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Now that you've mentioned it, I am trying to remember if we still have it around so I can read it to my younger ones. Great book!
Minniewannabee, I think you are totally right that each family is different and there is absolutely nothing wrong with purchasing a curriculum for a preschooler. I just hate to see young moms get overwhelmed with feeling like they "should" do certain things, and then feeling like a failure if they don't achieve it.
We have to find balance, and also make sure we are staying in tune with our children's needs and moving at their pace.
Statistics: Posted by Jazzy — Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:40 am
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Anyways, I'm sure you get my point...I hope this was a little bit useful
Statistics: Posted by alexisminnis — Mon Aug 11, 2008 12:14 pm
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You do exactly what you feel your child is ready for. I did exactly what you're planning including hard core curriculum at age 3 with my son. He's now a well adjusted, married, 4th year medical student.
Whether we're reading to our preschoolers, making them healthy foods, playing with them, sending them to baby music class, or doing a workbook sheet, we're all teaching our kids. A specific method you use is almost irrelevant as long as you teach and offer a variety of learning opportunities.
The same parents who criticize a purchased curriculum for a 2 year old might be spending a lot of time working on manners or teaching to put toys away. My son still can't keep his mouth shut while he eats. And he didn't even learn what room the washing machine was in until after he moved away from home. Nonetheless, every family has its priorities. It sounds like you know yours.
Good luck and I'd love to know what goodies you ended up purchasing. Isn't it fun?
Statistics: Posted by Minniewannabe — Fri Aug 08, 2008 8:32 pm
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jill has such good points. here, take my mistake for example.... when my son was 4, i went to a homeschool curriculum fair & purchased the complete preschool package from a vendor (b/c i was naive & thought that's what i was "supposed" to do). so, we struggled through the year doing what we "thought" we were supposed to be doing. we weren't struggling in learning, but it was just a lot of ridiculousness packaged all together w/ a pretty little box. (no, ridiculousness is not a word
) i was determined to get us through all the "nonsense" work that it required. then, i began researching what a preschooler (b/c i have another child coming to that age) & a kindergartener should be learning. the more & more research i did turned up the same results: read quality books, have quality play time together, go for walks, etc. i had stumbled across karen andreola's name & susan schaeffer macauley, & others, which led me to CHARLOTTE MASON. now, i'm not saying that the "charlotte mason" method is for everyone, but upon my researching, it definitely "fit" my son's learning style so much better than the way i had been teaching him. so, that's it for us. i mean, we aren't charlotte mason followers to the exact degree some are, i like to think of us as the MODERN charlotte mason followers.i hope someone can learn from my mistake: which, incidentally, was that i did not tune in to my son's learning style @ first or do much research. i just took what i "thought" was correct
and the fact that i was excited to begin homeschooling. another point was that @ that time, i didn't have a CLUE as to where i should REALLY begin!!!!!!!Statistics: Posted by bubbaansissy — Fri Aug 08, 2008 11:47 am
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While I am glad many parents of preschoolers are deciding early they want to homeschool, it also saddens me when they have to change what they are already doing or add curriculum to make their home more "school-ish". I think pre-school/toddler curriculum companies should be ashamed to sell this stuff to parents. Parenting is hard enough without having a company pressuring you to buy their materials so your kid can learn something.
So, I totally agree with the posts that encourage slowing down, just hanging out, playing, reading, having an outing now and then, and enjoying those little sweeties for the curious little learning sponges that they are. Forming a bond with you is their most important "academic" need.
Of course, I am a huge advocate of reading to young children...Good Night Moon and Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom are two all time favorites. Scholastic has a "book on tape" set with Ray Charles doing the reading that my kids loved. Very rhythmic. If you can find that, it is well worth getting. Eric Carle is a wonderful author for young children with bright pictures and familar subjects.
You will also stumble upon books that may not be the very best in a reviewers eyes, but your child loves. Read these often. My daughter loved a book called Going to Sleep on the Farm - you'd probably never find it on any suggested book list, but that didn't matter to me. She loved it and would listen to it 10 times a day if I would read it.
Help them learn that the library is a great (fun) place....
Like I alluded to in the beginning, please don't feel like this fourm is "beating up" on you, we've just been there and many times hindsight is 20/20. I know it's hard to believe they grow up so fast (I know I never thought I would agree when people told me that), but believe me, they do.
Best wishes.
Statistics: Posted by Jill — Fri Aug 08, 2008 7:24 am
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Statistics: Posted by bubbaansissy — Wed Aug 06, 2008 4:33 pm
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we, as homeschoolers, have a wonderful opportunity to share all the joys that life has to offer. we can read them books of OUR choosing, take them to the park ANYTIME we choose, educate them....PERIOD. from the moment you gave birth to your child, you began educating them...you taught them to walk, talk, ride bikes, play ball, etc. don't rush their education. enjoy it instead. you don't need all the printables, etc. on how to play w/ your child at this age.
read stories together everyday, quality stories. play w/ playdoh, finger paint, blow bubbles, write on the chalkboard, write on paper w/ crayons, play ball, play simple games, go to the park, take walks, MOST OF ALL, enjoy your children..........!!!!!!!!
Statistics: Posted by bubbaansissy — Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:25 pm
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You are going to have so.... much.... fun!
Marcia W.
Statistics: Posted by eHomebody — Fri Jul 25, 2008 3:35 pm
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I can't help but laugh when I read your post. You remind me of myself. I've always said my kids were not raised, but jerked.
In my opinion, if you've got the money, there's nothing wrong with buying all those goodies to start teaching. Everyone is constantly teaching their toddlers, just not necessarily with an academic curriculum.
Here's what I would add:
* Toys to allow emulation of whatever he sees his parents doing, i.e. toy lawnmower, kitchen play sets, wooden or plastic food, plastic shopping cart, scoot car.
* Disney Interactive computer software for babies, toddler, & preschool.
* Size appropriate table with a paper roll attached to the side of it. You can use the paper roll to draw roads for him to run cars on as well as he can scribble on it without hurting the table or walls.
* Some sort of second language curriculum like songs for babies on a CD, cartoons in another language, or whatever.
* Toddler musical instruments.
* Toddler medical kit
* Lots of toys for pretend play
* Workbook "The Complete Book of Preschool" printed by School Specialty Publishing. (This may be similar to what you already have on your list, I'm just not familiar with the one you listed.)
* Instead of flash cards, I would use toys to demonstrate the concept you want to teach. For example, colored blocks to teach shapes, colors, & counting.
* Any book by David Shannon to cuddle and laugh with
* An annual membership to the zoo, children's museum
* An annual pass to DisneyWorld (hey, we're dreaming here with unlimited bank account)
* Swimming lessons
p.s. (I've got the book of "365 things to do with Toddler" and we never used it. The things are common sense stuff you'll be doing anyway.)
Have fun and good luck! I'd love to be going shopping with you.
Statistics: Posted by Minniewannabe — Sat Jul 19, 2008 5:50 am
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Read to him everyday, play, teach him finger songs, dance to music and let him explore his world.
Academics is not important right now.
Statistics: Posted by triplescoop — Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:45 pm
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