Week Five: Small Hands Can Do Big Things

Do not let your grand ambitions stand in the way of small but meaningful accomplishments.

-Bryant McGill

 

 

     So, totally by accident, we worked on our fine motor skills this week. It was good practice and my sidekick did great! Here's our week in pictures:

 

"n" is for necklace! And nothing is better than a necklace you can eat!

Our number this week was 12. So little sidekick got to pick out 12 star stickers to put in his sky.

"r" is rice and rainbow! This was really fun! Plus we have lots of leftover rice for more projects!

     We also worked on distinguishing between "big" and "small". We made block towers and pillow towers at home. Later we found things out in the world to compare. It's so fun to see his mind think and grow with all these new ideas!

 

     Here's where our ideas came from this week:

http://www.mudhutmama.com/preschool-homeschool-lesson-plans-week-5-age-3/

 

     And here's the link I used for the rainbow rice:

http://www.africanbabiesdontcry.com/2012/03/tutorial-how-to-make-rainbow-coloured.html

 

 

Lesson Five: Doing It His Way

Between the dark and the daylight,
When the night is beginning to lower,
Comes a pause in the day’s occupation,
That is known as the Children’s Hour.

The Children's Hour (1860)

 

    

    Learning to follow instead of lead is one of the harder lessons I've endured while watching my sidekick grow. I always want to make sure he's going in the right direction, doing the right thing, saying the right words, keeping up with the "norm" of his age. It took about a year before this wore off and I still have times when it comes back with a vengeance. We're a constant work in progress.

 

   It became a little easier to let go around the time that he really began to express his own ideas and opinions (other than when he thought he should eat.). It became more fun to watch and follow than to lead and guide. Don't get me wrong, I still help him along the way. A lot. He's only two and besides, I can't help it. I'm the momma, it's just how it is. Once we all get used to this fact, happiness will abound for all! ;)

  

    If you take a step back sometimes and just *watch* your child learn, I have no doubt that you will be amazed. For example, I tried to teach my sidekick how to sign when he was still quite young. But I had trouble keeping up with it so, we stopped. BUT! Just a week or so ago, he picked up on signing "thank you" and "smart"! All on his own! Well, with the help of Blues Clues (thanks, Steve!). So, now we sign those and a couple of others and he loves it!

 

   I, consciously, took a step back this week and let him lead. I would put out our school project but let him decide when to sit and work on it. I didn't moan and groan when he wanted to stop and play in the "beach" (sand pit) near the track. I made sure we had enough time for him to make his own decisions to guide our day. It was fantastic!

 

    He proved to me that he does love to do school and enjoys the projects I set up for him. He reaffirmed in my heart how smart, how special, and just all together how amazing he is for a little human.

 

    I encourage every parent to try this. Make time for your little to lead you. Give them a day of "YES!". I understand that real life must happen. Not every day can be full of yeses and that's okay. But it will show them you respect their thoughts and their hearts if you can try. And that, in itself, is a life lesson that they will always remember.

 

    Be their guiding light but don't forget to let them shine.

 

 

Week Four: Hands On

What was on my mind as I was walking that wire? I was thinking, if I can do this… then I have two ways to cross the yard.

Phil Dunphy (Modern Family)

 

     This week we did more hands-on activities and we had a blast! He loves to do anything hands-on and I think he learns a lot more by doing it himself.

 

Here's an eye-full of our hands-on week:

 

We talked about "dirty" and "clean". We put a little toothpaste on our toothbrush and "cleaned" our egg.
{He then tried to brush our black labs so they could be clean too. Sigh, this kid!}

We made number cookies! We had a lot of fun rolling out the dough, smushing the cookie cutters into the dough, adding the right number of chips (which included eating twice as many), and then patiently waiting for them to bake and cool.

"I " is for ice! (We used coarse salt and the shaker was the most fun part!)



The sidekick was really into helping with chores this week.

Pattern fun! This is a great investment and we had a lot of fun!
Matching colors, shapes, practicing shape names, all good things!

"p" is for Pancakes on a Pink Plate with Purple Paper. Phew!
He even colored on the butter and syrup.

And they were delicious!


Things we learned this week:

Getting to eat our lessons is the best idea ever! It makes me happy that we can have fun in the kitchen together since it's one of my favorite places. I took time this week to step back and do things at his pace and we seemed to get through a lot more and he seemed to learn more as well.

 

Lesson learned, sidekick. :)

 

Where some of our ideas came from:

http://www.mudhutmama.com/preschool-homeschool-lesson-plans-week-4-age-3/

 

Lesson Four: Patience

Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.

A Few Maxims For The Instruction Of The Over-Educated (1894)

 

 

 

    Teaching a toddler can test every skill you think you've earned and learned as a parent. Just when you think you've got the hang of it, they throw a curveball. The metaphorical wrench goes into the machine that you've worked so hard to keep well-oiled and running smoothly.

    

    {But with each wrench thrown, each curveball headed straight for your well thought out plans, you learn something too.}

 

     When I decided that homeschooling was what I really wanted to do with my sidekick, I had no idea what I was really getting us into. I thought I did. I had done my research, talked to plenty of people who started YEARS ago before all the "cool stuff" came out. Little did I know, that most of it (minus some good advice) wouldn't do either of us any good. Each day is new day for us to learn together and we learn differently than any other parent and child.

     I've learned what time of day works best for "school time", what he's ready for (and what he's not), what I'm ready for (and what I'm not), how to make every project seem like the MOST fun thing EVER (in the 10 minute timespan that I can get his full attention). Yeah, the list goes on. But the most important thing that I've learned these past weeks is something my little sidekick taught me. Patience. It's something that I've been hinting at in my past blogs but it really hit home this week.

     You don't have to get every thing done on its assigned day.

     You can spend all day at the park.

     You can spend the afternoon cuddling with your little watching his favorite movie...even though it's been on repeat for what feels like a month (or forever).
     You can do it however and whenever works best for you and your kid.

 

    It seems simple. But it's also simple to get caught up in the work. In the schedule. But the cure is, again, simple. Follow your little. Read into their moods, ask them what they want to do.
    I tried to really keep this in the front of my mind this week and it seemed to do us both some good. I'll keep practicing and learning with my sidekick. Just waiting for him to teach me something more as we continue to learn together.

 

     Here's to patience. Here's to learning with your sidekick. You are each others most important teacher. And you are doing great!

Week Three: Time Flies

Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.

Phrynette Married (1911)

This week, I got caught up in errands and outside life so, our schooling got put on the back burner. Time and I were not on the same schedule. Time went too fast and I went too slow. However, we did manage some good school time by the end of the week.

Here's what we did:

"t" is for tracks! We had fun "vrooming" our cars on {and off} the road.

8 fish in a fishbowl. We counted them multiple times before it made it to the wall of fame.

Apple printing! Turned into a big, green, glob of a mess but finding a new way to make Art is always fun!

Things we learned this week:

It takes a lot of motivation, some days, to get stuff done. It's going to take a lot, on my part, to keep us in this. And that's okay. I'm willing to do it. Plus, we always have fun once we sit down and do something! He's always so proud when he completes a project and for him to have that kind of feeling... {sigh} ...I'd do just about anything. I'm already super proud of him.

 

Where some of our ideas came from this week:

http://www.mudhutmama.com/preschool-homeschool-lesson-plans-week-3-age-3/



Lesson Three: Technology

What a world we live in these days! The age of the ever-improving iPhone, tablets galore, handheld everything!

     I'm one of those that can remember when we first got a computer (huge box screen and all) and how it took f.o.r.e.v.e.r. for it to "dial" into the Internet, and twice as long to download anything! I remember my dad's first cell phone. It came in a bag...with a shoulder strap and HAD to be plugged into his car to work. Not to mention, it still had a cord! I had a pager. A what? A pager! A small device that buzzed and dinged with a number across the screen then you had to find a phone (like a pay phone {GASP!} I know) and call the number back. I grew up having to remember phone numbers of my family and friends. I didn't have a device that I store them all in. Unless I carried around a notepad or an actual phone book. What nonsense!

Ok, I'm not really that old or anything. But all this technology sort of swept us off our feet, right?

This toddler of mine has been born in a time where everything we want or need can be found at our fingertips. He plays on both of his parents iPhones. He has his own set of apps on all our devices. He knows how to swipe to unlock them, find the app he wants, adjust the volume. You name it.
{He has a tendency to play, unbeknownst to me, with my alarms. I've woken up a few nights to the blaring of my alarm at 2:42am, only to find the other 12 alarms set for the next 10 minutes, consecutively, as well. It's a good time...for those who like to be totally confounded in the middle of the night.}
He tries to touch the screen on the laptop because as of now, the idea of a "mouse" is nothing more than a squeaky animal. We're working on it. :)

But there is good to all this technology, if you don't let it run you over. For example, we have apps for him to practice his writing, learn his numbers, letters, colors, work on his languages, matching, seek and finds. Of course, he's also into Plants vs. Zombies but we all need a little fun, right?

All I'm saying is, don't balk at the idea of your little one playing on your phone, tablet, laptop, or whatever you have. They want to be like you. They want to learn and play like you. Just give it to them within reason. Give them a game that they can learn something from (remember that repetition is key and games can be very helpful in that area) and watch their little minds expand. If you keep an eye on how long they are on these new-fangled contraptions and what they are doing with their time on them, it can be used to an advantage and not a mind-numbing hindrance.

{Remember to take them outside too! Don't rely on these to do your job (not that you would! Not that I do either!). But, if I didn't put that disclaimer, who knows what people would say about me.}

Enjoy all the ways you get to learn with your little one. Enjoy every moment.

Week Two: Finding Fun!

Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

-Ferris in Ferris Bueller's Day Off

 

 

 

     We had a pretty fun week! We got an extra day with Daddy, we survived two hours in a car dealership, and enjoyed some beautiful weather.

 

Let us SHOW you our week:



YAY! Daddy got to help with school this week!



"s" is for snake! We also searched for "s" things all week on our adventures.



We had to take our "Bella" car in for a check up. So, here we are stuck at the dealership for 2 hours!
We took our school and did our project on location!

 





Cutting was a hard concept for his little hands. But we will continue to practice. I have no doubt he'll get the hang of it, in his own time!



We matched color and numbers! It was a lot of fun to mix it up and watch him figure it out.
This will be repeated often!





Spray bottles with a paint+water mixture. Leaves from our field of adventure. Lots of fun!

 



It was a messy success! Thinking of trying this as an art project without the leaves and more colors.





We "hung around" the park as part of our schooling this week! It was gorgeous outside!



Things we learned this week:

     We, accidently, learned about Newton's Third Law of Motion {For every action there is an equal and opposite re-action}at the park. Our lesson happening when he pushed a swing and was consequently knocked down by the same swing when it came back at him.{Don't worry, he's perfectly fine.} He even did it again and again, thinking it was hilarious!

     To enjoy the moments. Don't make it all about the "work". Having fun is important to every childhood. Whether it's your kid's first childhood or your second one. :)
    That one of the joys of homeschooling is that it can be done anywhere! It's not a hindrance where you have to be stuck at table or desk, poring over worksheets. It can be done outside, during unavoidable errands, ANYWHERE!

 

Here's where our ideas came from this week:

http://www.mudhutmama.com/preschool-homeschool-lesson-plans-week-2-age-3/

 



Lesson Two: Schedules or Lack Thereof

There is only one success… to be able to spend your life in your own way.

Where the Blue Begins (1922)

 

 

sched·ule  (skjl, --l, skjl)

n.

1. A list of times of departures and arrivals; a timetable: a bus schedule; a schedule of guided tours.

2. A plan for performing work or achieving an objective, specifying the order and allotted time for each part: finished the project on schedule.

3. A printed or written list of items in tabular form: a schedule of postal rates.

4. a. A program of events or appointments expected in a given time: Can you fit me into your schedule Tuesday afternoon?

b. A student's program of classes.

5. A supplemental statement of details appended to a document.

 

     Well, that's all fine and dandy but you learn pretty quickly that you can only "schedule" so much with a toddler. Their attention span, unless it's a cartoon {or something they know you don't want them doing}, is only about 10-20 minutes. Plus, you have to make it REALLY EXCITING in order to keep their attention that long. Also, their happiness is set on some internal timer that changes daily. Good luck figuring that out! I have found that our greatest chance for success and happiness for all happens in the morning time right after breakfast. That is when I swoop in and get the majority of what I, the mom, needs to get done. Anything after that window closes depends solely on how much whining I'm willing to put up with that day.

 

Luckily, my little guy likes to learn and create. But even then, I better make it quick or it's going to be a "mommy project" and then who's really learning what the letter "s" is for?

 

Needless to say, our schedule is mainly dependent on him and his whims. You have to also add in, the real world and our need for food, fresh air, and friends. We can't stay home every.single.day. That'd be silly. So, we have two kinds of days. Home days and Errand days.

 

Home Days:

Wake up between 7-9am. Lie in bed cuddling, talking, laughing.

Eat something yummy for breakfast. {Pancakes, French toast, eggs, oatmeal, things that require time and cooking}

The kid watches some morning cartoons while I do some chores.

By now, it's around 10-11am. Now we go outside. We play with the dogs, draw with chalk, go find a park. If it's unsuitable to go outside then we travel down into the basement for some play time. He has a mini trampoline for jumping, an abundance of toys and books, I'll sometimes make a tent for hiding out and we'll watch a movie. It's always a good time!

Then it's inside {or upstairs} for lunch and nap.

 

Errand Days:

Wake up between 7 and 9am. I usually wake up before him on these days so I can get ready in peace.

Then I wake him up with kisses and get him changed and dressed while he's still half asleep and much more compliant.

Grab a quick something to eat. {poptart, granola bar or two, something/anything portable}

In the car by 10am and off to do whatever is needed to sustain us. He's much more agreeable in the mornings. {grocery shopping, clothes shopping, FRG things, lunch with a friend, the list goes on.}

I always try to have us home after lunch so he can still nap in a bed and not in his car seat. Although this does happen occasionally.

 

Evenings are the same for both. After nap, we putter around doing whatever while we wait for Daddy to come home. Then I make dinner {or the husband grills..yum!} while they get some play time in. Then it's a comfortable and relaxing evening as a family.

 

As for our homeschooling, on Home days, we turn everything off and get to work after breakfast. On Errand days, if there's time, I take it with us. Or, we work on it after nap.

 

So, we don't have a precise schedule. But I'm really okay with that. It's one of the joys of being a Stay-at-Home-Mom. As long as I plan right, I'm never in a rush. Which is good, because I don't do well in a rush. Not to mention, I'm usually about 5 minutes behind from the time I get out of bed anyway {Family trait. Can't be helped.}

 

Long story, short. Don't stress if you take on homeschooling. Especially at this age. Let them set the day and play off their moods. You don't want them to not like school! If they aren't in the mood at the normal time, just set aside some time later in the day. It will be okay. If a project you had all put together doesn't get done on the planned day. It will be okay. Add it in later in the week. I have a "free day" every week just for that. And if we get everything done then YAY! We really do get a free day. On those days, I'll get out an art-something that he hasn't played with in a while and let him create something new.

 

     Enjoy your days with your little one. Enjoy watching their faces light up when they finish a new project and see how proud you are of them. Enjoy the moments and enjoy your child.

Week One: The Start of Something New

It's all about the journey, not the outcome. -Carl Lewis


 

We hang all his artwork so he can know how proud we are of him and his accomplishments! Plus, it's good for reviewing.

 

    We did it! We finished our first week! Projects done, smiles still entact, and love all around.

This week, we worked on letters d, g, and o. We also played a matching shapes game, and found things with the number 4. Also, we went on our first nature walk.

 

Here are some pictures from our week:

"d" is for door! Ours was squeaky and made us giggle when we opened it.

Off on an adventure!

Our nature we found on our walk.

"g" is for gooey, green, glitter!

4 birds {chickens} in a nest of our own making.

"o" is for....spider? No, no! "o" is for octopus!

 

Things we learned this week:
He's not quite ready for the phonics part of letters but loves to find things that start with our letter of the day.
Mommy can't cut out birds, so we put chickens in our nest. Thanks, kid.
Our "o is for octopus" looks like a spider.

But more than anything, we had a great time learning new things this week! Can't wait to see what next week has in store!

Here's where you can find the ideas for this weeks projects:

http://www.mudhutmama.com/preschool-homeschool-lesson-plans-week-1-age-3/

Have a great week and we'll be back with more of our adventures soon!