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Newbie! Toddler Question
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I have been planning on homeschooling since about 3 years before our baby was born. I fell in love with the CM method about a year ago, when she was about a year old. I love music, and I have worked in schools and preschools (as a music teacher, a classroom teacher, and a sub). I love reading, so a literature-based approach jumped out at me. How do I make sure I’m doing enough with my toddler, without doing too much? I don’t want to over-do it with my ideas of how preschool should look after working in one for a couple of years. Right now for “circle time”, we read her library books, then I turn on my music I used in my classroom with songs about colors, numbers, days, seasons, etc. While that’s playing, we stack blocks and put people on them, do simple number and animal puzzles, and then go through a stack of flashcards (I bought them at consignment and I can’t keep her out of them). I would like to add activities such as bean bags, scarves, and rhythm sticks and more art/crafts before long. Is that too much, not enough, or about right? I have only read Karen Andreola’s “A Charlotte Mason Companion”, so I’m just not sure how simple to keep things. Thanks for any thoughts or ideas! 🙂
I think all that stuff sounds fine if she and you both like it, but definitely not necessary. Have you looked at the early years preschool guide on this site?
http://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/preschool-guide/
I have found it really helpful with my preschoolers. We focus on Bible, playing outside, habits and reading aloud. Since I have older kids they sit in on science and history readings.
You need to make sure you don’t burn yourself out on planning things before your LO reaches school age. Don’t feel like you need to always be entertaining her, but allow her a chance to explore, both inside and out. She needs to develop her imagination!
I would love the Early Years bundle with the DVD and the book, but hate to pay $9 for shipping lol. I keep searching for it on homeschoolclassifieds.com, but the one person who had it sold it before I messaged them. I’ve just had family members act like I don’t do enough with her, and of course some of her cousins are in daycare, where they do themed art and all kinds of stuff. We read a LOT and take walks most days (she may be tiny, but she can walk anywhere from 1/2 mile to 1.5 miles!). We read Bible stories along with other books at bedtime. The only TV we have on all day is my exercise DVD, then a Signing Time DVD from the library. That’s it. She would watch Signing Time all day (she does when my MIL watches her, but that’s another story) if I would let her, but I don’t want too much TV time to be a habit we have to break when it’s time for formal school. I use Music Mind Games with my piano students, and I would love to start doing that with her sometime. I don’t want to push her too much, but I don’t want to neglect her either, I guess. I’m going to have to bite the bullet and get the Early Years before long lol.
Amy-I was thinking some more about your situation this morning. My youngest is two, and her day is structured with her play in a way where she is learning to entertain herself, develop her habit of attention, and obedience as well. She does blanket time (blanket on the floor with a toy/set of toys Mommy selects), roomtime in her playpen (though you could do it in her whole room if your daughter is ready, again with toys Mommy selects), and also table time (table activity like playdough, pouring and scooping beans/rocks/beads/etc). These things are teaching her in an open ended way, yet she is also learning that I am not her entertainment. Of course she also has lots of books, playing outside, play with siblings, etc.
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