Hi, what would be best is to get them all back in the ground yesterday :-). It's not the time to be digging, pinching tops or cutting taps, and peat and sand are not the way to go. In any case, they won't live as they are, and won't grow even if they make it a short time (though of course not indoors). Their only chance of survival and speed of growth you'd want to fatten the trunks and grow lots of branches for styling options is in the ground - for 3 yrs bare min., 5 is better. Plus digging even at the right time and size is not for beginners.

Bonsai are not grown 'up', but cut down, and sycamores don't make great ones anyhow as reducing leaf size will be a problem. It really, really is best to at least learn some basics before you either dig any more or spend at all. Go to bonsai4.me.com for those, and look for local clubs to join - they're the best way to learn while seeing what to do and being able to ask questions. Good luck and have fun.

so guess the answer there is I haven't done ANYthing right! hahaha thanks

I think a sycamore bonsai about 6 ft tall with that flaky peeling white bark and a good root base would be a beauty.
Is the parent plant on your place ? you might try an air layer of a good limb. Short of that let the seedlings grow a lot bigger.