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where to start with 2 year old
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My son is 26 months old and I plan to homeschool him in the future. I stay at home with him and I’d like to give him the best environment possible. I’m not a very creative person so I have a hard time coming up with things to do with him (especially when we’re together day in and day out – which I love – and he doesn’t act bored – but I keep thinking I could be doing more with him). Are there CM principles that I could start with him now? What should I be focusing on at his age? Does anyone have activity suggestions for us?
Thanks a lot!
Dana
Focus on habit (see Sonya’ book, Laying Down the Rails), outside time, and reading great books to him.
I agree with CindyS. I wish I had known about habit training like this when ours were little. It would’ve made what we’re doing now SO much easier.
I also agree. habit training, outside time, and reading great books.
I’d add in having good classical music in the background….
and although NOT CM, I tend to feel that Suzuki Music training starting at about age 3 or 4 is very valuable (hense my nickname…)
mj, what specifically would have helped? i haven’t bought the book yet so don’t know what habit training is.
If I had to do it over again…I would start the habit training like other’s mentioned, start a home library now and read, read, read all the good books you can get your hands on, take him/her to the library for their activities, park days all the time (outdoor time), trips to the zoo, puzzles, play-dough days, painting, museums (hands-on for little one’s), limit noisy toys and twaddly books (gifts from inlaws, etc.). I can think of more if you like, but I will stop there.
If I were you…I would start reading CM material now, weed out of your mind (by asking questions) those things that are not necessary for a home education and save yourself some $$$ and time, get a binder (Planning Your CM Education might be premature, but I don’t know) to jot down ideas such as books, activities, curriculum (familiarize yourself with the material and know what you would/would not use), prices, etc. I believe after looking at things yourself and knowing your own personality you can become a good judge of what would and would not work for you.
I hope that helps and does not confuse:)
Oh, one more thing. Have fun and let him have fun, too!
Books for 2yo: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See (Bill Martin, Jr.)
Most of Eric Carle’s books are good for 2yos. Dd loves The Very Quiet Cricket. Of course, what I think she likes about it is the last page. It’s designed to make a cricket sound when the page is turned.
Goodnight Moon (Brown)
The Carrot Seed (Krauss)
It might not be too early to start Mother Goose rhymes.
How Do I Love You by PK Hallinan
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney (ds’s favorite at that age)
HTH,
Karen
Regarding books for a 2 year old, some board books we’ve loved are…
Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown The Runaway Bunny, by Margaret Wise BrownThe Big Red Barn, by Margaret Wise Brownlittle Boo! by Colin McNaughtonandRailway RhymesISBN 0-375-83175-4 , published by random houseThis is based on the Thomas & Friends show, not the original Railway Series. And it will probably only be interesting if your child is familiar with the show. We really love this book. We’ve owned other Thomas books, and most of them were just junk. Poorly written retellings of show episodes, often with confusingly laid out photos from the show. This book isn’t like that – it has actual two-page illustrations and well placed text. All three of my children enjoy this book, ages one to almost eight.
We’ve had a lot of board books come and go, but the above have been our “keepers” from child to child.
Ambleside Online has a list of suggested board books for toddlers [Moderator’s note: The Ambleside Online site license agreement states that permission is required to link to their site, and even then only linking to the home page is allowed. We have removed the link to honor their wishes.]
I’d like to try to find a Mother Goose, and some Beatrix Potter tales in boardbook form.
I think any of the “Harold and the _____” books by Crocket Johnson would be great toddler books too!
-Laura
On the homepage of this site is an Early Years link (scroll way down). There is a book list there for 3, 4 and 5 year olds. I would start collecting them or see if your library carries them. We have acquired a few for our home library and have been fortunate enough to have them available at our library.
For great books for this age, check the Five in a Row website under B4FIAR. This is for ages 2-4 and lists some great ones.
Dana, in reference to your post “What specifically would’ve helped?”; Habits such as attention, obedience, patience, sweet even temper, order, neatness (many more are written about in Laying Down the Rails that CindyS mentioned); I honestly didn’t give the children enough credit at the age of two of being able to form these habits. I thought they were too young. But the truth is, they were forming habits; just not good ones because we weren’t intentional about training them. Now I’m having to go back and help them replace the bad ones with good ones, which is a longer process. Laying Down the Rails is definetly a book I would’ve invested in when ours were younger if I’d known about it.
I love one of Charlotte’s quotes “The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days.”
The series we did on The Early Years may be another good resource for you.
A book that I’ve read to my kids since they were very little is “Christian Mother Goose.” My now 7 year old still loves it. Basically, it is Mother Goose, but written from a Christian viewpoint. You can get it from here:
But I also agree with all the other advice you have been given here. Especially about the book “Laying Down the Rails.” It is by far one of the best, and most helpful, books I have used. God Bless You and your family on this journey.
Malissa 🙂
ANother option might me the Five in a Row Series. They have one titled Before Five In a Row and that works with classic stories and then lapbook projects which my kids LOVED.
Also, OUTSIDE, OUTSIDE, OUTSIDE. Even a simple walk around your nieghborhood for 20 minutes. Look at leaves, bugs, pine cones, whatever he finds interesting. Then talk about it and make a nature notebook that has pictures of what you saw (take a camera :)), and pressed leaves, flowers, etc. in it.
Then READ READ READ. I have read to my kids since day one for a minimum of 20 minutes a day and they just LOVE to be read too. Also, check with your local library for storytime and other activities for young children if you live close enough.
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