Cool! My dgd will be 2 in March and is still bad about putting things in here mouth. Hmm, even the just turned 3 yr old is guilty! The older one is fascinated with smells and for some reason automatically puts things into her mouth! I think you've gotten alot of good input! My older kiddos were all in ps but we are now hsing my 13 yr old "baby". All of my kiddos were ahead going into preschool but that came from alot of reading on my part (to them) and I later realized how little I "baby talk" to them. Even now, the 22 mo old dgd is putting together full sentences that sometimes blow my mind. Both of the girls love Dora and are picking up words in Spanish. It's amazing how everyday things turn into "school" for them. I was sitting with the younger one a couple of days ago and she was picking up crayons so I was telling her the colors as she did that. She picked up a white one, I told her white, then she looked at the crayon pile and proceeded to pick up another one and said "white" which thrilled me! My dd (their Mom) has been told by people that they can tell the girls are read to and talked to by the way they talk.
We play, play and play some more with my two preschoolers. We read lots of books, but only when they are in the mood for them. I did this with my oldest too, who started school in public school in K.. and he was well over a year ahead of his peers who went to organized preschools. I pulled him after 1st grade when he was reading on a 5th grade level and there were still kids in his class who couldn't read at all.
I'm another play mom. My DD is 7 and we are just now starting to get more formal, although we are not completely there. We are in PA, very heavily regulated but not until they are 8. My DD is very advanced - she was reading at 3, was reading Charlie & the Chocolate Factory at 5 - but pretty much all we did is play and read. At 2 and 3, my primary curriculum is to read to them and to build blocks and all the other stuff previously mentioned... I'll throw this out, too. One thing I have done with all our kids is family scripture study, but rather than reading the kids' versions with the simplified language, we read the King James version. We do a lot of explaining as we go, but the result is that my older kids (7 and 6) feel more comfortable with the language and have a better understanding when they pick up their own scriptures to read. Similarly (well, from an academic perspective), my son started reading Calvin & Hobbes at 4 or 5, and everyone has been amazed with his vocabulary. We haven't done spelling lists or vocab words with either of them because they are avid readers who absorb vocabulary. Last note: you said you were expecting a new baby. Some people are awesome at continuing to juggle things like a curric with a newborn, but I am not one of them. For me, it would very tough to try to fit a new baby in a schedule with a cold curric, and if you don't have to, I don't recommend it. Even if you have to, I've heard of moms who take time off from school with a new baby in the house to a) adjust to the new routine and b) let their kids learn about the baby. I always go with the simplified version of life postpartum. But that may just be me. SG
The O.P. mentioned Brighter Vision. Are they still around? I've been to their webpage and all the links are dead. I agree with everyone that toddlers do not need or benefit from "formal education", but Brighter Vision boxes didn't offer that at the early ages. The workbook for toddlers was just an idea book for the parents for finger and motion play and rhyming games. My kids loved the theme-centered CDs even though the repetitive melodies drove me a little crazy. I mean, really, how many different lyrics can you put to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star! Anyway, I liked Brighter Vision Learning Adventure boxes; I'd give them as gifts if I ever found them again.
I think the ladies have given some really good advice. My dd is 21 months and we are pretty much in the same situation. I have never done any formal schooling with her. We mostly play, watch educational shows, and read a ton. She is totally in love with books. We will be starting Before Five in a Row in a couple of months and go at her pace and only when she is in the mood. Again, nothing formal.
Yes this is basically where we are at. Not really curriculum per se but just a start on these types of things. I'm also not sure if I really want to invest in anything yet...financially speaking. Brighter Vision is a subscription so its a monthly cost. I'm not sure about Five in a Row. I haven't done enough research on that yet.
I also have a "bright" preschooler (25 mo.), but as someone at the top said, I think it's just due to the time and attention given her. I do not have any homeschool experience, but here is what we do and have had good results with so far. I am an ex-public school teacher. I have a current certification to teach from the state and I tutor a local 4th grader. (Heehee, not bragging, just background there, like buttrfli said.) Hannah and I have "school" everyday (unless we're busy with something that doesn't allow it) in our "classroom." She takes great joy in ringing our big 'ol bell and yelling, "SCHOOLTIME!" Baby dolls and bears are allowed. We have a little desk and a mini piano, alphabet strip and globes, maps, scripture of the week, etc. even a "culture window" - which is currently on "AFRICA." I'm not using any bought curriculum, I just weekly make a simple lesson plan about things I want us to go over. Each day we do school for approx. 20 min. Generally, she is very involved and excited. If not, I try not to press it. We do things outside and fun science experiments (peep and his big world - google it). We read a ton and go to weekly library StoryTime. I have a lot of fun with it and I truely feel she does too. We also love starfall.com, as someone mentioned, and use her My First LeapPad that she got for her 2nd b-day. We've tentatively started the Sidney Ledson reading program, but are taking it slowly. Anyway, that's us. The nice thing is, I can always slow down or speed up.
My oldest and youngest did everything early! When my dd was 20 months old, she was this tiny little thing, but had a huge vocabulary! I wash I'd written down more of the sentences she put together! People always did a doubletake cuz she was so tiny, yet talked so well! She'd go out with me to greet people coming in to church. She knew everybody's name and would say, "Good morning Mr. Jones!" People loved it! She loved learning, and so did my oldest when he was little! They were quite advanced for their ages! My middle one was very laid bacck. He loved to sleep and wasn't interested in being read to (he'd fall asleep), or learning things. He was content to follow his big brother around and play quietly on his own or with big brother and, well....sleep! BUT, when he was 7 suddenly a light went on for him, and he couldn't get enough of reading and math especially! Within a couple of months he had caught up with and passed other kids his age! He still devours books! I was a little worried, honestly, about my middle one, but by the time they were all 10, there was no difference, even before that, actually! As brilliant as the kids are at those ages (their minds are like sponges and they want to learn everything!), there are periods of time where they tend to slow down in some areas and move on to something else. They put all their effort into the other thing or things that they are now learning. So sometimes parents or teachers get frustrated with them and say, but you just knew this a week ago! But it's a natural part of maturing, and it WILL all come together in the end--without pushing or nagging, or frustration! As some of the other ladies said, they have the whole rest of their lives to "do school"! What you've been doing is working, why change it? Do the natural things like you have! Let your child be a child! Encourage him, read to him, but try not to cross the line into pushing him! You want him to keep picking up on things and learning things, and right now it's being done naturally, as the day goes and as the little boy goes. That's what most parents do, and especially oldests do so well because the parent(s) have the time to spend doing that stuff with them! Keep the natural FUN things! Answer his questioons, play fun games, go on nature or just fun walks, point out things of interest, have him tell you things he saw, try and do jumping jacks, oncce the weather is good be outside a lot and let him roll on the grass, do somersaults, etc. Keep it light and natural. I find it interesting that often a child does very well with something, so we reward them--with more and harder work!!! Resist the temptation to try to advance him farther than he honestly may be ready for. Let him take the lead, just provide fun stuff for him to do. Playing with dried beans or rice or water with different size containers is fun for that age! It helps them learn emasuring and sizes and volume. I used to put a stool by the kitchen sink and fill one side with water. My dd could stand there forever almost playing with those! Okay, about you wanting him to have something for when the baby is home: You can get fun craft things and make sandwich ziplock baggies with simple crafts/games/coloring/felt things, etc. that he can do pretty much on his own. I'd make up at least 10 or so. On the days after you get home with the baby and may be very tired, hand him a bag, let him know what a big and special boy he is to get to do these bags, and let him work with that for awhile! You can google different things that you may be able to use, or ask people on here. That way he has something special that he, as mommy's special big boy can do, that the baby can't do, and it keeps him busy in a positive way! Then show off what he makes to others, hang the pictures, or whatever... All that I wrote doesn't neccissarily pertain just to you, just more of a background... Best wishes to you! Let us know what you do and how it goes!
You might check out www.artofproblemsolving.com and click on the bookstore. You want to look at the Kitchen Table Math book (the others are way advanced LOL) The kitchen table math book is about doing stuff at home with 2-8 yr olds to develop math sense and have fun.
