The "Witching" Hour!!! - Evansville,IN

We go through this too. Sometimes I can't cook dinner until my husband gets home and takes over the girls. We have a 1 and a 4 year old. I have found that classical music does help some.

J.
http://J..moms-sos.com

Hi J.! I have the same problem with my 2 year old. The tempo of the house completely changes at about 4:00. The only thing that has worked for me is a Disney Sing Along (or any interactive sing and dance)video. Jack will stand in front of the TV and clap, sing and dance, he LOVES it. This gives me time to get dinner started, dogs fed, house picked up and by the time the video is over, Daddy is home! It also gives my little guy and I a break from each other. Hope this works for you.

You may have already considered this, but I thought I would add it anyway:
Have you ever thought that they might be getting grumpy because they're feeling tired (naturally) and then they get hungry before dinner so they're getting low blood sugar? I would try feeding them a protein filled snack around 3:30 or 4 and see if that makes any difference at all! It couldn't hurt, and even if they are too full for dinner they at least got a healthy snack in them...

Is it possible they're hungry? My son gets cranky when he's hungry. I sometimes have to get him to eat a little snack and then he's better. He'll eat on his own or ask some of the time, but not all--especially if he's busy.

I struggle with this with my 19 month old son. He's extremely needy and unsettled between 4 and 6 PM every night. He'll graze on snacks if I let him and ruin his appetite for dinner. He's tired but it's too late for a nap. I need to cook dinner but he's always begging for attention. I've started trying different solutions to see what works. T.v and sugary snacks seem to make it worse.

I did discover that a high protein snack around 4 PM, like whole milk with 3 ritz and peanut butter cracker sandwiches, will help. He'll sit at the table, eat, and watch me cook or clean. It doesn't last long. We followed his snack time with a couple of books. I would suggest a small project at the kitchen table. We got out the crayons and paper and that worked for a while. As long as I'm nearby and talking to him he's reasonably content.

So my advice is give the kids some protein snacks at 4 PM and set up a structured activity at the kitchen table near where you're cooking. Some playpen time or highchair activity might work for the 16 mo old. Cook fast and keep the conversation going. Avoid turning on the t.v.

E.

well i was thinking do the little ones get a nap? if not i would try putting them down for one around 12:30 1:00 then maybe it wont be to close to bed time and they wount be so wound up at 4 hope this helps A.

naps naps, oh, did I say NAPS? Well, also to have their time STRUCTURED is also KEY in this situation. Another important thing that will ultimately keep order and tranquility in the home, besides being super fun for all of the kids, is helping out. It keeps them busy, gives them each something to feel good about, something to talk about, brag about and be praised for. I highly recommend giving them (the older 2) small chores, so they realize they are important members in the family. The little on can help the oldest one. And the oldest can help the younger 2 with toy pick up (or whatever). You can over see it all at first, and definaltely reward them.

Rewards that I have found to successful

**of course, that is if YOU and dad continue a system of rewards as positive reinforcement ....(with potty training or any other type of change you are trying to promote)

either with an allowance ( I will touch more on that in a minute), stickers, or a few gummy bears, or even points(especially for the oldest one)that add up to particular enjoyable outtings such as: McDonalds, an hour flying a kite, their choice for a meal, movies (or a choice in renting), their fav dessert, etc...

I think it is imperitive that you (and/or uour husband) have a sit down talk with the 8 year old discussing the chaos in the home. Explain that the 2 younger kids totally look up to them and if they don't make some changes NO ONE will be happy. And that the younger kids want to do everything the oldest does and act just like her, letting her know how important it is to set a good example in their behavior. Also, ESPECIALLY REWARD THE OLDEST CHILD, because she is your main link to sanity and a smooth happy home that is calm and orderly for EVERYONE...a place you all WANT to be. I believe the oldest will feel like a really "mature" and "big kid" knowing that you and dad REALLY need their help and are counting on them!!

I think they really enjoy helping prepare food too. Let each child help in one way or another with dinner....cracking an egg, or pouring in an ingredient, stirring, serving onto a plate, setting the table, etc...

But with the allowance idea (you can use it along with a different reward system), I tell my daughter that whatever she chooses to but into her saving account, that I will match it. So if she has earned 2 dollars, we deposit 4 dollars into her account. Obviously it teaches to save!! If they are not fond of saving, then you need to make a rule that X amount be deposited into the saving account, and some may be saved to purchase a big item that they want. I let my daughter use a dollar from time to time to buy herself a pack of gum at CVS...she thinks it is great!!

I hope my ideas will help make your chaotic home a wonderful happy home!!

Good luck and God Bless!

A.

Hey J.!

Yes this happens to us too! I have 2 little ones and its odd how fast it happens in the evenings. The kids get in total meltdown mode! I think it's because we tend to have so much going on at my house in the evening. Dinner is starting, I'm finishing up tidying the house, maybe doing laundry still, plus if you have school age children you are also trying to get homework done!

Then on top of all of this the kiddos are tired at this time even if they had a nap. Maybe give them a small healthy snack and an activity each to do. The older one can help with dinner and setting the table, the younger ones can be sat down somewhere with blocks and coloring pages.

This is the only thing that keeps me sane. And of course you have to tell them what you expect from them in the evening hustle bustle! This way they know how to behave accordingly.

Hope this helps!

Leigh Anne

My kids do this!!! I have an almost-2-year-old and almost-5-year-old. The 1 year old wakes up from her 2 hour nap around 3pm so I know she's well rested. Sometimes she naps for 3 hours. We eat dinner at 5:30ish and moving it earlier seemed to help a little. I give 'em a good snack around 3-3:30 and then nothing else until dinner - or they won't eat anything. Our bad time is usually 4:30-5:30.

A few things help.... when weather is nice, I put dinner in the oven (or crockpot in morning if I was thinking ahead)around 4:30ish and then we head outside to play for an hour. We come inside, set the table and eat and they do ok.

They don't watch TV or play video games during the day except for about 30 minutes in the morning. So, I often turn on the TV around 4:45 or so when I start to make dinner. It's the only way I can get dinner made! Or I let the 4 year old play the PS2 - sister is entertained watching him.

Another thing I just started was having them sit down at the kitchen table with playdoh or coloring books. My 4 year old loves doing those preschool/kindergarten level workbooks.

The best thing is the crockpot, though. I use it like 4-5 days a week because I can get it started in the morning and then not worry about it. I can spend that hour or so before dinner playing with the kids. They aren't bad if they have my undivided attention - something I can't do if I'm making dinner.

i would lay them down and read a book to them that mait help.kids loves to be read to.

Maybe from 3 to four you can have quite hour where you all sit down read books, watch a movie and relax... maybe even start it at 2:30. It just sounds to me that they are all just wore out and a designated quiet time never hurt anyone.

Do your children take naps? If not maybe you should make them take one around 3 before the crazyness begins. Or if they already take naps maybe you should switch it to two shorter naps. You could also try quite time as mentioned previously.

I have a question for you-this doesn't have anything to do with your question-sorry, but what do you do working from home? I work full time for the federal government so I wouldn't want to quit my day job but I would like something on the side to earn a little extra money for savings-any ideas?

ya know, i've always thought it was just because i was tryin to watch ophra and make dinner at the same time! lol
but those hours have always been challanging for me also, i have no advice, but i do no exactly what you mean.
good luck