Keeping Her Hands Busy

First she finished a craft she had begun at kids' church.  Then, since she enjoyed it, she made another of the same craft.  Then she pulled a pile of My Little Ponies out of her backpack.  She began to set them up on the coffee table, as if placing them in a house that only she could see. She did all of this in two chapters of The Little Princess.

My older daughter used to create whole worlds under this same coffee table with dollhouse furniture, Littlest Pet Shop toys, and odds and ends.  Some children build with Legos. Some color. 

I began homeschooling with a sweet image in my head of my children sitting near me or on my lap as I read to them.  Within a short time, that image faded.  My children needed to be busy.

According to http://blog.allaboutlearningpress.com/reading-aloud-to-kids-who-cant-sit-still/, "some children need to be actively doing something with their hands in order to concentrate."

I realized, with shock, that I fall into this category.  I can read for hours, but when I am sitting to watch a movie or television show, I must keep busy or I get bored. I always have a crossword or am playing a cellphone game while watching tv.  

I don't miss much either.  Neither do my children.  They can answer questions about the reading, but usually they are asking about a part of the story themselves or chiming in with what they think will happen.  

I have learned not to attempt to make my child sit still during read aloud time.  Obviously, I won't let her be disruptive or wander away.  She must play quietly and be attentive to the story. 

The benefits of reading aloud are many.  That image of a mom and child snuggled together for read aloud time is a strong image, until I tried it with my child.  She bounces too much for me to hold the book steady.  It actually can make me queasy and annoyed. Every little thing distracts her and she is suddenly not paying attention to the story.  

I think we will stick to the system we have since it works so well.