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I had my twin nieces over today. Their parents were off for a night away for their anniversary, and the grand plan was I would watch them today, then drop them off at their Nana's to spend the night. A sort of childcare relay. (their brother is off at his Dad's for the duration.)
They showed up (my kids were playing in the front garden) and within seconds the volume among all four went WAY UP. It wasn't ire or anything. It was just, "OMG COUSINS I HAVE NOT SEEN YOU SINCE....TUESDAY."
Much of the day all four played pretty well. (much of it was spent outside.) They worked through most upsets. Mostly I had to calm people when they got hurt. On occasion one of the four would be overwhelmed by too many people, and I would take that child inside and say, "hey would you like to play with this?" And they would sit down to do a little quiet play. At one point all four were playing with things on their own. Then they naturally came back to play with one another. I realize with a crowd of children, your job as the adult is to remind them to communicate each other. Someone would say/do something and one of them would to me and say, "so and so did/said such and such." and I would say, "did you tell them? Did you tell them how it made you feel?" They would go and do that, and I might guide the conversation a bit. "Hey, they didn't like that, you might need to stop that." or "Did you ask them if you could have a turn with it when they are done?" The energy would soon calm down. I was impressed when Senor Onion solved one on-going issue with the tricycle. We have a number of toys to ride on, and yet the tricycle was the coveted item. He drew up a rota, and then timed things so that all who wished to ride, would get their turn for ten minutes each. It kept everyone happy. He would give three minute warnings before the time would be up, so it wouldn't be a nasty surprised. It kept everyone going for a good hour. It is a riot to listen to their conversations. I think Miss Biscuit is extra fond of her cousin G. She declares, "I love you G." And G declares the same to her, and they sat and watched Octonauts with their arms around each other. G and E have these conversations that I suspect will go on and be the same when they are little old ladies. As I drove them to their Nana's, one said, "I am a bit sleepy. I might take a nap." I pointed out that we were less than five minutes away, so it wouldn't be much of a nap." She said, "oh, it will be a short nap then." Her sister leaned over and said, "I'll wake you when we arrive."
We made brownies, had a picnic, did some painting, and had sausages and chips for dinner.
I am still wiped after a day with all four.
They showed up (my kids were playing in the front garden) and within seconds the volume among all four went WAY UP. It wasn't ire or anything. It was just, "OMG COUSINS I HAVE NOT SEEN YOU SINCE....TUESDAY."
Much of the day all four played pretty well. (much of it was spent outside.) They worked through most upsets. Mostly I had to calm people when they got hurt. On occasion one of the four would be overwhelmed by too many people, and I would take that child inside and say, "hey would you like to play with this?" And they would sit down to do a little quiet play. At one point all four were playing with things on their own. Then they naturally came back to play with one another. I realize with a crowd of children, your job as the adult is to remind them to communicate each other. Someone would say/do something and one of them would to me and say, "so and so did/said such and such." and I would say, "did you tell them? Did you tell them how it made you feel?" They would go and do that, and I might guide the conversation a bit. "Hey, they didn't like that, you might need to stop that." or "Did you ask them if you could have a turn with it when they are done?" The energy would soon calm down. I was impressed when Senor Onion solved one on-going issue with the tricycle. We have a number of toys to ride on, and yet the tricycle was the coveted item. He drew up a rota, and then timed things so that all who wished to ride, would get their turn for ten minutes each. It kept everyone happy. He would give three minute warnings before the time would be up, so it wouldn't be a nasty surprised. It kept everyone going for a good hour. It is a riot to listen to their conversations. I think Miss Biscuit is extra fond of her cousin G. She declares, "I love you G." And G declares the same to her, and they sat and watched Octonauts with their arms around each other. G and E have these conversations that I suspect will go on and be the same when they are little old ladies. As I drove them to their Nana's, one said, "I am a bit sleepy. I might take a nap." I pointed out that we were less than five minutes away, so it wouldn't be much of a nap." She said, "oh, it will be a short nap then." Her sister leaned over and said, "I'll wake you when we arrive."
We made brownies, had a picnic, did some painting, and had sausages and chips for dinner.
I am still wiped after a day with all four.
