be more flexible in what and how their children learn. If you're trying to cover specific things connected to their school curriculum, that's slightly different - but still possible. My 3 yo still has a two-hr nap most days...

I'm impressed - you must be mega organised and have bags of energy. I spend most of my days drowning in laundry, cooking, cleaning whilst simultaneously jiggling baby and trying to interact with any other Dc that seems to be around. Not to mention collapsing on sofa with cup of tea in hand occasionally!

Unfortunately my 3 year old doesn't nap any more!

Do you follow the National Curriculum? Are there guidelines you can follow? Or is it much free-er than that? To be honest I'm just asking out of interest, I'm happy with the DCs at school, just curious (but not critical omn any way - more in awe!)

It's much free-er than that, HairyToe, particularly if you are a family that feels that autonomous, or natural, learning is the most efficient. We just go with the flow in our house, and learning happens as and when and from things you don't expect

Education and learning CAN look like workbooks if you have a child who needs more structure, but it might take a bit of experimentation to find out what suits your child.

In our case early morning is for the little ones, (2 and 4) reading, playing games, talking, drawing and (currently) experimenting with magnets.

The older ones (12 and 10) surface about 9 when the younger 2 are prepared to play together, having had enough of me for a bit. I can then support any project DC2 has going and point DC1 in the direction of his textbooks.

There are still moments though when I'm cooking lunch, supervising the wiring of a plug and discussing HIV whilst the 2yr old clings to my leg. But it makes for an interesting life!

Housework happens on the hoof, the big ones do their own laundry, loo gets a wipe with an antibacterial thing while I'm cleaning my teeth... that kind of thing.