Gasp! My Older Children Help Their Little Siblings

by Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger

08 Dec 2007 05:55 AM

I had no idea that this was a controversial subject in the homeschooling arena. We have survived on encouraging our children to work together. It has allowed me to homeschool all of the children at once. I have even (double gasp) had my oldest child read to my youngest child.

Against Working Together

In fairness, I shouldn't quite say that moms are against children working together. What I should say is that there is a section of the home schooling population that feels like it's unfair to the older children to have to always do things with the littler ones. They feel like that is time that could be spent on more demanding subjects. Finally, one mother even said that it was the mother's job to teach and not the child's.

To some extent, I have to agree. I don't lay all of the responsibility on teaching the twins for example, on my oldest daughter. It's not her job not to mention the fact the the attention that the twins seek is mine and not their older sister's. However, pairing my children up and having my older two children work with the little ones has been, in our home, a very positive experience.

Since my children are all only two years apart, it allows my oldest daughter to review concepts. It is a big confidence booster for her to see where she's been and how much she knows now as compared to two years ago. I think it's also good whenever kids can do something that involves other people and helping. It helps them break out of their own egocentricity. It also allows me to teach five children and meet all of their needs. I cannot after all, split myself up so we have to get creative.

As for those who would say that's selfish. . .I think it's better than sending them to public school!

So where do you stand? Do you let your older children help their younger siblings?

Related Articles:

Why I Don't Believe in Early Childhood Education

Tips for Teaching Multiple Ages: Printable Worksheets

Homeschooling Multi-Aged Children: Setting Up a Preschool Learning Area

Learn more about Valorie Delp

Hello everybody! My name is Valorie and I am one busy lady! When I'm not writing or editing for families, I am busy trying to get my brood of 5 in line.

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carol pitts (168) 12 Dec 2007 12:49 PM

I ask my 11 year old to help her little sister 6 read but it always ends in a fight. she wants to help with my son 7 on math and he tells her hes not stupid ill get it sooner or later. so I spend most of the day bouncing back and forth. when I leave one to help the other they sit there till i come back doing nothing. how do i fix this.

Valorie Delp (49340) 12 Dec 2007 06:32 PM

Well. . .I don't know if I can tell you how to fix this but I will say that in general, my kids are happy to help each other out. I'm not sure I would push it if they weren't. I do quite a bit of 'bouncing' as well.

I generally don't have them help with assignments specific to the curriculum though. I have one read to the other (the one who likes to read) and/or I have them work on something together so that everyone is occupied doing something educational. . .but it does mean that not everything comes straight out of what I planned.

HomeschoolDad (10) 28 Dec 2007 02:07 PM

I've found, through my career, that the best way to learn is to teach the material you want to learn. As a result, I'm building this into my homeschool curriculum.

Already, I'm having my 5-yo teach my 3-yo phonics. No, not by herself, I'm sitting there watching intently the whole time. But while I'm there to make sure my middle child isn't suffering from a lack of quality, my eldest is learning self-instruction, the quality of which I can't begin to match. She and I have talked about this, and we've agreed to work toward her teaching my youngest (currently 1-yo) how to read in about four years.

Valorie Delp (49340) 28 Dec 2007 02:16 PM

Wow. . .that's really young! But I agree. . .it's great to have older siblings help younger ones. It's also nice to see a dad so involved in the homeschooling instruction.