How do you have your older kids help the younger ones? What are some specific ways they pitch in?

Christine

Well, my kids aren't very far apart so this doesn't come up as often as if they were more spread out in age. But right now, the biggest way is that my oldest daughter has become the math tutor. She has completed Algebra II and is now taking Geometry. The younger two are taking Algebra I and Pre-Algebra this year. Aly is very good at math, and has already done more than I ever did in high school. So when the others have trouble with their math I often send them to her. It helps them, and is a good review for her (and saves me a headache!)

I remember many years ago, when the girls were about 1, 3 & 5, Aly (age 5) decided that Ana (age 3) needed to learn to write her letters. So she got out paper and crayons and sat down to teach her. She'd write an "A" and say "Ana, this is an A. Now you do it" then hand her the crayon. The funny thing was, Ana did it. She had shown no interest in learning to print, but that day she sat and let her sister teach her to write her name.