I feel horrible. We took a break for the month of April and my 6 yo dd started to cry when she found out we were starting school again on Monday. I have three other girls ages 13, 10, & 8 and they do get most of my time. Sometimes I only have time to do just the basics with her. We use First Language Lessons, Rod and Staff math and Abeka for reading. We all do bible and history together and we did a lapbook for science. I would appreciate any help and ideas. I want her to love learning but instead I am squashing it.
Help! my 6 yo hates school already
(13 posts) (8 voices)-
4 girls + Doug
MemberPosted 3 years ago # Report Post -
When did you start school? September? January? another time?
Just wondering if she has had time to get used to the school routine or not... My 6yo son hated school for quite a while, but we missed a few days a while ago, and he wanted to know when we were going to do school again because he missed it...
Posted 3 years ago # Report Post -
4 girls + Doug
MemberWe started school in September, took a break in December for Christmas and then one in April. Last year was different. I used My Father's World Kindergarten curriculum and she liked that. Now that she has to do school "for real" she has started to rebel. Math is the subject she does not like the most. We tried Math U See and she didn't like that either once she had to "think" about it. Taking time to have to read and write her letters is something she would rather not do either.
Posted 3 years ago # Report Post -
MelanieC.
MemberHi!
I do not claim to be an expert by any means, but I mostly wanted to encourage you. I am sure you have been seeking the LORD in the matter but don't give up going to Him every day asking Him to give your dd the desire and curiosity she needs to learn. Everyone at some point runs into something they do not want to do. With little ones we just need to consistently teach them that there are things of importance that we must do. I use alot of games that teach lessons with children and we have made some lapbook games. One was addition and subtraction- We glued a drawing(a very simple drawing) on the inside of a manilla file folder of about nine beehives with answers on them(1,2,3,4,etc.) and made funny little bees with the problems on their backs. She loves figuring out where the honeybee's correct hive is. I even used this one with my son at that age. Every child is different and she probably needs to grow into the idea of school but educational games can give that "playful" feeling to her while she's still learning. Just hang in there, keep on praying, and keep up the good work. I'll be praying for you ,too!
MelaniePosted 3 years ago # Report Post -
4 girls + Doug
MemberThank you so much for you encouraging words! You basically said what I have been feeling. It's nice to hear it from someone else. I think she will really enjoy the beehive so I'm going to give it a try. Thank for your prayers, too!
Posted 3 years ago # Report Post -
themama
MemberI would like to gently offer a different perspective. I'm guessing that she probably is a curious child who does love learning. She probably just doesn't like formal learning, which is completely normal for a child her age. Make sure you are doing short lessons, even 10 mins of reading or writing is enough, and that does not even have to be daily. Make math completely hands-on and incorporate it into everyday life as much as possible.
Often young children get pushed too much, even when we think what we are expecting is not too much, and they get burned out and come to hate school. Try to re-define your idea of what learning is. It does not have to look like traditional schoolwork. Look for learning in your day and label it in terms of school subjects for your own peace of mind or for records. Read books. Expose her to many topics. Explore the outdoors. Feed her interests. Work together. Build character. Enjoy each other. and yes, pray, asking God to show you what He wants your daughter to learn today.
(In my experience, teaching a child to do things they don't want to do can best be done through chores and life, not through forcing formal schoolwork on young children. Cultivate a love for learning when they are young. So many things, like handwriting and math, will be so much easier and go so much faster for them when their bodies and brains are actually ready. Read books by Raymond Moore for more information.)
Posted 3 years ago # Report Post -
4 girls + Doug
MemberThank you, themama. That's what I want for her. i start hearing what other people are doing and what other 6 year olds are learning, then I feel pressured for her to do every worksheet in her mathbook, to make sure she knows her math facts, and so on. I keep thinking that if we don't start now, she will get behind. Your right, I don't want to foce her before her brain is ready. She is so cute when we go on our walks. She stops and looks at everything. When we drive down the road you hear her say "Cattails!" or "I saw a Killdeer!" I want more of that for her. I'm going to read the books you suggested. Thanks again.
Posted 3 years ago # Report Post -
themama
MemberI understand. I have felt that pressure, too, and caved. I have my regrets and now just try to pass on the "relax" message. :)
Posted 3 years ago # Report Post -
Your daughter sounds like mine, even down to the stopping and noticing everything when you're walking outside.
And that can be frustrating if you're a driven, Type-A personality like me.She may just not be ready for formal learning yet, even though she's six. I noticed with my dd that the more I pushed, the more she resisted. We recently stopped doing formal reading lessons all together because it was such a forced time, and I really wanted it to be something she enjoyed. Instead, we were both hating it.
Maybe your daughter needs some time totally away from "formal school." Perhaps allowing her to quietly sit in on the other's lessons as she pleases would be a gentle way to generate an interest, as long as she's not a distraction. I believe she'll be fine as long as she's getting plenty of time outside, you (or your older children) are reading good books to her, and giving her beans or blocks to play with. Allow her to participate in the less stressful, more enjoyable subjects like composer study, picture study, and poetry and see how she does with those.
Above all, I had to make peace with myself that it was ok to stop formal instruction with my daughter in the interest of preserving our relationship and her spirit. I did write a blog on this topic, and I received some very encouraging feedback. You're welcome to read it if you like, http://www.todayindietzville.blogspot.com. The title of the post is Real-life Homeschooling.
I hope that helps,
Lindsey
Posted 3 years ago # Report Post -
1cor1031
MemberI must agree with the "stepping back" method, if you will. Last year my dd5 in first grade did not want to read at all and had no interest. I was near tears, so I stopped with those lessons and let her listen more to her sister and myself read. At the beginning of this school year she did not want to read her math problems and would sulk if she was made to do them. Today, I am glad to say that she finished "Storytime with the Millers" with little to no help from Mommy and tomorrow she is excited about starting "Prudence and the Millers". My oldest was the same with math and since stepping back, she is improving also. Just hope that this encourages you. I had to decide why I was raising these children and the direction I wanted them to go. After I determined I wasn't raising them for the "state", but for God's glory, my perspective was changed.
God bless your endeavors,
Jessica
Posted 3 years ago # Report Post -
I have to agree with the others who have talked about too formal learning for this age. Even my 71/2 year old's head would explode if I tried to be too formal. I was especially concerned when you said you were using ABeka reading. I mean, I think they are extremely thorough and appropriate, but it was way too detailed for us--too much pressure. There were too many rules presented at this age for my kids.
I decided to just have my son learn to read using the scriptures and other fun real books, and his reading took off.
Also, math worksheets at this age at my house are made up by me. They love that. We do "language lessons" by talking about sentences and parts of speech from our read aloud books after the reading.
We also have school haters, and it's really hard sometimes.
I'm really glad I found this forum so full of encouragement and honesty.
Posted 3 years ago # Report Post -
Esby
MemberI'll pipe in with the "relax" message too. Sometimes you can cover the same material simply by calling it something different. Rather than say, "School time!" you can say, "Let's read this book together for awhile." Or, you can postpone some material. Six years old is still so young...don't cave to the outside pressure that six year olds need lots of academic and book learning. There is time later for that.
I like the advice of spending as much time outdoors as possible at that age, learning household chores, and getting into good habits that will make formal schoolwork easier down the road.
Posted 3 years ago # Report Post -
4 girls + Doug
MemberThank you so much for your encouraging words and ideas. We're going to take a walk today to pick up the Raymond Moore book from the library and my dd is having fun playing with her bee math on the kitchen floor. Thanks again, ladies, for taking time during your busy days to help!
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