Keeping Kids Busy

There are some homesteading and household tasks young children should not help with.  This includes working with hot food or items, sharp knives, potentially harmful things (such as lye while soapmaking), etc.  Every mom must use her good sense when it comes to including children in all tasks!

So in the event that mom is busy and the children need to be kept occupied, there are plenty of things she can do!

• Table Activities: playing with home-made dough (or Play-Doh), puzzles, lacing, beading, drawing, coloring, matching, reading, looking, playing, etc.
• Bring out the activities that have a lot of parts (that are safe for all children within reach) that will keep kids occupied for a while.  For me this is our wooden train sets, wooden barn with animals, flannel board and our "Little People" playsets.
• If your children need to be watched while you're working, consider setting up an easel and a dry erase board, chalk board, or paper for coloring on.  You can also set up a flannelboard on an easel and have it in the kitchen with you so your children can still be a part of what is going on and can be watched.
• If your child is a baby and doesn't like to be put down to lay, consider using a sling to keep your baby on you.  My kids also LOVED to be in their highchair and watch what I'm doing.  Being on the floor alone is no fun and kind of lonely, but being in a high chair is a learning experience and they get to be kept close!

It may help to make a list of your children's favorite activities, and keep it on the fridge.  If your mind is going in 10 different directions come dinner time and you can't remember what your kids like to do quietly at the table, take a quick peak at your list.  If your kids are bouncing off the wall, sometimes they can be calmed down with a quiet sit down activity.