Natural Simplicity Momma

My parents have given us their old computer (it is only 4-5 years old) and I bought a used monitor for it. This will be for the kids to play games on. No internet on that one. I have 4 children that will all want to use it. Any suggestion on how to schedule 4 children? I though about having certain hours set aside for each one BUT I don't want them to say oh it is 2:00 time for the computer?? Not very unschooling like, lol But I also know as soon as 1 gets on it they all will want to get on it. We do have another computer BUT I use it for work so I need to really try to limit its use. It already needs to be worked on...

Be easy on me.
We started homeschooling and now unschooling JUST this year....
Sherry
Unschooling Soap Diva WAHM to 4 :o)
"Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire."
Wm. Butler Yeats





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

susan marie

I just told the kids to work it out and be fair. So far, so good - three
kids, one imac. When they have conflicts they come to me and I help them
resolve the conflict but I don't resolve it for them. The kids are ages
12, 8, and 4. Sometimes they fight, but more often they just work it out
on their own.

this isn't much info, but it really does work. It's a little *loud*
sometimes, but unschooling generally is and my kids are always loud (or
at least it seems that way :-)

susan

On Friday, November 22, 2002, at 09:45 AM, Natural Simplicity Momma
wrote:

> My parents have given us their old computer (it is only 4-5 years old)
> and I bought a used monitor for it.  This will be for the kids to play
> games on.  No internet on that one.  I have 4 children that will all
> want to use it.  Any suggestion on how to schedule 4 children?  I
> though about having certain hours set aside for each one BUT I don't
> want them to say oh it is 2:00 time for the computer??  Not very
> unschooling like, lol But I also know as soon as 1 gets on it they all
> will want to get on it.  We do have another computer BUT I use it for
> work so I need to really try to limit its use.  It already needs to be
> worked on...
>
> Be easy on me. 
> We started homeschooling and now unschooling JUST this year....
> Sherry  
> Unschooling Soap Diva WAHM to 4 :o)
> "Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire."
> Wm. Butler Yeats
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>

>
>
> ~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject line! ~~~~
>
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> list owner, Helen Hegener (HEM-Editor@...).
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, click on the following link or address
> an email to:
> [email protected]
>
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>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
peace,
Susan

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can
change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Nora or Devereaux Cannon

How do they want to handle it?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Natural Simplicity Momma" <craun@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, November 22, 2002 8:45 AM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] new topic computer sharing


| My parents have given us their old computer (it is only 4-5
years old) and I bought a used monitor for it. This will be for
the kids to play games on. No internet on that one. I have 4
children that will all want to use it. Any suggestion on how to
schedule 4 children? I though about having certain hours set
aside for each one BUT I don't want them to say oh it is 2:00
time for the computer?? Not very unschooling like, lol But I
also know as soon as 1 gets on it they all will want to get on
it. We do have another computer BUT I use it for work so I need
to really try to limit its use. It already needs to be worked
on...
|
| Be easy on me.
| We started homeschooling and now unschooling JUST this year....
| Sherry
| Unschooling Soap Diva WAHM to 4 :o)
| "Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of
a fire."
| Wm. Butler Yeats
|
|
|
|
|
| [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
|
|
| ~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject
line! ~~~~
|
| If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list,
please email the moderator, Joyce Fetteroll
(fetteroll@...), or the list owner, Helen Hegener
(HEM-Editor@...).
|
| To unsubscribe from this group, click on the following link or
address an email to:
| [email protected]
|
| Visit the Unschooling website: http://www.unschooling.com
|
| Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
|
|
|

Natural Simplicity Momma

How do they want to handle it?
>>>>>>>>>
They all want to use it at the same time. That is why I am asking. We are talking ages from almost 4-12.

Sherry
Unschooling Soap Diva WAHM to 4 :o)
"Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire."
Wm. Butler Yeats





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Shyrley

On 22 Nov 02, at 9:45, Natural Simplicity Momma wrote:

> My parents have given us their old computer (it is only 4-5 years old)
> and I bought a used monitor for it. This will be for the kids to play
> games on. No internet on that one. I have 4 children that will all
> want to use it. Any suggestion on how to schedule 4 children? I
> though about having certain hours set aside for each one BUT I don't
> want them to say oh it is 2:00 time for the computer?? Not very
> unschooling like, lol But I also know as soon as 1 gets on it they all
> will want to get on it. We do have another computer BUT I use it for
> work so I need to really try to limit its use. It already needs to be
> worked on...
>
> Be easy on me.

:-)

We have one computer for games and this internet one, which is
mine all mine!!
The kids (10, 9 and 7) decided amongst themselves how to share
the computer and asked me to help. They decided that for fast
action games like Serious Sam or Half Life, having half an hour was
fair then the next one got a go. For slower games like the SIMS
and Baldur's Gate they allowed an hour.
They do the same with the Play Station.
My job was to monitor the clock.

To be honest though, since I made the computer unlimited about 2
years ago, things are much more harmonious and they play a lot
less. There isn't that frantic *need* to get their hour asap.

This week no-one has played on the games computer except me ;-)
My kids have created a war game using the Cuisinaire rods (I knew
they'd come in handy one day) and I've been playing Return to
Castle Wolfenstein uninterrupted.

Shyrley


"You laugh at me because I'm different. I laugh at you because you are all the same."

Natural Simplicity Momma

To be honest though, since I made the computer unlimited about 2
years ago, things are much more harmonious and they play a lot
less. There isn't that frantic *need* to get their hour asap.

>>>>>>>>>
I think I will try to do it unlimited and see how it goes. THANKS!

Sherry
Unschooling Soap Diva WAHM to 4 :o)
"Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire."
Wm. Butler Yeats





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Nora or Devereaux Cannon

I understood you to be asking in advance of the computer being
set up. Are they currently having a dispute or are you trying to
avoid one coming up? It makes a difference I think. A 4 may not
be able to conceptualize that there is going to be a problem and
therefore not have much useful input. All of them should be able
to generate ideas about what to do about it though.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Natural Simplicity Momma" <craun@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, November 22, 2002 9:53 AM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] new topic computer sharing


| How do they want to handle it?
| >>>>>>>>>
| They all want to use it at the same time. That is why I am
asking. We are talking ages from almost 4-12.
|
| Sherry
| Unschooling Soap Diva WAHM to 4 :o)
| "Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of
a fire."
| Wm. Butler Yeats
|
|
|
|
|
| [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
|
|
| ~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the subject
line! ~~~~
|
| If you have questions, concerns or problems with this list,
please email the moderator, Joyce Fetteroll
(fetteroll@...), or the list owner, Helen Hegener
(HEM-Editor@...).
|
| To unsubscribe from this group, click on the following link or
address an email to:
| [email protected]
|
| Visit the Unschooling website: http://www.unschooling.com
|
| Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
|
|
|

Natural Simplicity Momma

I understood you to be asking in advance of the computer being
set up. Are they currently having a dispute or are you trying to
avoid one coming up? It makes a difference I think. A 4 may not
be able to conceptualize that there is going to be a problem and
therefore not have much useful input. All of them should be able
to generate ideas about what to do about it though.
----- Original Message -----
Yes I am asking in advance BUT there are current disputes happening with the 1 computer we have NOW. I do have to limit this one's use because I have a home business that depends on it staying free for me and in working order. I think I will see how it will go.

Sherry
Unschooling Soap Diva WAHM to 4 :o)
"Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire."
Wm. Butler Yeats





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Shyrley

On 22 Nov 02, at 10:53, Natural Simplicity Momma wrote:

> How do they want to handle it?
> >>>>>>>>>
> They all want to use it at the same time. That is why I am asking.
> We are talking ages from almost 4-12.
>
> Sherry

My son was 5 when we started the unlimited computer n TV. I
explained to him about sharing and then bought a big stop-watch
that does minutes. He was in charge of it for when it was his 'go'.
Generally the others let him go first.

It wasn't always perfect and we get arguments when someone
forgets to time their 'go' and someone else feels agrieved that a
sibling has had longer but generally its been ok.
Because they are in control and not me they can decide amongst
themselves without the worry that mum will order them off the
machine. They are also free to play 'their hearts out' which gets the
game out of their syste.
I'm the same. When we get a new game I want to play it endlessly
so I can see what happens next. I get the same length 'go' as the
kids too.
We also get fun in watching each other. I was playing the Harry
Potter game the other day with 3 kids giving advice and remarking
on my ineptness. (Which is mainly cos in the game Harry has a
stupid wand, and not a flamethrower or Uzi which would be far
more useful against those gnome thingies in my opinion!)

;-)

Shyrley


"You laugh at me because I'm different. I laugh at you because you are all the same."

[email protected]

In a message dated 11/22/02 7:48:20 AM, craun@... writes:

<< This will be for the kids to play games on. No internet on that one. I
have 4 children that will all want to use it. Any suggestion on how to
schedule 4 children? >>

We've scheduled three successfully for years by saying each turn lasts as
long as it lasts. They can know who's next (and it doesn't have to be a
strict rotation--often one kid isn't home or isn't interested), and the one
who's next can pass his turn or #3 skip over him and he'll be third. But
standing breathing and saying "Hurry" was against the rules.

Some turns last ten or fifteen minutes. Some last hours.

There will be other things to do in the house. If there aren't, it's a good
excuse to devise some other things to do which are also attractive.

It will be busier while it's new than after the excitement wears off.

Sandra

[email protected]

In a message dated 11/22/02 10:34:27 AM, shyrley.williams@... writes:

<< My son was 5 when we started the unlimited computer n TV. I
explained to him about sharing and then bought a big stop-watch
that does minutes. He was in charge of it for when it was his 'go'.
Generally the others let him go first.
>>

I've advised kids often to let the little one go first, because they're
unlikely to last as long.
We don't time the turns, though.

Sometimes someone who just needs to play through ( get e-mail or something)
will negotiate for a spot in the midst of someone else's time, and the
"computer holder" will go get food or walk the dog, come back and resume the
turn.

Sandra