We're loving homesteading and it is a wonderful way to raise our children. Eli is out petting the chickens as we speak. But it is so hard to get stuff done! Anyone out there have strategies for entertaining the little ones in a safe, contained way (Eli would be in the pond across the road in 30 seconds if I looked away) while you work in the garden? My guys are 5 1/2 mos and 2 years, and it is a bit early for the kiddie pool. Simon doesn't last too long in the playpen yet, and Eli won't tolerate it. Suggestions?

-- Sharon in NY (astyk@brandeis.edu), May 06, 2002

Answers

I bought one of those plastic baby swings at Wal-Mart...I hung it from a big oak tree.My 2 yr old loves it. Also,he loves to sit on the tractor or 4-wheeler.This keeps him occupied for 20-30 minutes each time he goes outside.And DIRT!!! Just watch for ants,so the little ones don't get bit.

Other than those,I do my outside work during the baby's nap.

-- Johna (in central TX) (marcnjohna@aol.com), May 06, 2002.

My Amish friend had a garden wagon for the children..that's the only time they were 'allowed" to sit in it, so it kept it special for them..just a simple wooden box wagon, she kept full of pails and shovels and floppy hats, etc...the two kids would sit happily playing with pails of water and/or dirt pulled along ow to row by mother, while she hoed the garden...she would give them an occasional garden "treat" in their pails such as "look at this pretty snail"..thay would all examine it, and learn about it and then gently put it back.....I loved to visit with her when she and the children were in their garden..it was such a cool idea..her kids were two and 8 months old.the only problem that she had, was the 8 month old wanted to eat the dirt..LOL....we solved that by putting baby crackers in HIS pail....

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), May 06, 2002.

I usually do my outside work during my daughter's nap, which lasts about 2.5 - 3 hours in the early afternoon.

Yesterday, my mother-in-law came over for a few hours & watched my daughter while I rototilled the garden, etc. That was a great help!

It is a challenge, isn't it!! ;)

-- heather (h.m.metheny@att.net), May 06, 2002.

When my children were little I had a "garden playpen". It was an old junker that I just left there. When I knew I wanted to be in the garden, I put things in it that I knew would attract them and they ASKED to get in and play :>)

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), May 06, 2002.

Ohh, I'm going to stay tune to this bat channel . . . I have a 3 year old boy and a 6 week old daughter; the only way my wife and I get things done at home is one of us on guard duty, the other working hard enough for two. I need some suggestions also; thank you Sharon in NY for asking this question.

-- j.r. guerra in s. tx. (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), May 06, 2002.

How about putting in a sandbox next to the garden for them to play in and you can supervise? Cover it or you'll have cat scat to deal with...

Do you know a little girl--she could be just 9 or so who can play with them (near you next to your garden) while you are working? That way you don't have to physically be right next to them, but can hear and see them at all times. I'd pay that girl in coupons for a sundae or a free video or bowling every once in a while as payment.

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), May 06, 2002.

No easy answers. We were building our house when our kids were little, even newborns. We used lots of things to distract them like playpens, scraps of wood, food (!) like a little picnic, toys that they only played with there. But you still had to watch them constantly... It just is not easy. We did have a neighbor girl who was several years older and would come and play sometimes which helps a good bit...

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), May 06, 2002.

Mom used to tie my shoe laces together.

-- Cabin Fever (cabinfever_MN@yahoo.com), May 06, 2002.

I finially fenced in the yard by the garden and close enough to everything else to watch at all times. It was worth it!!! I also found one of those exersaucers at a yard sale and bring it out for the little one! It has toys all around and across it. He loves it!

-- Micheale from SE Kansas (mbfrye@totelcsi.net), May 06, 2002.

I had a sandbox under a nearby shade tree, and I also had some plastic garden "tools" for my kindergartener when he was 2 1/2 - 3 (first year we were here). I gave him a little area of his own to hoe, planted a few radishes and flowers there, and he loved it - then I just had to make sure he knew what was weed and what was not!

Now, he's nearly six and telling my 3 year old "No, don't hoe that, Nick, it's a potato. Look, this is a weed." He's very protective of my potatoes, and the onions I told him we planted for us and Uncle David!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), May 06, 2002.

Thanks for all the great ideas - we'll definitely have to consider them all, especially tying the shoelaces together ;-). It helps to know that other people feel like working around the kids is tough, too!

Nana is coming on Thursday for three days, so I suspect hat Eric and I will be working full-speed ahead while she's here!

-- Sharon in NY (astyk@brandeis.edu), May 07, 2002.

Cab!!!! Tell me you're joking!!!

-- Tracy (trimmer31@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.

Cab. shoes? you can sure tell who came from aflunt families. but at least i didnt get tied togeather. lol Bob se,ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@kans.com), May 07, 2002.