Self-Control, NutureShock, Tools of the Mind & Homeschoolers
I have recently been reading the book, NutureShock, by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman. I’ll admit, I haven’t finished it yet, but it’s already got my mind whirring. Essentially, it is a subject-by-subject look at emergent research in the field of child development. Each chapter covers a different topic, and summarizes and extrapolates from new research being done in that field. Topics covered include, Self Control, Lying in Children, Language Development, and Sibling Rivalry. All of the chapters I have read so far have been fascinating, and sometimes, enlightening. Last night, as I finished the chapter on self-control, my mind was whirring. It hit home with me, in particular, as I have a very active boy, who sometimes finds it hard to sit still. Sound familiar? I’m guessing a good half of people (or more) with young boys (or children) can relate. Anyways, as I read over the research on the Tools program, I started thinking about how some of their findings could apply in a homeschool setting. Here’s a quick overview. Tools of the Mind is a program that was founded in 1993, by researchers from the Metropolitan State College of Denver. Read more about it’s history here. The program combines two critical elements, play and self-control. From what I understand from Nuture Shock, these are some of the things it incorporates: 1. Learner Choice. Children are asked to choose what role they will play in the active / imaginative play in the classroom. Although topics are chosen, children choose their own individual roles. The example they give: children are told they will be playing firefighter. They are...
Why I Love Kids in the Kitchen
I’ve always been a proponent of letting the kids help me in the kitchen. Since Dylan was old enough to stir, he’s been helping me bake muffins (and the occasional batch of cookies), make smoothies and (were it but true) clean the kitchen. This has resulted in some rather interesting creations, and some very fun afternoons.
Bridging Art & Science: Watercolour Wednesdays
For today’s inspiration Monday, I thought I’d share our new appreciation for watercolour painting. Inspired by the Waldorf concept that watercolours paints are wonderful for experimenting with colour mixing, and beautiful because kids can see the light through the colours they are using, we thought we’d give them a try. We ordered some Stockmar watercolours (the three primary colours), and gave it a whirl (on a Wednesday). Here’s a quick step-by-step for those of you who are new to the process: 1. Gather Your Supplies: watercolour paper, mixing jars, watercolour paints, brushes, and, of course, water! 2. Soak your paper in water for approximately 10-15 minutes. We did ours in the kitchen sink. 3. Add paint to your jars. This could, but doesn’t need to be, an exact science. I went for a blob in each jar, and filled each one 1/3 of the way with water. The first time, it was too watery. So, the next time I went for a bigger blob of paint. Experimentation is part of the fun! (of course, this attitude may be the reason my baking is sometimes less than delectable). Come to think of it, if you wanted to set this up like a proper experiment, it would make a great introduction to the scientific process… 4. Apply paint liberally by brush. Sure, there is a lot more to it than that. Like, use too much water and your painting will dry pale and washed out (done that). Or, clean your brush before using a new colour (so you don’t get a lovely mucky brown in all the jars. Also done that). Or...
Giving Thanks: Lessons from My Grandmother
Today is Thanksgiving Day in Canada, and, besides filling up on turkey, I’ve been giving a little bit of thought to thanks. First off, a few of the things I’m thankful for this year: 1. Eight years of marriage to my wonderful, supportive, creative-minded husband. (We got married on Thanksgiving weekend, which, consequently, is an easy way to remember the date, and to be thankful for each other every year). 2. My two most beautiful children. Their personalities just glow, and I am so thrilled to get to know them more each day. 3. My family. My parents, and my sisters, and my elderly grandparents, including my 96-year-old grandmother, who I recently went to visit in Saskatchewan. Visiting my grandmother could have been hard. I took my baby with me to see my grandmother, perhaps for the last time. It was a lovely visit, and my daughter took her first real steps right there, in my grandma’s room! It was a very special visit, imbued with the beauty of the prairie scenery, and heightened by the contemplation of life and death. While there, my aunt said something that resonated with me. “Old people really help you realize what is important.” I’ve been thinking a lot about that, especially in light of Thanksgiving. And it really is true. My grandmother recently fell, and broke her pelvis. She could have simply given up, and allowed herself to rest in her last days. But, there she was, walking the halls in her walker everyday, because that is what she has been asked to do. Because that is what is needed. Because that...
Natural Inspiration at Rivers Day
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