March 20, 2024 – What to Do With the Active, Wiggly Ones

Hey, Mama!

Gena Suarez, Publisher of TOS

Embrace the Wiggles and Giggles and Chaos

Hey, Mama.

Navigating the homeschooling journey with a blend of eager learners and lively little ones can be akin to herding cats. Yes, those active, wiggly ones who seem to have endless energy just when you need them to simmer down. (Spoiler: They’re not going to.)

Fear not, for there are ways to channel that wild energy positively while involving the older siblings in the process.

First, embrace the chaos. Seriously. Childhood is a fleeting season where the freedom to wiggle, giggle, and explore should be celebrated. They’re most comfortable with family members around them, in their own home, their comfort zone. They can let their hair down. Remember, “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” (Psalm 127:3, KJV). This reminds us of the precious gift that children indeed are. And they’re entrusted to us by the Lord. He has a plan for each one, from the academic to the spirited.

One practical strategy is to create a “busy box” for the younger ones. Fill it with engaging, age-appropriate activities they can do independently or with minimal supervision. Think puzzles, coloring books, or simple crafts. This not only keeps them occupied, but also fosters a sense of independence.

Moreover, encourage your older children to take on the role of mentor or helper. They can read to their younger siblings, assist with simple crafts, or even lead a mini “gym class” to burn off some energy. It teaches patience, responsibility, and the value of serving others while strengthening their bond. It doesn’t seem they’ll ever have a bond at times. I know. But they will. Give it time.

Remember, Mama, patience is key. There will be days when the lesson plans go out the window, and that’s okay. These moments of teaching your children to live and learn together are invaluable. And in those times when you feel overwhelmed, remember, “He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5b, KJV). He’s not going anywhere. 

So, draw near to Him. Let your kids see that you’re pressing in ever closer; model that, Mama. The Lord goes with you on every step of this walk, through every season of wiggles and wonders.

As for you, my faithful friend, His hand is on your head. Always.

-gena

Welcome to Azure Standard! Fuel Your Family with an Abundance of Clean and Healthy Organic Foods.
AzureStandard.com

Todd Wilson

Familyman Ministries

Don’t Fight City Hall

I don’t know who coined the phrase, “You can’t fight city hall” (I’m sure Google would tell me), but the idea is that some things are too big to fight. That’s how I feel about active, wiggly children. Not that I haven’t tried to fight it. I’ve threatened, hollered, and threatened some more. Sometimes I get so frustrated and ugly that I make them . . . cry.

But here’s the truth: it’s better for them to be active, wiggly children than for me to make them cry. I know things need to get done, but wouldn’t it be a shame if we got all we needed to done yet lost the smiles . . . wiggles and “activity”? Have we been brainwashed so much so that we’ve forgotten the whole point of having our children at home?

Here’s the deal . . . not all children are active and wiggly, but the ones that are . . . don’t fight it or try to change them. They’ll become teenagers soon enough and their blood will thicken, their movements will slow, their giggles will be replaced by silence and brooding, and you’ll wish you had your little wiggle box back.

So, listen to all the other great advice offered by the other great authors here . . . but don’t fight city hall . . . instead cherish it.

Be real,
Todd

About the author

Todd Wilson is a husband, dad, grandpa, writer, homeschool conference speaker, and former pastor. Todd’s humor and down to earth realness have made him a favorite speaker all across the country and a guest on Focus on the Family. As founder of The Familyman and The Smiling Homeschooler, his passion and mission are to remind moms and dads of what’s most important through weekly emails, podcasts, seminars, and books that encourage parents. Todd, and his wife Debbie, homeschool four of their eight children (the other four are homeschool graduates) in northern Indiana and travel America in the Familyman Mobile. You can read more at www.familymanweb.com.

 Cedarville University is homeschool-friendly! We are committed to build on the excellent education and biblical foundation that you experienced in your home school. cedarville.edu

Heather Vogler

When Their Energy Level Is Sky High

Frustration can often lead us through the roof when we are not expecting the energy level of our children to keep on going, and going, and going with no end in sight. When you find yourself taken by surprise, step back and ask yourself the following questions:

• Did my child sleep well last night?
• Is my child sugared up?
• How much screen time has my child had today?
• Has my child been outside yet today?
• Do we have an exciting activity planned in the near future?

Children are affected by all of the above. As children grow, they are able to learn how to control themselves when hungry, wound up from sugar, overstimulated by devices, bored on a rainy day, or anticipating an upcoming trip. As parents, we have the wonderful opportunity to teach them how—which does in fact need to be taught. Pinpointing the reason for their extra high energy helps tremendously so we can teach them how to use their excitement for good instead of unruliness. Rather than addressing the high energy levels directly, if any of the above could be the cause of their behavior, address that first. If overtired, take a break from schoolwork and require an impromptu quiet time or nap. A child that struggles with sitting still for math after eating sugary cereal or even a high carb breakfast, might need a quick protein snack. For overstimulation, go outside for an hour or so.

The simple interruption of your normal schedule such as a zoo trip, a play date, or weekend trip could also throw your child off because they cannot stop thinking about it. Consider a light day of school in the morning if the trip is in the afternoon and fill it with coloring sheets of the zoo animals that you might see or create a veggie tray for the upcoming play date. Help your child focus on being productive while acknowledging that it is an unusually exciting day with fun activities planned.

About the author

Heather, her husband, and five kids homeschool and homestead in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. In addition to writing on her blog, Thrift Schooling (ThriftSchooling.com), Heather has been published in several magazines including Focus on the Family, War Cry, and Brio. Heather holds a BA in Christian ministries and currently works in the marketing department of The Old Schoolhouse®.

Pillar of Hope

Danika Cooley

Surviving Your Real-Life Kids

Homeschool mom, do you dream of a quiet school day with well-dressed children conscientiously completing grammar assignments? Do the students of your daydreams listen attentively while you read the Bible? Are they grateful for every activity you carefully plan to enrich their lives?

That was my dream, too. Faced with actual children, I had to come to make a few adjustments. After raising four active, wiggly kids, I have a few suggestions:

• Start the day with activity. Really. Let the kids ride bikes while you walk or dance it out to praise music in the kitchen before breakfast. Just make sure your kids get a good 30-60 minutes of movement prior to anything that requires sitting. It’s good for you, too!
• Schedule breaks into your day. We used to take a 30-minute mid-morning break with an hour recess at lunch. It was a good time for the kids to get moving. They also knew they would run around after the school day, too!
• Read-alouds are a good time to move little hands. Our kids built with K’NEX (which are quiet), colored history coloring books, or drew graphic novels during our read aloud times. Through their elementary and middle school years, their brains seemed to be more active when they were moving their fingers.
• Shorten those class times. Kids slowly build endurance that allows them to sit and listen, work on math problems, or write full sentences. If your children are struggling to sit still, shorten the time they are in their chairs.
• Plan for active learning. Let your kids experience success learning through experiments, artwork, and field trips. Our children learn in a variety of ways, so mix it up!

Sometimes, the problems we experience in our homeschools can be easily fixed by shifting our expectations—and moving our feet.

About the author

Danika Cooley is an award-winning children’s author who blogs about Bible books, crafts, activities, and snacks at Thinking Kids . Her books include Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible, Bible Investigators: Creation, and the Who What Why series, a line of Christian history for 7–11-year-olds. Grab your free three-week sample of her popular Bible Road Trip™ curriculum here.

How can your child play his way through exploring the world around him? The alphabet-based Sensory Learning for Toddlers lessons include book recommendations, crafts, hands-on activities, additional suggestions, and more to introduce your toddler or preschooler to foundational concepts.