I started this morning working with ds5 at the table. Dd12 and dd9 have been busy doing their independent work, so dd6 was left alone for 20ish minutes to play. She went into the playroom and set up an elaborate "birthday party" for one of the dolls-tablecloth on the table, dishes, all the other dolls gathered around, party games, etc. When I finished with ds, he went off to the playroom to play while I gathered the things I needed for dd6's lesson. I expected the war to begin when he went in and messed up something she was playing with, but I was wrong. They are in there playing so nicely together! I just heard them sing Happy Birthday and now they're starting the games. I just can't bring myself to interrupt them while they're having so much fun. These moments don't happen too often around here. Thank goodness we are at home so I can allow them to play out their story! When I worked in public school, the kids would just begin to get something going before recess was over and it was time to go back to "learning" in their classroom. I just wish more people would realize the value of the things kids learn while they are playing.
Sounds to me like some un-schooling is happening!!! I would do imagination play with my DS as groundwork for later when he would be doing writing. This type of play helps them to imagine the characters in their books, understand poetry better, and visualize themes. I would count it in your hours.
YAY!!!! We aren't having a schoolish day here, I am working on reorganizing my books and making a huge pot of homemade chicken noodle soup since it's rainy and chilly here today.. we need it..lol. But, just because we haven't pulled out any "schoolish" things, my 5 and 4 year olds have had an African Safari in my kitchen, pulling out all the animals and setting them up and driving little action figures through them in their little cars. They have built a town with Imaginext, and used some Happy Meal Chipmunk things to play with a Strawberry Shortcake house and had a replay of last night when they helped daddy tear down some walls in our basement. Yep.. this is the kind of learning I LOVE to see!
That is wonderful!!!! We are going to the apple orchard and then art museum today. Love learning out of the textbook.
Awesome! It is really rainy and chilly over here so I feel like scrapping todays lessons and heading to the library but J was sick earlier this week and "missed" a day of work. I think we might do the library anyway though!
Yep! Except we didn't end up there today...time ran out at the apple orchard. I forgot they closed at 4pm T-R. On Fridays they are open to 10pm. It's free to get in but $5.00 to park. However, that is still a deal for a family to go to a museum...and that art museum is great. We are going to plan to go again tomorrow or next week.
Ava, that's no fun!!! Try this place out: http://www.legendhillsorchard.com/ It'd take forever to get to for you, but I go every year with three families. And it's really close to the Velvet Ice Cream Factory: http://www.velveticecream.com/mill/ye_olde_mill.asp Velvet has a nice picnic area and playground. We pack a lunch, pick our apples, and then eat at Ye Olde Mill (of course, we have apples with our lunch!!!). And, of course, we have to have ice cream for dessert!!! Next year, I'll let you know when we go. If you want, you could come down on Thursday night and sleep out in our living room, and then go straight home from the mill. And NO FEE for parking, lol!!!
