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Let Them Be Little: Cultivating the Wonder in Your Homeschool

When my own children were little, a few wise mamas urged me not to worry about academics.

Being a former public school teacher, this was a FOREIGN concept. Weren't children supposed to read by the first grade? Shouldn't they know all of their times tables by the third grade? Wasn't a timed test of sight words necessary for future success in life? 

Shouldn't all children have generally the same skills by the third grade?

As we abandoned the ideal of public school, my preconceived notions of "what children should know" were left by the wayside, too. 

I began to realize the inherent value of PLAY, EXPLORATION, and WONDER.  (and also the value of staying in your own lane!)

Now, whenever I am in contact with moms of littles, I tell them one thing:   LET THEM BE LITTLE.  

Let them Be Little: Cultivating the Wonder in Your Homeschool

How to Cultivate the Wonder

 

Forget the "Developmental Milestones"

Developmental milestones occur at different times for different children. Don't be bound to what a book or "expert" says your child should be doing. 

You know your child the best and no expert should take the joy out of being with your child.

Please don't get hung up on READING, MULTIPLICATION TABLES, PENCIL GRIPS, and other things like that.  You will know if something is truly a problem, or whether your child might just need a little more time. 

I cannot emphasize this enough!  Society has trained us that all children should conform to certain developmental standards, and it just isn't so. Children ARE NOT standardized.

 

Read Beautiful Literature

We entered so many new worlds through books when my children were small. 

I remember a 5 year old boy crying in the back of the van as we listened to the end of Charlotte's Web - and then again a few years later when Robin Hood died. I recall a little girl immersing herself in the world of Peter Rabbit and The Box Car Children. We gave the animals in our yard names after I read The Burgess Animal Book for Children aloud one breezy week in the fall. 

We adored Paddle to the Sea - which took on so much meaning after a trip we made to Niagara Falls!

Many, many mornings were spent curled up on the sofa reading The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh with my early-bird son, and many fun Five in a Row dinners were prepared as we immersed ourselves in those beautiful books. 

Do you sense a theme here?  

We entered into the world of the book we were reading. We felt the emotions deeply. We engaged in imaginary play, and spent lots of lazy time with our books.

I guess I could have been drilling sight words, but I'm not sorry I spent those years the way I did. 

 

 

Give Them Fine Arts

Exposing children to art and music when they are little not only adds to the fun in their lives (and YOURS!), but it also builds an appreciation of beauty into your children. 

What a gift.

Take them to concerts, plays, musicals, museums, art classes - whatever you can get your hands on. When they are older you won't be able to field trip as often, so do it NOW! 

My children always enjoyed our adventures in Chalk Pastels!  I vividly remember declaring one day "Angry Birds Day" in our house -- the kids woke up in the morning and I cancelled regular school and we did nothing but Angry Birds activities -- including chalk pastel Angry Birds! 

Of course I always included TONS of beautiful music, using SQUILT, too. 

 

Encourage Creativity

This might be hard, especially if you aren't creative yourself. 

It requires a lot of letting go, accepting messes, and thinking outside of the box.

Children live in a beautiful make believe world and are desperate for us to enter it with them. Follow your children. Let them lead.

Let them create with their hands. Sewing, calligraphy, knitting, and other handicrafts are a beautiful investment in time.

Oh, and let's not forget the LEGOS - they inspired so much creativity in one of my children in particular! 

Because I was a slightly obsessive Type A mom (which I now wish I could go back and change!), I needed to have a more controlled approach to creativity (is there such a thing?!).  Notebooking was one way I could ensure my children were learning, but also having the opportunity to demonstrate that learning in a creative way. 

Cultivate Your Own Sense of Beauty & Wonder

My entire attitude towards motherhood, education - and really life - has changed so much since we began homeschooling.

Life is short. If we want to cultivate qualities in our children we must first model them ourselves.

This isn't always easy.

A few books have really helped me in this area:

 

I will say it again:  Your children will grow up. You will wish you had let them be little. You will wish you had cultivated the wonder

It is a change of heart and mind that you will never, ever regret.

Take it from me - a few dear friends encouraged me in this area and I adore the children I have now, and the WONDERful memories we share.

Let Them Be Little: Cultivating the Wonder in Your Homeschool

Good luck -- it's hard keeping our kiddos little in this world.

I know you can do it!

Resources

 

 

 

 

10 Best Books for Homeschool Moms

There are books every homeschool mom needs to have in her library.

When I finally decided to abandon the ideal of public school, a friend loaned me a bag of books to borrow during our beach vacation. 

They were her stash of best homeschooling books for moms. I devoured them on the car ride there, while we were on the beach, and on the car ride home. 

I learned SO MUCH from those books. They gave me inspiration, motivation, ideas, encouragement, and just the TOOLS I needed to begin my journey.

I have since invested in many of those same books (plus my friend wound up giving me some of them!) and happily loan them out to my friends. I also re-read these books frequently. I have also added to the books as I hear of new recommendations.

My children are constantly changing, and I constantly need encouragement and ideas.

*This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details. 

10 Best Books for Homeschool Moms

Best Books for Homeschool Moms

1.  For The Children's Sake:  Foundations of Education for Home and School

This was the VERY FIRST homeschool book I read, and I still read it each summer. It is full of so much gentle wisdom, inspiration, and advice. 

2.  A Charlotte Mason Companion:  Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning

This was the SECOND book I read. It was so helpful to me in forming my homeschool philosophy, which ultimately became an Classical/Charlotte Mason/Interest Led mix! 

3.  The Well Trained Mind:  A Guide to Classical Education at Home

This is the primer on Classical Education. It contains curriculum suggestions, a thorough explanation of the stages of learning, and so much more. I have been reading this book A LOT lately!

4. The Core:  Teaching Your Child the Foundations of Classical Education

The Core is another great primer on Classical Education. I read this book last year and it convinced me we needed to join Classical Conversations (which we start in August). Leigh Bortins offers WONDERFUL suggestions if you are interested in educating your child Classically. 

5.  Educating The Whole Hearted Child

Sally and Clay Clarkson have put together a must have resource for homeschool families. This book is full of encouragement, curriculum suggestions, book suggestions, schedules, chore charts - you name it, they have included it in this homeschool bible of sorts. 

6.  The Handbook of Nature Study

Normally this book stays in the back of my van, because I love to use it as a reference when we are out and about. If you're like me, you didn't know a lot about nature study when you started homeschooling, and I feel it is such an INTEGRAL part of appreciating God's world. 

*Guess what?  My friend Barb has an entire blog, The Handbook of Nature Study, devoted to this book. It's a fabulous resource.

7.  Pocketful of Pinecones:  Nature Study with the Gentle Art of Learning

This book, actually in story format, inspired me to slow down and enjoy my children. It showed me that we needed to spend time being TOGETHER, not me scheduling "activities" for them to do. It's a sweet read that refreshes tired souls. 

8.  The Homeschool Experiment

I laughed OUT LOUD while reading this book. It's written by a young homeschool mom who shares her escapades, triumphs, failures, and dreams in story format. I read it in two nights - it was THAT good. 

9.  Soundbites from Heaven:  What God Wants Us To Hear When We Talk to Our Kids

This is a great devotional - and it made me think a lot about how I speak to my children, and what that says about myself and my walk with God. It was a bit painful to read, but I believe it grew me in an area where I needed (and still DO need) work.

10.  Weapons of Mass Instruction:  A Schoolteacher's Journey Through the Dark World of Compulsory Schooling

If there are ever days where I feel tempted to flag down the big yellow bus, I sit and read this book. John Gatto tells the tale (in no uncertain terms) of the effects of compulsory schooling on our culture. While I believe everyone makes their educational choices for different reasons and homeschooling doesn't work for everyone, I FIRMLY believe our current system of compulsory schooling fails our children. 

You CAN Homeschool: Encouragement for the the Journey

Another book I think you MUST have (wink) is my free eBook!  I wrote this book to encourage and equip homeschooling parents.  

Download the book for free -- I hope it blesses you! 

 

 

 

Do YOU have a favorite homeschool book that has helped you greatly on your journey? I'd love to know what it is!

10 Best Books for Homeschool Moms