Open letter to new homschooling parents
First of all - take a deep breath! You’re doing fine. You WILL find a way of homeschooling that works well for you and your kids and everything will work GREAT!
Everybody has their own homeschooling style and they vary greatly - from very strict “school at home” to the very natural “unschooling” and everything in between. So, first I’ll give you my advice, then I’ll include my own opinions.
1. Read about the different methods of homeschooling. Some common ones are “distance learning”, “Charlotte Mason”, “Classical”, “Unit Studies” and “unschooling”. There are also several others. As you learn about the different methods, one or more will jump out at you as
something you’d like for you children and family. You can find GREAT, books that outline these at the library. Also, you can do an internet search for “homeschool methods” and see what you come up with.
2. Read other people’s homeschooling stories. There are entire books of people’s stories along the lines of “a day in our life of homeschooling” type things. They’re extremely helpful to actually “see” what homeschooling looks like in all sorts of other people’s homes. No two homeschooling families are the same. You’ll find little tidbits here and there that you would like to incorporate into your own home.
3. Join a local homeschool support group. This will get you in touch with people who are homeschooling right now, who are really nice and welcoming and more than happy to share their insight! There are all different types – religiously based, area based, co-ops (you get
together to give little “classes” and have your kids join some too, given by other homeschool parents and even teens), activity/outing based. Find one or two that sound good and join in! They’re INVALUABLE! Here is one site I found for groups in your state. I’m sure you can find more with internet searches.
All of these things will give you many, many ideas that will start to shape your schooling style. Your style will also adjust as you actually start to DO it, and as things change in your family
(additions, crises, moving, aging, etc.)
My own family’s homeschool has looked very different each year as we’ve gone through changes and even some major crises. But as we grow, our schooling grows, and adapts naturally to fit us. I started out with absolutely no money to spend on school stuff. We did that for 5 months and loved it. We’ve gone through a phase that included many text books and worksheets. And, now, this year, we’ve really finally settled into the groove that’s right for us. I really wish we’d been doing things this way all along, but you know, those first couple years were just a learning experience! The kids are better off for it than they were when they were in public school, and we’ve all grown together and are happy with what works for us.
You’ll start out somewhere, and it will be good. And as you continue, you will gradually change things here and there, and you’ll find your family’s niche too. And it’ll all be a wonderful journey.
Oh, I said I’d give you my opinions too. For my family, I LOVE the Charlotte Mason method! To practically use Charlotte Mason in your home I HIGHLY recommend the book “Real Learning” by Elizabeth Foss. I really liked the Classical ideas too, but it just didn’t end up being for us. I’m greatly intrigued by unschooling after hearing a talk by a man at a conference who unschooles his children. But it’s not entirely for us either, although I do believe it can work perfectly well.
I like to think we use mainly the Charlotte Mason method with a bit of my own stuff here and there and a whole lot of unschooling throughout the rest of our days. I personally, do not believe in the public-school-at-home type of programs. I definitely believe in catering the subject matter and ways of learning toward each different child.
That’s about it. Feel free to ask me any more questions you may have. I hope I didn’t overwhelm you with all the info! Just follow those 3 points I numbered above and you’ll find a wealth of info you’ll get
really excited about.
How to deal with annoying busybody parents!
My 9yo dd’s way of dealing with these situations goes something like this:
BusyBody: Do you know the capital of North Dakota?
DD: Uh, that stuff is so boring. Did you know koalas are the pickiest eaters on earth? There are several hundred different kinds of eucalyptus, and they will only eat the kind that is poison to
everybody else. It’s not poison to the koalas though. They have something in their stomach that makes it safe. Caterpillars are picky eaters too. They only eat one type of plant for the entire time they are a caterpillar . . .
I’ve never coached her to do this. It’s just something she tends to do on her own, so I haven’t bothered to interfere.
Filed under Homeschool | Comment (0)What Every Parent Ought To Know About Homeschooling! - Yeah Right!
I just have to vent about a conversation I had with my daughter’s best friend’s mom. I am 99.9% sure we will be homeschooling my 7 year old daughter next year. She is unhappy even in the private school she is currently attending. She has no conduct problems, she gets straight A’s but she is unhappy being away from home for close to 7 hours a day. She worries a lot and, because so much time is wasted in the classroom, she has plenty of time to feel anxious and worry about things. I see this problem getting worse as the years pass and school is less and less “fun”.
Not to mention that we are having to work extra hours just to send her to this school and that is causing all of us at home to feel anxious and tired. We believe it will be in the best interest of our entire family if we homeschool her (I have a 17 year old step- daughter with ADHD who is homeschooling this year and will return to public H.S. for her senior year).
Well….. the mother of my daughter’s best friend is also a good friend of mine and just happens to be a stay- at- home mom who has her degree in education. So,(can you guess what’s coming?)she felt the need to tell me her concerns about what will happen with Kelly if
I homeschool her. She thinks that Kelly will get worse with her anxiety if she stays home and we will just be reinforcing the “problems” she is having. She feels that her anxiety will worsen
if she stays home and doesn’t “get out”. She also said that children need the routine of school and that the comfort of that routine will begin to calm her.
Now just wait a minute! Does she think that I will not have a routine if I teach my daughter at home? What does she think I will be doing? Watching Oprah while my daughter plays educational games on the computer? Does she think we will stay inside and never venture out for play-dates and field trips? I am very irked and will say something to her when I can calm down. I actually tried to get a word in edge-wise, but was unable because she wouldn’t stop to take a breath between tidbits of “educator’s wisdom”.
I truly think that most of her “advice” was selfish. She is a great mom and a wonderful person, but I think a part of her feels guilty that she isn’t willing to offer her children an at-home education. Secondly, she wants my daughter to stay in school because her daughter will miss Kelly. They are quite inseparable. I fully intend to make regular play-dates for the girls so they won’t miss each other that much.
O.K. I know that I am over-reacting a little, but this is a decision that I don’t take lightly. It is not like I am just having a knee-jerk reaction to a few small incidences. This has been well thought out and purposeful. I truly believe my daughter will learn better at home. I just don’t need people with their own agenda acting as if I haven’t thought it through.
Thanks for allowing me to rant! I welcome any comments and encouragement. 
Here’s A Quick Way To Calm Your Child
A while ago I have started to hold and if necessary actively restrain my older dd (almost 6) whenever she hurts someone (by action or words) or bothers her sibs after she’s been told to stop (when I see that it upsets them since this will lead to them crying) until her body language tells me that she she changed gears.
These time-ins usually make her mad a hell but I can see that they really help her to snap out of her hurting mode and creates a much calmer child within a few minutes. I am coming to view these as me helping her regulate herself since she is unable to do it herself. My 16 mo old has a range on when she will nap and fall asleep at night but I’ve noticed that sometimes this is because she’ll get a second wind, but is actually tired. A few days ago I totally missed a window to put her down for the night and later on she was wired. I thought I might apply the time-in method to help her transition and took her in my arms.
She immediately started to struggle and cry an angry cry, but I kept holding her tightly (but not locking, just tight so she could wiggle out while giving her room to move), looking at her and saying “I know you are tired, I saw you yawn before. It’s time to go to bed” and
rocked her. She cried and struggled for about two minutes and then asked to nurse. She was out cold within minutes.
I did the same today for nap after I saw her yawn. Her angry screams where much shorter and she again fell asleep on my boob within minutes. I admit that in my mind I also thought about 2:15 this afternoon when I have to get my dd1 - it was shortly before twelve when this happened and it was an ideal time for her to be tired, since she will get a good nap without me having to take her out of bed before she’ll naturally wake up.
It’s a different approach for me though since I’ve always let my babies dictate their sleep time. Am I wrong to assume that a toddler needs help winding down to be able to sleep if they are not naturally doing it? This is not about forcing dd2 to sleep at set hours, more so to help her when I see that she is tired (rubbing eyes, yawning) but won’t easily lay down, nurse and go to sleep.
Filed under Little Tykes, Special Needs | Comment (1)Walt Disney must be smiling
I had one of the best moments I could ask for yesterday as I overheard two young children playing on the balcony of the house across the road from me. A boy and a girl, probably five or six were discussing “Walter Disneyland “, the man who owns Disneyland. The young girl declared quite knowingly, that only people who owned Disneyland, like Walter could go.
The young boy, as self assured as she was , said he was quite sure Mickey owned it too.
If Disney wants to know if today’s children were still aware of Walt- the answer is yes, at least in my neighborhood.
Being an avid and loyal fan of Disney my entire life, it filled me with joy to know that kids of today were still as fascinated with the magic of Disney as I was.
I personally don’t think it is the same, as Walt was the heart of it all- but his dream lives on…
Don’t let your toys kill your kids
To ensure the safest shopping experience for all consumers, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have been working at the ports to track down and stop dangerous toys from finding their way to store shelves. While the government is doing its part to protect young children from hazardous toys, parents and grandparents can contribute to their families’ safety by being educated shoppers.
CPSC recommends using the following tips to help choose appropriate toys for children:
* Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards to younger children.
* For infants, toddlers and all children who still mouth objects, avoid toys with small parts, which could pose a fatal choking hazard.
* Look for sturdy construction, such as tightly-secured eyes, noses and other potential small parts.
* For all children under 8, avoid toys that have sharp edges and points.
* Do not purchase electric toys with heating elements for children under 8.
* Be a label reader. Look for toy labels that give age and safety recommendations and use that information as a guide.
* Check toy instructions for clarity - for both you and, when appropriate, the child.
* Immediately discard plastic wrappings on toys, which can cause suffocation, before they become deadly playthings.
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (0)Don’t be jerk! Get a tickle me elmo
Starting today, Walmart.com ( http://www.walmart.com) will be the first retail site to make the highly anticipated T.M.X., 10th Anniversary Tickle Me Elmo, available for pre-sell. This first-to-market pre-sell option is exclusive to Walmart.com for two weeks and will continue until Elmo arrives on shelves in September. That’s six months before Elmo makes his grand entrance onto shelves — an exclusive early opportunity for fans to avoid the no-holds-barred frenzy that’s sure to accompany the doll’s general availability in September, just in time for the holidays.
The mystery continues — not only will there be no photo of T.M.X. online — no one other than a very few of Tickle Me Elmo’s best friends have even gotten a glimpse of his super-secret new look — and no one will until then! First introduced in 1996, Tickle Me Elmo immediately became a furry, red, runaway hit, selling in excess of one million pieces in that first year. Now, 10 years later, Elmo-mania is about to begin again. “With the 10th Anniversary Tickle Me Elmo, the Elmo-ification of America will continue,” says Scott McCall, vice president and divisional merchandising manager with Wal-Mart (WMT : Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. “Those lucky enough to buy T.M.X. sight- unseen during Walmart.com’s two-week exclusive sale will be thrilled when he arrives in the mail in September. They won’t be sorry!” “T.M.X. is the most incredible Elmo toy we’ve ever created,” says David Allmark, general manager, Fisher-Price Friends. “It’s thrilling to be able to bring the Sesame Street sensation to a whole new generation of children in such an exciting and innovative new toy — one that we’re sure will tickle America’s funny bone, yet again, and again.” About Fisher-Price Fisher-Price, Inc., a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. (MAT : Mattel, Inc.and located in East Aurora, New York, is the leading brand of infant and preschool toys in the world.
The Company has a 75-year legacy of high-quality toys that enhance early childhood development. Its often-emulated Play Laboratory was the first child research center of its kind in the toy industry, allowing researchers to observe the way children play and how play benefits their development. Some of the Company’s best-known “classic” brands include Little People(R), Power Wheels(R) and View-Master(R). Fisher-Price is also a leading developer of baby gear products (nursery monitors, infant swings, high chairs) as well as a wide array of character-based toys inspired by high quality children’s programming such as Sesame Street(R), Dora the Explorer(TM) and Winnie the Pooh. The Company’s web site, at http://www.fisher-price.com, provides valuable information and resources to parents.
Filed under Toys | Comment (0)Recommendations for Children With Special Needs
Toys ‘R’ Us today in the news -
Getting in on the growth in China- Toys R Us is opening its first store on the Chinese mainland in November. As consumer demographics change in China as personal wealth builds for more Chinese, there is a growing demand for educational toys
Toys ‘R’ Us Offers Annual Guide of Toy Recommendations for Children With Special Needs-
There are approximately 6 million special needs children in the U.S. today. “The right toy can have a dynamic impact for a differently-abled child,” explained Diana Nielander, Executive Director of Lekotek, “because play provides these kids with essential confidence-building and learning opportunities
more info :
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060925/nymfns1.html?.v=26
Top 50 Homeschooling blogs that you need to read
Little Tikes nutrition week - kefir healthy recipes
Our friends at Little Tikes childcare blog have highlighted that March is nutrition month.
According to them 22% of American children are obese! This is a very scary figure and i hope that we at Little Tykes can do our bit to help.
The team have posted a number of healthy recipes and so I am going to my bit and give you a few kefir recipes which are really healthy!
Blueberry Kefir Mousse
2 cups kefir, sweetener to taste, 1/3 c (or more) frozen wild
blueberries (thawed), 2 teaspoons xanthan gum
Mix kefir and sweetener with a wire whisk. Sprinkle xanthan gum lightly across the top, whisk thoroughly and repeat until all xanthan gum is incorporated. Don’t add too much at a time, or it will clump. Whisk in the blueberries, mashing some and leaving some whole. This
is very light and fluffy, especially after sitting for a while, although sometimes a layer of liquid forms on the bottom. If that happens, just stir it back in. Refrigerate.
Gingery kefir ale
cane (table) sugar [sucrose] (1 cup)
Freshly grated ginger root (1 1/2-2 tablespoons)
Juice of one lemon
kefir grain or whey
cold fresh pure water
Take a hunk of ginger and two tablespoons of organic lemon juice concentrate and toss in the blender with a bit of water. put your sugar in the container then your ginger lemon slurry. top off with water and shake well. let it sit with a tight cap and burp it every 12 hours. when it starts to give a nice burp loosen that cap so the c02 can get out on its own. taste it daily till its no longer too sweet. strain out chunks. tighten the cap for another 12 hours, burp, toss in fridge. comes out very carbonated and great tasting.
Ice Cream
4 cups of either kefir or kefir and cream or kefir, milk and cream in any combination I want. Add maple syrup. Can make milk ice, kefir ice if not adding cream. I add fruit, coconut, coconut milk, egg yolks, 1/2 cup of nuts, food grade oils like peppermint.
Orange Julius
To 8 oz of thick creamy kefir, in a blender, add 1-2 T orange juice concentrate (or more to taste and grated fresh orange rind), 1/2 tsp. vanilla and honey to taste to make an orange julius - I have left this mixed up in refrigerator for up to 4 days and it only gets creamier. In summer freeze some kefir into cubes and use part cubes and cold kefir to make it slushy.
Smoothie
8 Oz of Kefir.. The creamier, the better.
2 ounces of Coconut Milk
4 Strawberries
Raw Honey to taste.
Blend the ingredients at low to medium speed until smooth and creamy..Avoid High speed .. You do not need it to froth.
egg custard
half scrambled an organic egg in coconut oil to get the “baked” egg taste. I put the kefir in the blender, and added a pinch of nutmeg, and dash of cinnamon and a teaspoon of pure vanilla of which I thought I “may” have gone slightly over board but hadn’t, 1/2 a teaspoon of xantham gum and about 1/4 cup of sweetner. I added the egg after cooling a bit, and whirled in the blender.
Filed under Educational, Little Tykes | Comment (0)
