Karen Edmisten's commentsComments On: EverythingArticles Blogs Journals Photos created by: EveryoneKaren Homeschooling with a toddler - Blog Entry16 Feb 2007 08:13 AM LisaM, I certainly didn't mean to make you feel bad! A few bad moments in parenting won't forever scar your child, and sometimes, they're just the lightbulb we need to explore some new ways of doing things. Could your 3 year old do things at the table along with your older child? My 4 yo loves to do things along with her older sister. Some ideas: *old workbooks, to scribble on, write her name, "do math" and so on Easy little activities, such as this: draw shapes on a piece of paper. On a separate paper, draw the same shapes, then let her cut them out (if he's not cutting yet, precut this stuff), and glue them onto the matching shapes. Workbooks with stickers -- fun for little ones who want to "work"and be with you Bead stringing, clay, anything involving glue sticks. Watercolors Coins to play with Check out some Montessori websites for great ideas for preschoolers. Also, with the age difference you're dealing with, it might seem that you have to do separate things with them at separate times, but that isn't always the case. We tend to think that way if we grew up being segregated by age and grade. But, adapting things for "whole family learning" can be great, and ultimately very fulfilling, for households like yours. Hang in there! Is a GED necessary? - Blog Entry16 Feb 2007 08:01 AM jsgittens wrote: "I just figured that the whole world thought underneath it all that homeschoolers were better educated and wouldn't be so backward as to need a GED as proof of college readiness." Isn't this glorious proof, though, of how much more accepted homeschoolers are today? One day, the whole GED thing will be one of those "dark ages" stories that everyone laughs at .... We're getting there! Will staying in school make your child a better person? - Blog Entry12 Feb 2007 03:40 PM I agree with you, Andrea -- I'm reminded of the two opposite analogies that I often hear applied to kids and school: one is that young trees need to withstand the wind and storms (i.e., the bullies, etc.) in order to put down roots and grow strong. The other one is the "hothouse flower" analogy -- that tender sprouts need to be sheltered from the storms, and nurtured and made strong, *until* they're ready to withstand the storms. While I think there's some wisdom in the first analogy, I really think it applies more to adults. We learn from storms and are strengthened, yes. But, when kids have to learn from such "storms" too early in life, it can wilt the hothouse flower indefinitely, sometimes permanently. Reasons I am Glad We Homeschool: Crowd Avoidance - Blog Entry09 Feb 2007 05:51 AM I agree, and love being able to hit places in the off-hours. Homeschooling in the Winter, as God intended - Blog Entry07 Feb 2007 02:10 PM It sounds as if you would be, Mary Ann! :-) It's funny you mention this today, Andrea. My kids were brushing their teeth in the dark today, and I asked what they were doing. They said, "Well, Laura would have been in the dark this morning!" (It's the birthday of Laura Ingalls Wilder, so she was on their minds.) I often think, too, that I would go to bed much earlier if I only lived a little more by natural light and rhythms. :-) Homeschooling with a toddler - Blog Entry07 Feb 2007 05:25 AM I couldn't agree more, Pam. Thanks for stopping and taking the time to comment. Homeschooling Talented Children: Allowing Talents to Evolve - Blog Entry06 Feb 2007 05:05 PM Good for you for letting him back off the piano ... that can be so hard, but clearly, it was what he needed to really take off with his computer talents. He sounds amazing! Homeschooling Talented Children: Identifying Talents - Blog Entry06 Feb 2007 06:42 AM Your home sounds so richly geared to the kids and their interests! |
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