In our house, we are finished with school well before lunch (we are doing 1st and pre-K). For the rest of the day, my kids just follow me around the house "bored." I do spend some playing with them, but I have other things to do too. We have an entire playroom for them, but their afternoons consist of following me around the house saying "play with me." It is driving me CRAZY today!
I made an ideas list for mine. Things they can do when not doing school. I took it from the Charlotte Mason philosophy that kids should have lots of hobbies, and not just do silly things with their play time. Now, mine still follow me around sometimes (DD is on my lap while I type!), but I can send them to their list. Things like: nature journal play ball outside rake leaves learn new spanish words (the older two have a work book they can do) play playdoh cut paper and glue in book (DD has a book for cutting and gluing) learn a new song in piano ask me for a "lego challenge" bake with mommy (for DD) Earn money doing chores (they can ask for something to earn money - so far no takers yet!) If they won't pick something, I will, and likely it will be raking leaves or cleaning the living room! So usually, if I tell them to, they will choose something. If they are really "bored", I stop and think, has this child had much 'face time' with me today. Then I'll stop what I'm doing and read with that child or pick something on my list that they can help with. Oh, and the list is a chart with the words on the left and a picture from clipart or google images on the right. Then, even the little ones can choose for themselves. Each child has their own list, and there are somethings they can only choose once a day, or that I may say they have to wait to do (like baking with me). Hope that gives you some ideas!
Mine are 4 years old and nearly 1 and yes they follow me around all day (and the baby crawls after me fast!) Because they are still so little I try to be in the same room as them all the time although I do occassionally send the 4 year old out to play in the garden at times. And then I try to give them a specific toy to play with if the following is driving me crazy but my eldest really likes me to play with her too. I usually tell her I can give her a set amount of time and then I must do something else and with consistency this has started to work.
This site has a great resource for getting your kids helping you with house hold chores. They have a flip book, with pictures and instructions for kids to help you clean the kitchen, bathroom, living room and bedroom. I just got a set from a friend and I love it. Even DD helps! It really is a good way for me to put them to work while I'm doing things. DD feels like it's us working together and to her it counts as mommy spending time with her. Also, my kitchen has never looked better!
