I had something to prove. I homeschooled when it wasn’t cool to homeschool. My kid couldn’t fall behind; in fact he should be smarter than everyone else his age. I played the one upmanship – like every other mom – my kid could sing his ABCs and count to 20 before most other kids, read fairly early, and memorized bible verses faster than his friends.
23 years later …
I have nothing to prove. If you haven’t heard, homeschooling works. I’ve graduated 4, and 3 have gotten into college, they are productive citizens of this great country – they even vote … unlike most of their peers.
As I start fresh, with a new child, I commit
- Not to worship my child, but worship God, her creator
- Not to play the one upmanship game, but encourage other moms to be true to themselves and their children
- Not to use my child to define myself
- To listen patiently and kindly to other people’ s advise, then ignore what doesn’t work for us
- Not to compare my child to other children, but record her individual progress
- To enjoy my child where she is now, rather than wishing or pushing her forward
- To realize I have 13 years to teach her before college, and she doesn’t need it all now
- To listen more than lecture
- To give time to “do it myself” vs doing it for her because we’re in a hurry to get somewhere or do something
- To observe and respond, rather than fabricate lessons
- To include her in my adult activities (like cleaning) instead of arranging my life around activities I design for her
To sing together- To look for fairies under leaves together
- To play together
- To memorize Bible verses together
- To paint together
- To lay and watch the clouds together
- To tell fairy tales together
- To use all of our senses to experience the world, not just read about how it works
- To stop and smell the roses we planted together
- To dance under the stars together
- To sit and be quiet together
After looking at me like I am a relic from the past when I state I don’t believe in early academics, the shock wears off, and I’m often asked “Why?” I like to answer the question with a question, “Why do you believe in early academics?” Although it is the socially acceptable thing to believe in, most can’t give a good reason. I can defend my position scientifically and logically, but more importantly I can defend my position from experience and heartfelt emotion. My daughter has years of academics ahead … I want to enjoy her childlike wonder as long as I can.
Read more about it:
One of the first articles I read – that started changing my mind – on early academics:
Teach our Children to Write, Read, and Spell by Susan R. Johnson, MD
http://www.youandyourchildshealth.org/youandyourchildshealth/articles/teaching%20our%20children.html
Other awesome reports:
Lively Minds: Distinctions between academic versus intellectual goals for young children by Lilian Gonshaw Katz, PhD
https://deyproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/dey-lively-minds-4-8-15.pdf
Crisis in the Kindergarten Why Children Need to Play in School
