Enjoying Chair Time

Caitlin and Ashley enjoying Chair Time

Ashley showing Caitlin the last page of Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett

Shortly after I posted my previous blog about Chair Time the other day, Ashley and Caitlin were having a major disagreement in the study. I was finishing my lunch in the kitchen and every bone in my body was reverberating with irritation. They were saying they would pinch each other and I heard each call the other “stupid” (which they know is not acceptable). It took a lot of patience but I am very proud to say that I ignored it all until I had finished my food (after all they hadn’t actually come to blows).

Then I calmly brought Ashley’s blue chair over to the library boxes and went into the study. Again calmly, I took each by the hand and ignored all attempts by them to tell me about what had happened and quietly reminded them that I would listen after we were finished with Chair Time. Then I led them to the chairs, set the timer and asked them to read quietly for 5 minutes. Ashley negotiated with me that instead of sitting quietly she would like to use the time to figure out with Caitlin a way to work out the problem they were having in the study. I’m sure I must have been grinning as I agreed. They solved their problem in about a minute and then happily read their books and shared the pictures with each other. Wahoo! If only all disagreements could be resolved this easily.