About a month ago, we had only a week or two left of our homeschool year. My kids were chomping at the bit to finish, and to be honest, so was I! We were all pretty burnt out, as most kids are, homeschooled or not, at the end of the school year!

One of the biggest challenges we faced this year was how to juggle the needs of my youngest two–aged 5, and 2, respectively. My preschooler (newly 5) is advanced academically, but he’s still a preschooler! He is a highly relational, extroverted, physical kid who seems to need almost constant interaction. I do brief “school” things with him each day, but he tends to get antsy when I need to do more rigorous schooling with my older two.

I have done quiet time since my oldest was three, so…for seven years! It has morphed over the years, depending on the ages of my kids, the temperament of my kids, and now, the homeschooling schedule of our family!

I have always used these simple, portable Bluetooth speakers, so that my kids could have some downtime, in a separate room, with an audiobook or calming music. I never wanted them to have devices with them in their rooms, so these speakers made that possible. However, even though my preschooler loved audiobooks, and loved constructing Magna Tile castles and Lego concoctions, he hated being away from me. Even if he could see me through the sunroom door windows, he still wouldn’t last long.

One day, it occurred to me: why not try some Bluetooth headphones for him? I wondered if their dual purpose would serve him well: for one, they would block out the sound of me doing school with my older two. Two, they would be playing his favorite stories, and maybe it would help him concentrate and be able to stay in “quiet time” a bit longer–if not the whole time.

I could not believe it. That first day, he was so excited about his new headphones, he listened to an audiobook for over two hours. I was excited, but I wondered if it was just the novelty. I had also bought him some special stickers to use, to decorate his headphones. He loved that simple task of taking ownership, decorating them the way he chose, and having a special gift all to himself.

It’s been several weeks now, and the trend is ongoing: he loves these headphones. I think he engages well with the story, and also, is able to block out more stimuli! I finished the school year with my older two with a bit more peace in the house, and all the while, my sweetie pie has been constructing up a storm, with his Legos.

It was a pleasant surprise in so many ways! Not only did it help us, it helped him, too. He has been able to complete longer “Lego” sessions and has constructed with more complex ideas. Instead of just making one little Lego guy, then bursting out of the room after four minutes to see what we were doing, he is staying in quiet time for much longer stretches, and focusing to complete Lego cities and fuller ideas. It’s truly amazing.

From a brief Lego session today, while listening to Ron Roy’s A to Z Mysteries. He said “look mom, I made a restaurant. Everyone is sitting down at their booths, to eat.”

I wonder if, this summer, and into fall as we begin our new year, he will want to come and still be next to us, sometimes. I think he will, and I honestly think it will go so much more smoothly, because of this simple tweak! He is a snuggler through and through, so even if he wants to come sit by me while I am working with his older siblings, he can–as long as he isn’t too disruptive. I honestly think having his special stories playing right into his ears, will do the trick. He can still sit beside us, and enjoy his audiobook, without disrupting the lesson.

How about you–have you ever stumbled upon an awesome hack, that was right in front of your nose?! Let me know!

Cait