Summer is here...are you pulling your hair out yet? Do as the schools do and set-up a 9-12 schedule

Okay, it's summer, my house is a reck 'cause I have four or more kids playing here everyday. Today I found my 10 year old's saddle in my bathroom! Smiling. Me,"Olivia, why is your saddle blocking the bathtub?" Olivia, "We're playing barn, Mom."

So this is my plan, 9am-12pm any kid in my house under age 6 is on a schedule. LOL. No really, if you have little one's consider setting up a schedule of events. Write it up on a marker board. Let the children help with the planning. I call it MY VERY OWN SCHOOL. For the older kids (the one's smarter than you or me) tell them they can lead an activity.

Here are the components, the timing is up to you.

Circle or group time: Children sit together and the coach initiates a conversation about topics such as the weather, the calendar, the seasons, a field trip, or an upcoming holiday. Sometimes she leads a discussion about a special theme or group project. The children learn concepts of time and space and gain new vocabulary words.

Free choice: Children choose from a variety of different activities available in the classroom: block building, puzzles, dress-up, water or sand play, drawing, or painting. They initiate their own play, either alone or with other children. They learn how to work independently, take turns, share, and play cooperatively with others.

Group activity: During this time, children may learn a song or dance. They may participate in making up a story, preparing a meal, planning a village, or working on a science or art project. They practice new skills, develop fine motor control, learn how to communicate their ideas and needs effectively, and how to work together as a team.

Snack: As they eat, preschoolers learn social and practical skills: how to set the table, to pass the juice and crackers, to carry on a conversation.

Outdoor play: Climbing, running, jumping, bouncing balls, and crawling through tunnels helps children develop large muscle control, motor coordination, and balance.

Clean-up: As they clear the table or put away the blocks, children learn how to plan, organize, and work with others.

Story time: Children gather together in a comfortable corner of the room to listen as the coach tells a story or reads from a book. They look at the illustrations and discuss them. The teacher asks questions about the story, helping children to learn to predict what will happen next. She encourages them to think about the characters and plot and to use new vocabulary from the story.

I just want to announce, we're getting a sitter and seeing a movie tonight. Tomorrow, we're back on a schedule.

PS I really do have an entire program written for 3-6 yr olds I can send it to you just email me at thefamilycoachmethodATgmail.com. It's FREE 'cause we're all tryin' to keep our sanity.