When my kiddos are older, I would like a program that I can stick with so there will be some continuity. So, the problem........If dd #1 starts MFW K this year at 4....her sister will be 2. They could theoretically start Adventures together, when they are 8 and 6 and go on from there. That seems to match the ages fairly well, but that means that I will need 2 years to "fill in" to the MFW courses for my oldest dd.
I don't want to swamp my youngest by being too far ahead of her. I don't know that I should postpone K for my oldest, since she shows the readiness signs to start.
Is it simpler than I'm making it out to be?
My Father's World
Preschool - High School Curriculum for Homeschool and Christian Schools
4-year-olds - Ready for MFK, but then what to do in future yrs?
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4-year-olds - Ready for MFK, but then what to do in future y
by snickelfritz » Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:30 pm
- snickelfritz
- Joined: Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:08 pm
by Lucy » Tue Oct 31, 2006 1:46 pm
Hi,
If you start with MFW there is no way that you would have to switch unless you choose too do so. I suggest that you try to get to a convention and look at and talk with someone there.
MFW really discourages beginning most 4 year olds into a regular school program(MFWK) until they are age 5. They have great pre-school toys and the upper program comes with a great book to help you have ideas and different levels to move your child through preparing them well for entrance into K.
If you decide you really want to start K the suggestion is to take it slowly and over a 2 year period instead of a year.
Another reason not to rush through these beginning years is that the later years do get more academic as they progress. Certainly you can move her ahead in math and language arts if she is ready, but that does not mean that she needs to skip all the other age appropriate activites. You will be glad that she is 9 when you begin year 2. Also waiting a year would allow your 2 year old more maturity to particpate in some of the K fun acitvities.
In MFW the younger siblings will glean and join in for parts of the older siblings program that they are interested in and have the attention span for. As you have said you do not want to burn your younger one out. The plan in MFW is that when siblings enter 2nd grade they join their sibling in the family cycle. Up until that point they are spending there shorter official school day learning to read and do math along with some fun science and books.
Your younger one will do MFW K and MFW1 while your older one is dong Adventures and ECC. YOu may decide when you get there to have the younger one join the older one for science and bible but not the whole program.
Also remember that any of the 5 year programs done as 2nd and 3rd graders will be repeated at a higher level in 7th and 8th grade.
MFW is also developing and piloting high school programs as well.
I hope this helps you get a picture, but I would mostly be concerned right now about the next step. MFW will be here when you get ready for the future.
Lucy
If you start with MFW there is no way that you would have to switch unless you choose too do so. I suggest that you try to get to a convention and look at and talk with someone there.
MFW really discourages beginning most 4 year olds into a regular school program(MFWK) until they are age 5. They have great pre-school toys and the upper program comes with a great book to help you have ideas and different levels to move your child through preparing them well for entrance into K.
If you decide you really want to start K the suggestion is to take it slowly and over a 2 year period instead of a year.
Another reason not to rush through these beginning years is that the later years do get more academic as they progress. Certainly you can move her ahead in math and language arts if she is ready, but that does not mean that she needs to skip all the other age appropriate activites. You will be glad that she is 9 when you begin year 2. Also waiting a year would allow your 2 year old more maturity to particpate in some of the K fun acitvities.
In MFW the younger siblings will glean and join in for parts of the older siblings program that they are interested in and have the attention span for. As you have said you do not want to burn your younger one out. The plan in MFW is that when siblings enter 2nd grade they join their sibling in the family cycle. Up until that point they are spending there shorter official school day learning to read and do math along with some fun science and books.
Your younger one will do MFW K and MFW1 while your older one is dong Adventures and ECC. YOu may decide when you get there to have the younger one join the older one for science and bible but not the whole program.
Also remember that any of the 5 year programs done as 2nd and 3rd graders will be repeated at a higher level in 7th and 8th grade.
MFW is also developing and piloting high school programs as well.
I hope this helps you get a picture, but I would mostly be concerned right now about the next step. MFW will be here when you get ready for the future.
Lucy
wife to Lee and mom to Twila 17 (girl) and Noel 15(boy). Happy MFW user since 2002. Using all MFW with 11th and 9th grader.
- Lucy
- Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 10:37 am
by Winni » Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:12 pm
I am not sure if you know or not but it is not difficult to be doing MFW K or 1st with another program (Adventures, ECC, and beyond).
We are doing ECC and 1st, and we are done within 2.5 to 3 hours.
Happy homeschooling!
We are doing ECC and 1st, and we are done within 2.5 to 3 hours.
Happy homeschooling!
- Tracey
Mother of five (14, 11, 7, 5, and 2.5)
2006- Present My Father's World
2001-2005 Sonlight
Mother of five (14, 11, 7, 5, and 2.5)
2006- Present My Father's World
2001-2005 Sonlight
- Winni
- Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2006 2:27 pm
- Location: Litchfield, Maine
by cbollin » Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:37 pm
I have found it easier than I thought to be able to teach two children who aren't on the same level. I have a 2nd grader who just joined her older sister's upper program (EX1850) this year. It is easy to teach to the second child when you remember that the younger one focuses on 3 R's and all the other material is "extra" at this age.
Don't hold up your oldest child while waiting for the other ones to catch up to some ideal age or stage. It's fine to have long range plans and think way down the road. But remember that we have to teach during the year that we are in for right now. Plan for some ideas, but teach in the real time.
If you decide to start some formal lessons with your 4 y.o this year, take it slowly and be ready to adjust along the way. Reading is only one thing that is important.
blessings
--crystal
Don't hold up your oldest child while waiting for the other ones to catch up to some ideal age or stage. It's fine to have long range plans and think way down the road. But remember that we have to teach during the year that we are in for right now. Plan for some ideas, but teach in the real time.
If you decide to start some formal lessons with your 4 y.o this year, take it slowly and be ready to adjust along the way. Reading is only one thing that is important.
blessings
--crystal
mfw customer, since 2003
oldest: done 5 year cycle, including ECC and CTG in jr. high. currently in ahl
middle: in RTR (6th) done mfw pre K- CTG,
youngest - autism. mostly works on speech therapy and plays pretend a lot.
oldest: done 5 year cycle, including ECC and CTG in jr. high. currently in ahl
middle: in RTR (6th) done mfw pre K- CTG,
youngest - autism. mostly works on speech therapy and plays pretend a lot.
- cbollin
- Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2005 3:04 pm
by Ariasarias » Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:13 pm
Just my two cents: (no hard feelings if you disagree :)
I would highly suggest doing something else when your dd is 4. My oldest dd was a very early reader and very mature. Had I known about MFW when she was 4 I would have choosen it thinking it was perfect. I think she would have done fine, but she would have missed out on some things that were designed for a five year old.
Marie has written it very well for the interest of a five year old. I was not so aware of this until my dd went through K as a five year old. As I ordered it, I actually thought I would just read through it, thinking she was probably way past it. It looks so simple, and is, yet it is so full.
I would suggest doing more preschool stuff.
I would highly suggest doing something else when your dd is 4. My oldest dd was a very early reader and very mature. Had I known about MFW when she was 4 I would have choosen it thinking it was perfect. I think she would have done fine, but she would have missed out on some things that were designed for a five year old.
Marie has written it very well for the interest of a five year old. I was not so aware of this until my dd went through K as a five year old. As I ordered it, I actually thought I would just read through it, thinking she was probably way past it. It looks so simple, and is, yet it is so full.
I would suggest doing more preschool stuff.
Nicole, wife to Claudio since 1996, and mom to dd (2000), dd (2003), dd (2005), and ds (2009).
- Ariasarias
- Joined: Wed Nov 16, 2005 12:26 pm
by snickelfritz » Tue Oct 31, 2006 7:32 pm
Looking at the preschool program, she has already mastered numbers to 10 (not writing, but knows them by sight and can solidly count to about 20). She also knows her letters, asks about starting sounds, & tries to write many of them with a pencil. She's got the "straight" letters down pretty well, but letters like "S" are a little harder. I don't spend a lot of time on this stuff, she just is really curious about letters. (She started writing the word "Boots" from a Laurie Berkner song :) ) The only problem is that, since I haven't really instructed her, she's invented the writing methods so that a "B" is 2 stacked circles. Now, I'm worried about starting a program before I have to do to much correcting on her writing.
I thought about doing reading, handwriting, math.......but it seemed like that's what the MFW program provided all-in-one. But, I also don't want the content to be too mature.
sigh.......Maybe they will be at a convention near me.
I thought about doing reading, handwriting, math.......but it seemed like that's what the MFW program provided all-in-one. But, I also don't want the content to be too mature.
sigh.......Maybe they will be at a convention near me.
- snickelfritz
- Joined: Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:08 pm
by cbollin » Tue Oct 31, 2006 8:29 pm
Sounds like you want to do a lot of good things with your 4 y.o. I think you should call the MFW office and talk to them. It is a long time before the 2007 convention season. I still think you could use a lot of the preschool program in MFW even with a child who is showing the skills you have described. The problem is that it looks too simple in the catalog and is quite deceiving that way.
I’d like to make a couple of suggestions for preschool while waiting a long time for the convention season for 2007. I don’t want you to feel discouraged. Sounds like you are trying to have many questions answered at once --- that range from when should my child start a full K program vs. a preschool program, to the overall how and why of MFW.
Or maybe you are even worrying that somehow you are already behind or doing it wrong. You are not doing it wrong nor are you behind. Don't get too concerned about letter formation in your 4 y.o She is young. It is part of the process. You're ok. {hugs } and warm cocoa all around.
For early handwriting skills:
Work with lacing materials.
Trace letters.
Let your child use scissors to cut shapes.
Trace shapes and let her cut them.
Work with as many tactile letter things as you can. Let her make letters in the sand, or in a tray of salt or grits or whatever. Make letters from playdough. Use a chalk tray. Use shaving cream on a mirror or table. (cleans with a squeezee). Use fingerpaints. Work on upper and lower case. Based on advice from my daughter’s occupational therapist, avoid the preschool package from Handwriting without Tears for a little while. Good program, but it only does upper case. You will have to teach lower case and HWT doesn’t do that until later. Their “orange book” Letters and Numbers for me is better off when child is older. The Preschool package, well….. grab some playdough and a magna doodle --- you’ll be fine.
Work on things that teach visual discrimination and sequencing (such as the Lauri Kids puzzle that MFW sells with the preschool package.) When used with the MFW preschool activity booklet, you’ll get more ideas of how it is useful. It is not just a little puzzle for a child to master in 5 minutes and then be bored with it for months on end.
For more math skills:
Math is more than counting to ten and then grabbing a workbook. Ask questions about which comes next. And how many of something do we need. All sorts of things.
Work on patterns and predictions.
Reading:
Read to your child. The book collection in the Preschool package contains 40 stories. They vary in length and listening ability.
Sing with your child.
Look at art.
Sounds like your daughter is ready for a fun year of preschool at home even if she has learned some skills early.
Please feel like you can call the MFW office (even ahead of convention season). Be sure to ask them about how to use the Preschool package. There is a lot more to it than meets the eye.
--crystal
I’d like to make a couple of suggestions for preschool while waiting a long time for the convention season for 2007. I don’t want you to feel discouraged. Sounds like you are trying to have many questions answered at once --- that range from when should my child start a full K program vs. a preschool program, to the overall how and why of MFW.
Or maybe you are even worrying that somehow you are already behind or doing it wrong. You are not doing it wrong nor are you behind. Don't get too concerned about letter formation in your 4 y.o She is young. It is part of the process. You're ok. {hugs } and warm cocoa all around.
For early handwriting skills:
Work with lacing materials.
Trace letters.
Let your child use scissors to cut shapes.
Trace shapes and let her cut them.
Work with as many tactile letter things as you can. Let her make letters in the sand, or in a tray of salt or grits or whatever. Make letters from playdough. Use a chalk tray. Use shaving cream on a mirror or table. (cleans with a squeezee). Use fingerpaints. Work on upper and lower case. Based on advice from my daughter’s occupational therapist, avoid the preschool package from Handwriting without Tears for a little while. Good program, but it only does upper case. You will have to teach lower case and HWT doesn’t do that until later. Their “orange book” Letters and Numbers for me is better off when child is older. The Preschool package, well….. grab some playdough and a magna doodle --- you’ll be fine.
Work on things that teach visual discrimination and sequencing (such as the Lauri Kids puzzle that MFW sells with the preschool package.) When used with the MFW preschool activity booklet, you’ll get more ideas of how it is useful. It is not just a little puzzle for a child to master in 5 minutes and then be bored with it for months on end.
For more math skills:
Math is more than counting to ten and then grabbing a workbook. Ask questions about which comes next. And how many of something do we need. All sorts of things.
Work on patterns and predictions.
Reading:
Read to your child. The book collection in the Preschool package contains 40 stories. They vary in length and listening ability.
Sing with your child.
Look at art.
Sounds like your daughter is ready for a fun year of preschool at home even if she has learned some skills early.
Please feel like you can call the MFW office (even ahead of convention season). Be sure to ask them about how to use the Preschool package. There is a lot more to it than meets the eye.
--crystal
mfw customer, since 2003
oldest: done 5 year cycle, including ECC and CTG in jr. high. currently in ahl
middle: in RTR (6th) done mfw pre K- CTG,
youngest - autism. mostly works on speech therapy and plays pretend a lot.
oldest: done 5 year cycle, including ECC and CTG in jr. high. currently in ahl
middle: in RTR (6th) done mfw pre K- CTG,
youngest - autism. mostly works on speech therapy and plays pretend a lot.
- cbollin
- Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2005 3:04 pm
by snickelfritz » Tue Oct 31, 2006 10:57 pm
A warm cocoa sounds lovely.
Can I just throw in that I am an ex-teacher (Algebra, pre-algebra, science, nature studies)? I'm not sure I can get past doing school without LESSON PLANS!!!!!!! :)
Thank you all for your different suggestions. I think I am off to re-read some Beechick and then to call and see what they suggest.
Can I just throw in that I am an ex-teacher (Algebra, pre-algebra, science, nature studies)? I'm not sure I can get past doing school without LESSON PLANS!!!!!!! :)
Thank you all for your different suggestions. I think I am off to re-read some Beechick and then to call and see what they suggest.
- snickelfritz
- Joined: Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:08 pm
by MJP » Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:18 pm
I like waiting until 5 to start the K. There is so much in there. I have the MFW preschool toys, along with other materials.
Melissa
Wife of 1 for 18 yrs. Mom of 7--ages 1-15--1st, 2nd, 5th, 8th and 9th grades & (one on the way)
Psalm 16:8
Currently using--1850 to Modern Times
Previously--MFW K , 1st, CtoG, RTR, Exp. to 1850
Wife of 1 for 18 yrs. Mom of 7--ages 1-15--1st, 2nd, 5th, 8th and 9th grades & (one on the way)
Psalm 16:8
Currently using--1850 to Modern Times
Previously--MFW K , 1st, CtoG, RTR, Exp. to 1850
- MJP
- Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2004 9:25 pm
by snickelfritz » Wed Nov 01, 2006 8:59 am
This is a bit rambly....but it gets to a point.
I was lying in bed last night with a jumble of thoughts in my head (anyone say candy overload!!). I started thinking about my own schooling.
In the 4th grade, we had a free choice book report. For whatever reason, I decided that I wanted to do it over "The Grapes of Wrath". I was an accelerated reader, but I only made it about half way through and it was too "boring". I have never picked the book back up and I wonder what I have missed by attempting it to early. (Maybe it really is a boring book, or maybe I would like it)
I guess the point I got (and I truly think God brought this to mind for a reason) is that just because you CAN do something, doesn't mean it is the best time. It also reminded me that I became a strong reader with NO pre-school (except teacher parents) and with phonics instruction starting in Kindergarten.
I do think my dd COULD do K, but she might miss out on other things. I didn't mention that I was a teacher to sound like I knew what I was doing. Clearly I don't! My experience was mostly with older kids and I'm feeling a bit lost planning for a 4 year old. I mentioned that I taught, because I am having a hard time getting away from "THE PROGRAM".....if that makes sense.
Thank you all for the input and advice.
I was lying in bed last night with a jumble of thoughts in my head (anyone say candy overload!!). I started thinking about my own schooling.
In the 4th grade, we had a free choice book report. For whatever reason, I decided that I wanted to do it over "The Grapes of Wrath". I was an accelerated reader, but I only made it about half way through and it was too "boring". I have never picked the book back up and I wonder what I have missed by attempting it to early. (Maybe it really is a boring book, or maybe I would like it)
I guess the point I got (and I truly think God brought this to mind for a reason) is that just because you CAN do something, doesn't mean it is the best time. It also reminded me that I became a strong reader with NO pre-school (except teacher parents) and with phonics instruction starting in Kindergarten.
I do think my dd COULD do K, but she might miss out on other things. I didn't mention that I was a teacher to sound like I knew what I was doing. Clearly I don't! My experience was mostly with older kids and I'm feeling a bit lost planning for a 4 year old. I mentioned that I taught, because I am having a hard time getting away from "THE PROGRAM".....if that makes sense.
Thank you all for the input and advice.
- snickelfritz
- Joined: Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:08 pm
by Lucy » Wed Nov 01, 2006 3:54 pm
I totally know how that is. I taught for several years and then subbed after having kids for a while. You get so used to having to "do" so much and to follow some plan, even if you do have to come up with it, that it is hard to think outside of that box.
I only ever taught upper elementary and my college training on how to really teach a child to read was limited. You just use the basil reader and T.M. right and all kids will get it. LOL
When I read your post, about you thoughts last night, I really felt that you had received some wisdom from God. I can look back and see how, especailly with my first, I thought she was ready and she was not. I have learned not to push to hard and now that she is 13 I can see now how she has grown into being able to really comprehend and understand higher academics. Oh if only I had know when I first started. I was sooo green.
I would still suggest that you check out the MFW preschool. It really is more than it looks like. The booklet that comes with it has over 100 ideas to do with the 6 toys to develop the needed skills for K. The skills are progressively more difficult in each and are divided up by catagories such as lang. development, math, reading readiness etc. Along with the music, art, and story book it makes an excellent program. Of course adding in nature walks and field trips makes it lots of fun too. I understand that it is not in a lesson plan format and that is what you really want. One thing I enjoyed doing is doing some theme's for science like leaves, apples, and cotton. I was apple to find complete lesson plans with craft ideas and books on-line. This was always lots of fun.
I hope I have not given you too much information. I know that you will be fine.God will continue to direct your paths. Hope to see you here next year when you begin K!
Blessings,
Lucy
I only ever taught upper elementary and my college training on how to really teach a child to read was limited. You just use the basil reader and T.M. right and all kids will get it. LOL
When I read your post, about you thoughts last night, I really felt that you had received some wisdom from God. I can look back and see how, especailly with my first, I thought she was ready and she was not. I have learned not to push to hard and now that she is 13 I can see now how she has grown into being able to really comprehend and understand higher academics. Oh if only I had know when I first started. I was sooo green.
I would still suggest that you check out the MFW preschool. It really is more than it looks like. The booklet that comes with it has over 100 ideas to do with the 6 toys to develop the needed skills for K. The skills are progressively more difficult in each and are divided up by catagories such as lang. development, math, reading readiness etc. Along with the music, art, and story book it makes an excellent program. Of course adding in nature walks and field trips makes it lots of fun too. I understand that it is not in a lesson plan format and that is what you really want. One thing I enjoyed doing is doing some theme's for science like leaves, apples, and cotton. I was apple to find complete lesson plans with craft ideas and books on-line. This was always lots of fun.
I hope I have not given you too much information. I know that you will be fine.God will continue to direct your paths. Hope to see you here next year when you begin K!
Blessings,
Lucy
wife to Lee and mom to Twila 17 (girl) and Noel 15(boy). Happy MFW user since 2002. Using all MFW with 11th and 9th grader.
- Lucy
- Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 10:37 am
by SandKsmama » Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:17 pm
I guess the point I got (and I truly think God brought this to mind for a reason) is that just because you CAN do something, doesn't mean it is the best time. It also reminded me that I became a strong reader with NO pre-school (except teacher parents) and with phonics instruction starting in Kindergarten.
This is so, so true. I started my son in MFW K last year at 4, and while he did fine with it, I SO wish I had either gone with the preschool or done the K at 1/2 speed over 2 years. I did stretch it out and we're just now starting with 1st grade, but he definitely is not ready to tackle it at full speed ahead now at nearly 6. We are doing every "day" of 1st grade in about 2 days. I hope that encourages you that I think you are on the right track sticking with "preschool" for a bit longer!
Amanda
Amanda, Wife to a great guy since '99, SAHM to 4 fabulous kids! DD(7/96), DS(1/01), DD(8/03), and baby DS (3/09)!
Used MFW K, 1st, ECC, CTG, RTR, Ex1850, and currently using 1850-Modern!
Used MFW K, 1st, ECC, CTG, RTR, Ex1850, and currently using 1850-Modern!
- SandKsmama
- Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2005 1:43 pm
by Ariasarias » Thu Nov 02, 2006 12:48 am
snickelfritz,
I hope you have been encouraged by the postings here. I know I always am when I ask for wisdom and advice. I just want to encourage you that God has called you to be the mommy of two little girls and has called you to teach them. In His strength, you are going to do a great job. Your education training has given you some great strengths that will be helpful in this journey, but it has also given you the doubt that you can teach them without the "proper stuff." I remember once asking a good friend of mine, who also taught math, a question about some other subject matter. Her response to me was that she had not been trained in that area so she couldn't tell me. Her training had given her the confidence that she could not teach any other subject because she had not been trained in it. :( As a homeschooling mom (this is only my second year), I have met so many other "non-qualified" moms that have successfully taught their children the 3 R's. You will do a great job. I too have been in your shoes, like others have shared, anxiously searching for the right tools to help my child learn and be well prepared for school. I'm sure your dd will do great with whatever you choose. I just want to encourage you to enjoy next year before you really have to do school. In time the 3 R's will come. Many years ago, formal lessons did not start until children were much older and they learned just fine. You'll find she will learn so much by continuing to read to her, go for walks, color together, play with playdough, make lots of messes, teach her about the bugs crawling outside, about the trees in your backyard, count her Teddy Grahams and subtract them as she eats them, make up puppet shows, as you read her favorite books - have her find words based on their beginning sounds, bake some cookies for your neighbor, finger paint, make collages .... okay I could make a list a mile long. Just looking back, I wish I would not have tried to move too quickly. I wish I would have let my 4 year old enjoy being four more.
Just a few more thoughts. I like your idea of reading Ruth Beechick again :). Good encouragement there. Hopefully it will help you relax.
If you feel you need "plans," would it work for you to make a list of goals or find one written and use that to guide your play next year? (I remember a long time ago finding goals lists for preschoolers at Hands on Homeschooling).
May God bless you and continually guide you along this journey :)
I will pray for you. I know that anxiety. I was just thinking about my second dd. She's 3.5. I definitely have not spent much time working with her to "prepare" her for school. I'm lucky to get a book read to just her each day. I was so worried when she had not learned her colors by the time her oldest sister had. :) so silly. I was watching her today as she got out some book about science. She found a very simple experiment and said "Mommy, I want to do that." She went and got the paper she needed and proceeded. I have learned in the past two years, that sometimes we worry way too much.
I hope you have been encouraged by the postings here. I know I always am when I ask for wisdom and advice. I just want to encourage you that God has called you to be the mommy of two little girls and has called you to teach them. In His strength, you are going to do a great job. Your education training has given you some great strengths that will be helpful in this journey, but it has also given you the doubt that you can teach them without the "proper stuff." I remember once asking a good friend of mine, who also taught math, a question about some other subject matter. Her response to me was that she had not been trained in that area so she couldn't tell me. Her training had given her the confidence that she could not teach any other subject because she had not been trained in it. :( As a homeschooling mom (this is only my second year), I have met so many other "non-qualified" moms that have successfully taught their children the 3 R's. You will do a great job. I too have been in your shoes, like others have shared, anxiously searching for the right tools to help my child learn and be well prepared for school. I'm sure your dd will do great with whatever you choose. I just want to encourage you to enjoy next year before you really have to do school. In time the 3 R's will come. Many years ago, formal lessons did not start until children were much older and they learned just fine. You'll find she will learn so much by continuing to read to her, go for walks, color together, play with playdough, make lots of messes, teach her about the bugs crawling outside, about the trees in your backyard, count her Teddy Grahams and subtract them as she eats them, make up puppet shows, as you read her favorite books - have her find words based on their beginning sounds, bake some cookies for your neighbor, finger paint, make collages .... okay I could make a list a mile long. Just looking back, I wish I would not have tried to move too quickly. I wish I would have let my 4 year old enjoy being four more.
Just a few more thoughts. I like your idea of reading Ruth Beechick again :). Good encouragement there. Hopefully it will help you relax.
If you feel you need "plans," would it work for you to make a list of goals or find one written and use that to guide your play next year? (I remember a long time ago finding goals lists for preschoolers at Hands on Homeschooling).
May God bless you and continually guide you along this journey :)
I will pray for you. I know that anxiety. I was just thinking about my second dd. She's 3.5. I definitely have not spent much time working with her to "prepare" her for school. I'm lucky to get a book read to just her each day. I was so worried when she had not learned her colors by the time her oldest sister had. :) so silly. I was watching her today as she got out some book about science. She found a very simple experiment and said "Mommy, I want to do that." She went and got the paper she needed and proceeded. I have learned in the past two years, that sometimes we worry way too much.
Nicole, wife to Claudio since 1996, and mom to dd (2000), dd (2003), dd (2005), and ds (2009).
- Ariasarias
- Joined: Wed Nov 16, 2005 12:26 pm
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