Help I am so overwhelmed with my 3 and 6-year-old boys.

[Anonymous]

If the 6-year-old isn't running around in circles, he's watching tv. His little brother gets into EVERYTHING. It's sooooo hard to do activities with both of them because they are at different stages. I need to watch the 3-year-old like a hawk because otherwise, the house gets destroyed. I thought maybe it would be better to have them watch tv at separate times so I could do one on one while the other is watching a show. The only thing that works with the three year old is locking him up in his highchair. I utilize ymca childcare a few times a week. I work shift work, and I'm primarily the stay-at-home parent. My 6-year-old struggles to play with toys alone. He says he's "bored." I feel like such a failure sigh

[Anonymous]

I had large areas of my home designated as kid's playroom. We did not have a formal dining room or a formal living room, because that was my kids play area. I did not believe in my kids going to the basement, away from my eyes. The play area was set up like a daycare. We had a comfy couch, TV, snack area, painting and crafts area, dress up area, sleeping area, books, a place for physical playing, diaper changing area and eventually a small training potty too. And it had childproof gates. I spent most of my hours as a SAHM there.

I am sorry. If you are a SAHM with small kids, do not think that you are going to be able to do other chores like SAHMs with school going kids do. You have to pretty much operate as a childcare provider or nanny. And you have to be with the kids until your DH returns home. It is a fallacy to think that your kids will entertain themselves. They still need you to direct their play or instruction. You are in charge of also keeping them on a schedule.

It is very hard but these years go by very fast too. Remember that your kids are sponges. What you teach them now in terms of habits and routine, will endure.

[Anonymous]

Why isn’t the 6yo in school most of the day? Or is the a holiday vacation specific issue?

[Anonymous]

If this is a school break issue, start looking for a day camp for the 6 year old during spring break NOW. It's a long time to be off school with little structure.

Also, 3 year olds are super hard. This will be get better in the next year.

[Anonymous]

When possible, get the 3 year old outside and moving. He has lots of energy and you need to tire him out, outside your home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why isn’t the 6yo in school most of the day? Or is the a holiday vacation specific issue?

Op here. He's in school, but he's still here after school and on weekends. I have him enrolled in a Saturday drop-off activity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had large areas of my home designated as kid's playroom. We did not have a formal dining room or a formal living room, because that was my kids play area. I did not believe in my kids going to the basement, away from my eyes. The play area was set up like a daycare. We had a comfy couch, TV, snack area, painting and crafts area, dress up area, sleeping area, books, a place for physical playing, diaper changing area and eventually a small training potty too. And it had childproof gates. I spent most of my hours as a SAHM there.

I am sorry. If you are a SAHM with small kids, do not think that you are going to be able to do other chores like SAHMs with school going kids do. You have to pretty much operate as a childcare provider or nanny. And you have to be with the kids until your DH returns home. It is a fallacy to think that your kids will entertain themselves. They still need you to direct their play or instruction. You are in charge of also keeping them on a schedule.

It is very hard but these years go by very fast too. Remember that your kids are sponges. What you teach them now in terms of habits and routine, will endure.

This is exactly right! And believe me you will miss it when they are 18 and 29 and don’t want to play legos in the “legoroom” any more with you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had large areas of my home designated as kid's playroom. We did not have a formal dining room or a formal living room, because that was my kids play area. I did not believe in my kids going to the basement, away from my eyes. The play area was set up like a daycare. We had a comfy couch, TV, snack area, painting and crafts area, dress up area, sleeping area, books, a place for physical playing, diaper changing area and eventually a small training potty too. And it had childproof gates. I spent most of my hours as a SAHM there.

I am sorry. If you are a SAHM with small kids, do not think that you are going to be able to do other chores like SAHMs with school going kids do. You have to pretty much operate as a childcare provider or nanny. And you have to be with the kids until your DH returns home. It is a fallacy to think that your kids will entertain themselves. They still need you to direct their play or instruction. You are in charge of also keeping them on a schedule.

It is very hard but these years go by very fast too. Remember that your kids are sponges. What you teach them now in terms of habits and routine, will endure.

This is exactly right! And believe me you will miss it when they are 18 and 29 and don’t want to play legos in the “legoroom” any more with you!

I wish they would play with legos. This is op. The 6 year old gets frustrated because his little brother messes up his creations, and the 3 year old throws them everywhere. I get so dizzy from all of the running they do!

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry OP. I have boys with the same age separation (older now). Those years are just about survival. I definitely recommend using camp and childcare when you can. I used to take them to out of the house activities as much as possible.

[Anonymous]

Kids need to get moving. Take them for a walk or to the local rec center or the Chick Fil A play area or indoor swimming -- something, anything outside the house. My kids were four years apart at that age, and that's what I did. They are flying off the handle because they have energy to burn that you are not helping them expend. That is why they are running in circles. Get out of the house, take them somewhere for a few hours to burn it off. When my kids were spinning up, I would take them somewhere.

I would also get creative and have them play search and seek inside the house. I'm hiding this stuffed animal/figurine, etc. first one who finds it gets a cookie. Or we would make cookies.

Just do something with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids need to get moving. Take them for a walk or to the local rec center or the Chick Fil A play area or indoor swimming -- something, anything outside the house. My kids were four years apart at that age, and that's what I did. They are flying off the handle because they have energy to burn that you are not helping them expend. That is why they are running in circles. Get out of the house, take them somewhere for a few hours to burn it off. When my kids were spinning up, I would take them somewhere.

I would also get creative and have them play search and seek inside the house. I'm hiding this stuffed animal/figurine, etc. first one who finds it gets a cookie. Or we would make cookies.

Just do something with them.

Op here. I DO take them places. They are STILL like this. I can't take them somewhere every day after school. There has to be a balance between being at home and constantly on the go. On school days, I always take out the 3-year-old in the morning.

[Anonymous]

If the 6 year old wants to build a Lego project and the 3 year old thinks it’s fun to demolish it, separate them. Allow the 6 year old to build in his room. The older kid needs time away from the younger sibling.

[Anonymous]

I would go outside every afternoon regardless of weather. Interesting and wears them out. Just get the right clothing and everyone will be happy. Yard, park, nature walk, walk to do an errand,. Anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids need to get moving. Take them for a walk or to the local rec center or the Chick Fil A play area or indoor swimming -- something, anything outside the house. My kids were four years apart at that age, and that's what I did. They are flying off the handle because they have energy to burn that you are not helping them expend. That is why they are running in circles. Get out of the house, take them somewhere for a few hours to burn it off. When my kids were spinning up, I would take them somewhere.

I would also get creative and have them play search and seek inside the house. I'm hiding this stuffed animal/figurine, etc. first one who finds it gets a cookie. Or we would make cookies.

Just do something with them.

Op here. I DO take them places. They are STILL like this. I can't take them somewhere every day after school. There has to be a balance between being at home and constantly on the go. On school days, I always take out the 3-year-old in the morning.

Do you have a back yard they can run around?

[Anonymous]

I have 3 boys 15 months to 6 years in a 1100 square foot house.

The only thing that works is discipline and following through with it. There is no running in the house, no toys outside the basement and any rough housing is in the basement and fine with everyone. You break the rules you’re separated to the shared bunk room.

I can’t stand the chaos. I send them all outside - even in the rain or low temps like today.

You are letting them run all over you.