I’ve eluded to this concept many times, but today am going to hit it strong. This is probably the best advice I could give any mother who has young children close together…
Corral (verb) to gather together and confine (a group of people or things)
People ask me how I do it. How do I have so many kids so young in age and still manage to stay sane and have some semblance of order while raising well-behaved (most of the time) children. I need to work up a good response to this question since I haven’t learned to take a compliment well yet, but I know the reason.
The reason I can meet multiple kids needs throughout the day.
The reason they’re well behaved for their age.
The reason we have an orderly day.
It’s because I am the Valedictorian summa cum laude graduate from the School of Corralling.
Now, there are many times during the day when I let the kids roam wild and free with the wind blowing in their hair. I actually love those parts of the day when we’re outside and exploring. But for many parts of the day, wild and free is not an option. Why? Because wild and free soon turns into dangerous and chaotic.
Read: The Tried-And-True 1 Year Old Sleep Schedule
What is corralling?
For the purposes of this blog, corralling is when you put children in some area(s) that are contained where they are not allowed to leave without permission. Or sometimes, they are not physically able to leave without your help. This will be for a set period of time, usually a short period, and is for a purpose. It’s not just putting your kid in a playpen all day so you don’t have to worry about them.
So here’s how to corral for the benefit of everyone in the home.
1. Corral during your “trouble times”
There are certain times of the day when I need to give my undivided attention to something that is not all-the-kids. This means I need them occupied and doing something that is a) safe, 2) quiet, and d) mostly supervised and/or contained. Times like these might include:
- feeding a baby
- cooking dinner
- taking a shower
- going to the bathroom
- working
- making an important phone call
straightening my hair
The reason I call these “trouble times” is because if I’m doing one of the above things, I can’t immediately intervene if someone falls off a table, hits another sibling with a big John Deere tractor, or takes a Sharpie to the wall. I can’t intervene because I’m busy with something that won’t allow me to immediately run without other consequences.
2. Use physical boundaries
There are many ways to corral, but I tend to stick to the basics. If I need to do something that is going to take the better part of 20 to 30 minutes, I’ll usually do this when the kids are in independent play so they are already in their rooms. That is their boundary. If I need to do something else for a few minutes like answer the door and talk to someone outside or make an important phone call, I’ll corral in a different way. Here are some boundaries you can use to corral.
- room
- crib
- playpen
- stroller
- high chair
- infant seat
- booster seat
- couch
- chair
- a play divider like this
- play room
Or really, any given physical area they can remain in or on. So, if we are taking a walk and the kids are on foot by the stroller, but I need to weave in and out, I’ll make them get in the stroller. Duh. If I need to change one child’s diaper quickly before leaving the house, I can ask the other kids to each sit in a chair by the door and wait. This means as soon as the diaper is changed they’re sitting ready to go. If I need to cook and my 1 year is old is getting antsy, I’ll put him in his high chair with some water, toy, or simple activity.
3. Teach them to stay in one place
As the pre-toddlers become toddlers who become preschoolers who grow up, you no longer need to physically restrain them when you need a few minutes. And I’m talking for their own safety, not just for convenience. But it’s still important that my children are able to sit still for a bit if I need them to. Some evenings when I’m getting my 1 year old ready for bed, my 3 and 4 year olds get full of energy. They want to run around pulling up their shirts playing “belly bumps” and getting more hyped up than is good at bedtime.
I’ll ask them to sit down in a chair with some books and have relax time. They’ll sit back and browse some of their books and chat, but they remain in the chairs. This is corralling. It’s keeping them in one place so I can do something else without them undoing what just happened.
4. Use the door (and the lock if necessary)
Wait for it… sometimes when I’ve given all 3 older kids a bath together, they like to streak naked all around the house and get hyped up. One thing I like to do is to lock us all in the bathroom. Me included. I might say that until every child is out, dried off, dressed, and teeth brushed, we aren’t leaving the bathroom. I’m corralling us all together.
Some may think this is overkill, but I assure you that having a 4 year old, 3 year old, and 1 year old means you really do need to create some order and boundaries. Or you are just running around like a chicken with your head cut off all day long every day.
5. Don’t parent “outside the funnel”
Parenting outside the funnel is essentially giving children privileges or freedoms that are not age appropriate. Or conversely, not allowing privileges or freedoms that are age appropriate. I’ve noticed recently that my 1 year old has been given far more freedoms than I gave the older two children. Why? I just thought it was convenient. What isn’t convenient is how he’d gotten a bit too big for his britches, and wouldn’t sit still or come when I called.
I’ve started corralling him more often to teach self-control and am seeing great strides in his ability to just be a tad more calm. Look, I’m not trying to raise a zombie, y’all, but if a kid can’t sit still for 5 minutes so I can do something important we’ve got a problem.
6. Make sure they’re getting wild and free time
One way that I feel comfortable having periods during the day where I require my kids to sit still and be calm, is because I know they are getting wild and free play where they can exercise and let off steam. They have outside time in their actual corral (my grandmother refers to their big fenced in play area outside as a holding pen, ha), random free yard time, and periods during the day where the whole house is free for them to mill around in. Because I now they are not caged animals, I don’t feel bad when I need to corral.
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Paige says
These are great tips! I use baby gates like crazy :-)
Rachel Norman says
Exactly! ha
Dove says
Now that I have three active little ones (three, two and one!) I am learning this the hard way. I used to feel guilty putting the baby in a play pen or highchair while I was busy, but now I have no qualms, lol. We have a small house so the living room and basement are gated. Then I close the other doors and they only have access to their bedroom, the kitchen and dining area. That gives them lots of space to play while still under my supervision. If things get too wild they go in their rooms or chairs!
Rachel Norman says
Exactly, Dove! EXACTLY. I used to feel bad too but realized it’s not because I want to go eat a Snickers and read a book (though that’s not always bad) but because it is simply one chaotic mess after another if they have free reign all day. And funnily enough, I don’t actually think they even expect that.
Amy says
So very true to keep it all sane and prevent meltdowns (from children AND me). Great specific tips and advice, thank you!
Rachel Norman says
Ha, yes I’m a melter downer too ;)
Melissa says
I like the sounds of this, but I’m trying to figure out where to start with a two yr old who can’t seem to sit still and has to have her hands in everything, she is quite the wild mess! We have two girls; two and 6 months.
Rachel Norman says
Melissa, I hear you. With her I’d start somewhere she isn’t able to get out for a few minutes at a time. So, a crib or high chair or area that’s gated. When you need to do something for a bit, put her there and let her know you’ll be back soon, etc. and get her used to it. Just like playing on their own they’ll resist it at first, but will soon get the hang of it and develop that self-control needed to actually be able to sit still in a chair. My 20 month old had a hard time at first and we’d just sit him in a chair then, when he got back down, put him right back up in it (over and over) for a bit until he got it. He wasn’t happy those first few times, but he got it and now will do it fairly happily :)
Gillian says
Excellent ideas you have shared here. Children actually enjoy boundaries and rules. I notice these days that children cannot amuse themselves (without a screen in their faces). Way back when my 35 year old was little they used to sit and play on their own for hours, and not need to be entertained. We also had reading time when I read to them, but reading time when I got out my book, so they could see Mommy reading, while they “read” theirs. They are both avid readers now.
Rachel Norman says
Yes, my mom read and I do too!!
Gabby says
Great advice! I have done this in so many different forms, depending on the ages of my children. So when we started homeschooling, my infant would hang out in the high chair with cheerios while my toddler played with busy bags (doing “school” too, in his mind). Or my infant would have some free play time in the pack & play, with baby music on and playing with special toys he didn’t see the rest of the day. I use the “sit by the door” technique a lot too when I’m wiping down faces or gathering my gear for the day.
Rachel Norman says
Gabby, oh I really like the “sit by the door” one. I’m going to use it :)
Camille says
I just came across your blog the other day. You have very practical advice. I’m either doing what you suggest or going to start doing. Thanks! I too live overseas and I just had my third little one.
Rachel Norman says
Thanks so much, Camille, that’s my goal. Practical advice that’s helplful :) Congrats on your baby!
Nancy Austin says
Hi Rachel,
Thank you for reminding me what I used to do when my adult children were little. We just thought we were keeping them safe, (and keeping our own sanity) who knew they were learning life lessons!
Now, we are raising our grandson who is 9 years old and has autism. Many of the “Old School Ways” are so compatible with the different way children with autism learn, and sometimes it’s easy to forget that I knew what to do many years ago and it still applies for these little ones today. Thanks again for all the good ideas, we moms/grandmoms need all the help and encouragements you so graciously offer to us.
Rachel Norman says
Nancy, what a kind and thoughtful comment and I really appreciate you taking the time to leave it. Sometimes old ways are the best ways :)
Mia says
Hi Rachel,
Thank you for taking the time to share your tips with other Mums. You have been such an encouragement to me.
I have been reading your blog furiously over the last few days trying to soak in as many tips as I can before I have my third in a few weeks. (3 under 3 and the last two have a 12month age gap). I already use the corralling technique with my oldest but I haven’t started with the baby other than using the highchair or activity bouncer. Good things there’s time to bring the play pen out and practice before bub arrives!!
Thank you!