Learning for the Little Kids

I was thinking about learning for the little kids today after reading a question from a mother trying to implement a curriculum for her 8 year old and 6 year old while also managing a 3 year old and a baby. She felt weary and overwhelmed.  I get it; I've been there. Although my children are only 10 and 6, here's what I've learned so far:

*With little children, we have to remember that they'll be with us for a long time.  There are years and years ahead of us, God willing, when we can enjoy learning together.  A six year old does not need much formal schoolwork. I think the basic scaffolding through the elementary years should be reading lessons (and then reading, once the child is able), copywork/handwriting, some form of writing (even if it's oral narrations), and math.  Then lovely things such as nature walks, drawing, playing, baking, picture books, nursery rhymes, songs, et cetera, can fill in the rest of the day.  Chores are just as important as academics.

*Habits are essential.  Develop peaceful and predictable routines (not necessarily schedules) for morning and evening, and have basic times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Work together. Cultivate kindness.  If a child is a math whiz but can't get along with other human beings, who cares how great he is at math? Kindness is a habit!

*Do what's sustainable.  If you are committed to homeschooling, do what needs to be done to prevent burnout.  Simplify, consolidate, prioritize.  Figure out what works for your personality and do that.  Some mothers need daily structure and checklists; others need flexibility and spontaneity.  Lots of us are in between. But don't try to fit a round peg into a square hole.  Know yourself!

*Talk to your children.  Don't just answer their questions in a perfunctory way while staring at a device; really look into their eyes and speak to them.  Answer their questions with counter-questions.  Try to puzzle out answers together.  Finn and I were recently puzzling out a question.  I asked him how he could discover the answer.  We talked about finding a professional in the field, reading the encyclopedia, going to the library.  He noted that he didn't want to Google it because that made it too easy.  Good point!

*Read books. Of course!  Want your children to learn how to write?  Let them read great books.  Trust me, it works.  It also teaches them vocabulary.  But more than anything else, reading together is just plain fun.

That's all I know.  Check back in 10 years for the Big Kids version.  :)