The simplicity of it.
I know it can be complicated if I make it. But so much of what our children need to learn at this young age and stage, can be learned through life.
For example...
We have a garden(its so cool that it is at the 'producing stage!!!) and I was out with my almost 6 year old today. He learned so many things with me out there today, and in kitchen afterwards. We learned about potatoes, and worms, and peas, and why plants flower. We looked and saw which plants had too much water and which weren't getting enough sun. We saw where the deer were nibbling, we talked about the layout of the garden and needing better drainage. And then in the kitchen when we were shelling peas - a whole ice cream pail of them... he created a game which included prediction and addition, and keeping track of the number of peas in each pod. And afterwards, he had to count his whole pile of "snaps" (that is what he calls the pods). Fabulous!!! So many things learned.
He has also learned from us the value of gathering produce when in season and preserving it for later. He knows where most of his food comes from and what eating healthy looks like. He knows that we don't always just by the peaches at the stand- because they may not be ripe enough, or too ripe, or too expensive.
In our house we can eat a meal completely produced by us--- how cool is that. The veggies from the garden, and the meat from my husband's hunting.
Lots of times, I doubt if I am teaching them things they really need to know, but when I look at these LIFE things that they are learning just by tagging along with us I realize they are just as important as any curriculum money could buy.
Isn't it cool how children just want to learn and are naturally curious about everything around them. I love this about them. By the way the apple tree is so EXCITING! They look delicious :)
ReplyDeletethankyou for writing this. i was starting to get scared for september, the homeschooling part. but after reading this, i am positive we made the right choice. my hope for next summer is that we can do gardening, and learning just this way. i agree that children tagging along with you is just as important as school books.
ReplyDelete