Tuesday, June 1, 2010

What Do You Do When You Want One Boy Distracted and the Other One Undistracted?

We've now read Prince Caspian (by C.S. Lewis) and Catwings, by Ursula K. LeGuin, to Xander. His chapter book list to date is: [updated 7/11/10]

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Sir Reddy and Sir Pants
Dragons
Prince Caspian
Catwings
Catwings Return
Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings
Jane On Her Own
The Water Horse
T. Rex Attacks!
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Silver Chair
Volcanoes! : Mountains of Fire
Magic Tree House #37: Dragon of the Red Dawn

I think I'm missing a few. We are almost done with Catwings Return.

I thought it would be amusing to list the "art projects" I've tried with Nick which are supposed to keep him busy while I do half an hour of learning activities with Xander. Here's that list:

-taped paper to his booster seat tray and gave him a nontoxic washable crayon and showed him how to make dots on the page

Results: He scribbled a few lines, threw the crayon on the floor, and cried.

-put him on a towel on the kitchen floor with two bowls, a measuring cup, a baby spoon, and a tablespoon; one of the bowls was partially filled with water

Results: He played happily, leaving behind no mess...for five minutes.

-put rolled-up pieces of masking tape on his booster seat tray along with various shapes of construction paper and foam letters so he could stick objects on the tape

Results: the tape didn't stick to the tray, but it did stick to Nick's hand, making him mad. He continued to sit in the seat for about five minutes playing with a couple of other toys.

Things that have worked to distract him while I'm doing learning activities with Xander:

1. holding him for a few minutes while reading a book to Xander and having Xander turn the pages for me

2. letting him play with some of Xander's toys while we're all in Xander's room

3. letting him take the letters and index cards off Xander's learning board

4. that's about it - although I should call those activities above which resulted in five minutes' worth of play wildly "successful"

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