How much time can you give each child individually

[timetosmile]

...if you have a larger family?

DH works quite late, which leaves me with the modest total of 3 children in the evenings, 4-11years.

I struggle to carve out the time I think the older two deserve to listen to them read/ be on hand to help with maths homework/ listen to who-fell-out-with-whom-and-then-the-teacher-said... etc

I reckon I am quite good at the half-listening, cooking dinner, finding the spare toilet roll kind of multitasking, but I also think they deserve a bit of 1:1 too.

They're good kids, entertain themselves and each other pretty well, and are not 'demanding' but I hate the folorn look they sometimes have when I say "When I have finished x,y,z.."

How do you manage it?

bump? anyone around having got the DCs to school?

I have 4 dcs (aged 2 up to 8) and I don't feel I have enough time or energy for them. But I do get one to one time with each of them daily, by the bedtime routine.

It's a killer, but it goes like this:

7:00-7:15 ds
7:15-7:30 dd2
7:30-7:45 dd3
7:45-8:00 dd1

It gives them a chance to talk without the others listening in and feel they've got me all to themselves.

They entertain themselves so well most of the time that if they do ask for me, I try to prioritise them and stop what I'm doing. (Helps that they have school meals, so there's never any cooking to be done in the afternoon/evening!)

But, as I say, I feel I don't have as much time for each of them as I would like. I suppose it helps to have a dh/dp on the scene sharing the attention-giving, but that's not always possible!

5 here, the eldest is 12, then they are 9, 7, almost 4 and 15mths.

it IS hard i try and give them time each at bedtime and i mulit task so cooking etc nad talking, supervising homework etc. i think just 10mins each at bedtimes is good, my little two get more of my time during the day as they are at home with me and dd (the baby) has a nap every afternoon so ds4 has that time :) we let the elder two stay up a bit later as well.

it is a juggling act, my dp works 3 or 4 evenings a week, sometimes more, sometimes less and i just get on with it as i have to.

i also get them to help, they will play with entertain dd whilst i do stuff, or ds1 will watch her whilst i put ds3 and ds4 to bed etc, they also help laying the table, clearing away, tidying toys, all this means i have more time to deal with them.

its not perfect and its not always easy but we muddle along and they seem happy enough! :)

I have 5dc. 12 week twins, 14month old, 6 year old, 9 year old.

I feel constantly guilty about time with them, my eldest is always slipping at school ( always has) just very much down to lack of interest in school work!!

But I find sitting eating dinner round the table perfect time to catch up on what has happend in the day. Also when 3 little ones go to bed I do the home work and reading with them.

The little ones get my full attention through out the day.