How to get a 10 year old boy to settle down

September 1st, 2009
This is in response to a question about homeschooling with a 10 year old boy who goofs around a lot. The mom was at the end of her rope. She also had 5 and 3 year old girls at home:
If I may make a suggestion. Stop thinking of sending him to school as an option. If you do that you will never put in the thought and effort it will take to make homeschooling work. Honey, if he is having trouble at home with just two other kids…how will he do in a roomfull??? I AM NOT fussing at you. I have graduated four already- so have just walked that part of the path already! You can do this AND make it a wonderful time!
I have 7 boys. Boys ARE different to homeschool. A 10 year old needs a lot of time to move. Trust me. So break up the work with LOTS of movement time. Have him do math first. The maybe time doing something physical ( We use the Wii Fit and Wii sports a lot!) Then another lesson, then movement. Use a timer. It helps. Make it a fun race- not a yelling session of pushing to get work done.( Not that you do, but once upon a time I did that. Blush)
Make school more fun. Reading can be anything, does not have to be dry school books. Also does not have to be done sitting. Throw in some baking. That is reading and math and movement and fun all in one.
Stop thinking like a school teacher, and start thinking like the wonderful mom you are who is teaching the great kid you have in his special way that only you can know! ( How is that for a run-on sentence??)
Rain days are just made for baking and curling up together on the couch to read to each other while munching cookies. May your day end with smiles and joy! You are a wonderful homeschooling mom who can turn the day around! Before you know it he will be 6 ft tall! Enjoy these days. ( I have 5 taller than me already) Hugs, Barbara