This year both of my daughters will be in elementary school which means it will just be my 3 year old little Buddie boy Home with My Last Stay at Home Kid.
I thought this would be a time for celebration and excitement.
Instead of 3 children under 5 at home I will only have 1.
Unfortunately I am coming to realize this joyous feeling is only being experienced by me.
As the time for that first day of school gets closer my little 3 year old Buddie is getting more and more anxious.
What will he do?
Why can’t he go?
How long will they be gone?
Why is he going to be home alone?
I never even considered how not having anyone home with him would actually impact him emotionally.
When my oldest daughter started Kindergarten my youngest daughter already had Buddie home with her so I never had to experience a sibling not understanding where everyone would be all day or why they were being left behind.
Now that it is happening I am discovering that being home alone is not necessarily something he is looking forward to.
So I have a plan…kinda…well it’s in the works.
I have to keep him as busy and occupied as possible at least until the girls come home for school.
So that is about 6 hours of 3 year old activity.
This is going to be new.
It has been nearly 7 years since I have had only one stay at home kid.
Trust me entertaining one kid can be a lot more difficult than allowing 2 or 3 to entertain each other!
This means that my leisurely day of coffee, reading and blogging may not happen as I first saw it.
Instead I will have a day of library adventures, playground obstacles and Disney movie overload.
Am I ready for this?
I’m not sure but I do know that being a stay at home mom has just been taken to a level I didn’t miss that much.
Table of Contents
My “Home with My Last Stay at Home Kid” – Plan
Free Library Events
most local libraries offer free events such as storytime, crafts or even movies.
This allows your child to not only have time outside the home but to interact with children their age as well.
Playground Fun
letting off a bit of that extra energy in some outside play is always a great plan.
This will also help you child in developing their physical play skills a bit more than staying indoors.
Book Time
Even though library storytime is amazing I still love to have “book time” at home because it gives my child the chance to use their imagination a bit more than in a group.
This is also a great bonding time for us together one on one.
Movie Time
This can take place in or out of the home.
I always pick movies that have some type of lesson.
Disney movies are great because they are exciting and fun but usually have a moral to be learned as well.
I ask my child at the end to tell me what the movie was about.
This helps with comprehension and expression.
Crafts
Take out those glue sticks, crayons, construction paper and scissors!
Getting your children to use their hands as well as their imagination is actually great prep for writing and art once school begins.
PreSchool/Kindergarten Prep
Starting to teach your toddler the basics for a great school foundation including letters, colors, numbers and sound recognition.
I do this through play most times and it doesn’t even feel like learning.
That’s right. I plan on keeping this little guy so active he barely notices that his sisters aren’t home.
As far as I’m concerned he has officially started his Kindergarten prep and it’s just him and me… home alone together.
How did you handle that last child heading off to school?
Did you have a Home with My Last Stay at Home Kid experience?
What did you do to pass the time before their sibling returned home?
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I have my oldest going to school for the first time in a couple weeks. I’ll still have a 3 year old and a 10 month old at home. But, my 3 year old is just like your son. She wants to go to school, she is always asking when she’ll be 5 and can go to school.
We’ll be heading to the library once a week for story time too, as well as crafts and such. It’s going to be a big change for our littles.
It really is, Ashley. Today was our first day with the Girlies gone and him home with me. I must admit he did better than I anticipated but after about 2 hours he was ready to go get his sisters…LOL I know he will be fine and I am sure you’re little one will too – with time 🙂 Thanks so much for coming by!
We homeschool so we won’t have quite the same issue but I remember my younger sister being upset when I went to school. She wanted to go with me so badly! My mom kept her busy on the farm, with friends, and doing church things. But mostly she was happy when my brother and I came home from school. I think it’s great that your little man loves his sisters so much and enjoys being around them 🙂
Kudos to you! I admire all families who make that commitment. I honestly didn’t think he would have as big a reaction as he is. He did really good today but asked often when he could go ‘pick them up’. It’s the days we aren’t as busy that seem to get to him the most. I love that he loves them so even thought it only seems to be when they aren’t around…lol 😉
It will take some time for both of you to adjust, but looks like you’ve got it all under control with all of the planned activities. I remember when I just had one left at home and all the others were at school. It was a lot less work! 🙂
You’re right Alli. My plan is working so far but instead of less work it definitely feels like more. It’s like he thinks I’M his entertainment now…LOL Oh well…might as well enjoy it 😀
Your plans sound great. I am such a big fan of library programs for children, and am so happy to see them included on your list.
Thanks Trish! I figure if I have a plan I stand a chance…LOL Our library is awesome and offers a lot of great activites, story times and programs so we should be able to stay busy – at least until pick up time 😀
My son does therapy two days a week at home and will hopefully soon be starting preschool. So, he’s not feeling very left out at the moment. There was a moment after we dropped my daughter off at school that he was a bit sad, but that moment quickly passed and it was back to business as usual.
I’m hoping the your little man will enjoy all the lovely activities that you have planned for him. He’ll definitely make some new friends at the playground and library events!
Good for him! Isn’t it great when they bounce back quickly? My son has his moments now…he can go a few hours and be fine but then all of a sudden he will want to go get the NOW…LOL We are getting better at making it through the day though. Keeping him busy is definitely helping. Yes, new friends are always a plus 😀
I think you guys will be OK you look like you’ve got lots of activities planned! He should be too busy to miss his siblings and making new friends! I would think of this time as special since it’s just the two of you. Enjoy it!
Thanks LaShawn! That is definitely my plan: keep him too busy to even notice they’re gone..LOL It is special because I’m gettingt o know who is is away from them which is a really cool little dude 😀
I only have two, but the first one just started school (homeschool, but by my sister so he’s out of the house.) I do some preschool activities with the 3-year-old and her cousins; for me the trick is letting each one know how special their own activity is without making the other one complain about not doing it, lo!