Helpful Ideas for Coping with Multiple Small Children

This is a question I received about handling small children, with my advice following. Maybe this will give you some good ideas, too!

Question:

“Hi, Jessica, I wondered if you had any advice on coping with lots of children. I’m finding three hard even with [some extra] help. And the oldest is quite mobile now. Thanks.”

Answer:

“I would say that we learn as we go. Find what works for you and what doesn’t work for you, and do that.

“Yes, it can be hard sometimes! I’m not such a ‘professional’ that I don’t have days when I feel overwhelmed; I think it just comes with motherhood. I can give you a few general pieces of advice (many of these apply more to toddlers and up, but your children will grow fast).

–Simplify as much as you can. Simple meals, simple housekeeping, simple schedule, etc. Don’t try to ‘do it all.’

–Minimalize toys and clothing.

–Enjoy having your children with you. Do things together and have them ‘help’ you as much as they are able. Even if they aren’t really helping, if they feel they are helping, this will give them a sense of accomplishment, make them feel loved, and keep them out of trouble. I know yours aren’t old enough yet to do much of this, but believe me, they’ll get there before you know it!

Once they are old enough to help in bigger ways, in addition to having them work alongside you give them their own chores to do by themselves (with you supervising). This is a good practice to have in a large family since ‘Many hands make light work.’

–Don’t feel like you’re failing your children if you have to put on a movie or show for them every now and then (or every day at a specific time) in order to get things done. For example, when it’s time to make dinner, you may want to have them watch a healthy/wholesome/educational show to keep them busy and out of the kitchen.

–Have nap time every day. This isn’t just for the kids; it’s for you, too!

–Train early. Make sure your children (even very young ones) learn to obey right away. If they don’t obey, there must be an immediate negative/impactful consequence. Praise and encourage them more for the things they do right, though. And smile a lot at them to make them feel loved. I know that child training can be hard when you have to take care of a new baby or are pregnant (or both!). Just do the best you can to be consistent. It’s very important to be consistent and not let them get away with something one day that you told them not to do the other day.

–Find ways to get out of the house with, and without, the kids. I like to go on walks. I’ll put the baby in the baby carrier and the toddler in the stroller. The other kids hold hands and walk in front of me. I always feel refreshed after being out in the fresh air. Sometimes, if someone else can watch the children, you might go on a walk with just your husband. I’m sure you can think of other ways you can get out of the house for a little change of scenery; the point is to do something to keep yourself from feeling like a prisoner inside your own house.

“There are probably other things that will come to me later; these are just a few that I could think of right away.”

What about you?

Do you have any additional ideas to share? Please mention them below in the Comments!

~Jessica