Baby & infant
Homeschooling with a Newborn
I began this school year with the birth of another son. I have discovered that homeschooling with a tiny baby can be exhausting...but certainly not impossible.
A homeschooling mother of nine recently advised me to teach reading while the baby is nursing. I have expanded upon that, and teach everything I can while the baby is nursing. I have also learned to take advantage of those times when my older children wake up before the baby, and start school before breakfast.
I use a sling to ''wear'' my baby for much of the day. This is a sanity saver, especially during those times when everything seems to be happening at once. It communicates to the older children that I can meet the baby's needs and still meet their needs, too. Additionally, I think that a ''worn'' baby learns a lot more about life, just by being with mother and observing what she does, than a baby who spends most of his day in an infant seat. Education begins at birth!
Finally, it helps to be flexible and set realistic expectations. Decide which educational goals are most important to you this year, and try not to overextend yourself. Remember, children learn so much by participating in family life. A unit study, even an informal one, on caring for a newborn can include a wide range of subject areas. For example, we've spent a lot of time over the past weeks discussing mammals, and how they are different from birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
Try to relax and enjoy your baby, your older children, and your homeschool. | | titus245mama |
| | Baby & infant
Ideas for Toddlers
To keep the ''terrible two's '' from happening in a toddler, moms should be able to make a habit of talking to their toddlers in a ''school'' manner. for example:
Do you want the RED apple or the YELLOW banana?
This is a BIG watermelon and this is a LITTLE grape.
Count together everything and anything, their toes, mommy's fingers, plates on the table, baby carrots in their plate, etc.
Discipline plays the most important role in homeschool, and it will pay when you get together with friends to school; because they will know the basic things, colors, numbers, letters, sounds, opposites, directions, etc. they will know to pay attention to others or even just to yourself.
And finally, Encourage them to tell others about the things they learned with you at home ( so they don't get used to listen just to mommy in our home). It will be a pleasure for them to continue learning because you did it gradually, and habitually; and a pleasure to you, because you are doing one of the callings that God placed for us mothers to do. | | callalilly34 |
Homeschool helps
Starting Your Child's Education Early
Even though your child is learning to read and write at a young age (under 5), please don't start them in kindergarten until 5 or later. It is exciting and works well when they are young, but they do grow up and when they get in high school they are a year younger than everyone else. They may not be mature enough to handle the high school work load. Also, that puts them graduating a year early and going to college a year early. Will they be mature enough and responsible enough to handle college at age 16 or 17?
Don't just think of the now, look at their future. I know, I did it and am now regretting it. Go ahead and let them learn to read, write, or whatever, but don't call it kindergarten. Just let them learn and enjoy. No one said they had to do kindergarten work because they are in kindergarten, or 5th grade work because they are in 5th grade. They can do work above their grade level and not move up to that grade level. | | hsmomofthree |
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