Is anyone but me laughing at the title of this post?

Let me say right off the bat that my littles are not always quiet, I don’t always know what I’m doing and sometimes they refuse to be occupied by anything worthwhile during school time. That’s the bold and honest truth. I don’t have to like it, but free-will exists in my home and, I’m sure, yours as well.

Though our family and our school time are far from perfect, I have learned some things over the last few years that have proved important and effective in keeping a sane and (relatively) quiet environment for work to be done. Mine is a family of six. We have four children ages 8, 6, 3, and just-about-2, with the six-year-old being the only girl. It’s busy in our home and usually I like it that way. There are certain times during each day, however, when it is necessary to able to focus on a task or assignment with my older children. Being able to play quietly is a skill that even the youngest can learn, even if they don’t always practice it.

My 3- and 2-year-olds enjoy attention. It is in their nature to want to be at the center of everything. How do we as homeschooling moms deal with our time and attention always being fractured? We can’t be in more than one place at any given time and yet the needs of young ones do not go away; they just are expressed more loudly until met!

Here are some tips to being able to better juggle the little ones underfoot with the work that needs to be done:

Judge moods in the morning. If your family is like ours, one crankpot can ruin an entire day. And often it seems as though everyone is “off” on the same day! My expectations need to match up with reality on the days that one or another of the children does not have a handle on their negative feelings. These are days I postpone the beginning of school and play one-on-one with the crabby child and give them a little extra TLC.

Speaking of expectations, make sure they are appropriate for the stage of life you are in. I have a tendency to be a perfectionist. This attitude spills over onto my expectations of my children, our homeschool, the state of the house, and my husband, and can often create tension. Adjust your homeschool schedule accordingly- use naps to your advantage, make a weekly trip to the library part of your routine and bring some independent work for your older children, plan a twice-monthly catch-up day for chores, errands, and schoolwork to get back on track. And sometimes, Baby Einstein can be your friend!

Ignore age-appropriate toy labels. One of the most helpful things I ever did was bringing out older-kid toys for my toddlers. These are the things we always tell them they can’t play with, yet they want to play with them and can really learn from them. I have gotten great mileage out of manipulatives such as cuisinaire rods and tangrams, as well as games of Mancala, Uno Attack and others that I might never have thought to give my first child when he was 18 months old. A one-year-old in a highchair could very well be occupied (and quiet!) with the game of Perfection for 45 minutes while you work on math at the kitchen table. And think of the shapes he’ll learn! It is important to note that you must always be monitoring this type of play. My daughter enjoyed putting things in her mouth long after she turned 4, so these toys were off-limits for her. Our two younger boys hardly ever chomped on small pieces even at one year old. Know your children and use that knowledge to decide what’s best for them.

Be creative with everyday objects. One of the times my 18 month old was most content just playing quietly was when I gave him a small plastic bowl full of pompoms and the cardboard from a toilet paper roll. Egg cartons and buttons, measuring cups and a big bowl of water, a silverware bin and a bunch of spoons- many everyday household or craft items are a great learning opportunity and help toddlers hone their concentration and fine-motors skills. We are a big believer in the Montessori philosophy of allowing children to experiment with real objects, reduced in size if possible. The website For Small Hands is a great resource for child-sized items and Montessori materials for your home.

Finally, and most importantly, flexibility is your friend. There have been many times I have moved our work to the floor nearby a toddler who’s frustrated by a puzzle so I can help. Our older ones will often, when asked, play for a half hour with one or the other of the littles so I can be focused on a lesson with whomever needs me. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your school day is chuck the plans, heat up the fireplace, spread out a blanket, get a big bowl of popcorn and declare a “Reading Day” for all. Snuggle down with everyone, big and little, and make memories.

Our homeschool has changed and grown as our family has, more from pure necessity than from my own genius! Someday there will be a time when no one’s bottom will need to be wiped, food will need to be diced, or shoes will need to be tied. That will be a new season, in some ways easier, but I’m sure I will look back and miss the days of little ones underfoot. We must always remember that we are not just fitting the littles into our homeschool, but fitting the schooling into our family.

Christine is a homeschooling mom of four, three boys and a girl ranging in age from infant to 7 years. A musician by trade, she desires to help other homeschoolers find the beauty and simplicity in teaching the arts to their children. Visit her blog at Fruit in Season.