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A:
I can only imagine how exhausted you must feel guiding your five
children. The best strategies for behavior come from observing
a good preschool environment. Organizing your day into blocks
and providing regular routines for eating, sleeping, playing,
cleaning up, music, art projects, and so on, will help your children
to know what to expect. Try to arrange for rest and quiet for
the children at least once a day so you can use that quiet time
to recover your own strength. Also, consider how you can get occasional
help. Responsible, older neighborhood children may be happy to
come in and keep your children busy with play for an hour or two
after school. They may be able to take one or two for a walk,
to a nearby playground, or to the library for story hour.
You'll soon find yourself inventing creative
short cuts to help yourself through this overwhelming time. If
your children are close in age, you may actually find they'll
soon be good company for each other and will, therefore, keep
each other busy.
Dr. Sylvia Rimm, Phd
Copyright © 2000,
Creators Syndicate, Inc.
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