Parenting is not rocket science, but this is one not-technical mama's experiment in raising curious, adventuresome explorers.
When I invited you to join me this summer and make our homes these Grand Central Stations of learning and growing, I threw out a few things I'd like to think about and intentionally sprinkle into all the fun activities planned for this summer (and beyond!). It sounded a bit like what one might find …
Continue reading [Effective Communicators] Education Series: Part 1
I sat through a talk yesterday meant to equip mothers of young children (birth-5 years) to fully engage in their kids' education. We were challenged not to force formal education on our babies, but create an environment of learning from the get-go of their young lives. It was not about when to start teaching letters, …
As you may recall, we were trying our hand at a little gardening with the goal of witnessing the wonder of seeds sprouting. Already somewhat successful because we did indeed get little sprouts, you all need to know the continuing story in all it's irony. The seeds I had on hand were sunflowers, the same …
We just leaned right into that quirky, science-y, okay, I'll own it, nerdy persona represented here and turned the simple, fun tradition of dyeing Easter eggs into a full-blown science experiment. Before you go and think, this is too much, let me reassure you, it's really not very over-the-top complicated. I literally googled "the science …
Is there anything as tactile as digging in the dirt? Any hopeful rush like seeds sprouting? Any thrill like well-tended plants thriving? Any joy like seeing a dormant tree bud and unfurl brand new, bright green leaves? Spring is magical. I'm sure it's even more so when the season shift is more dramatic than here …
Opening a file, I've heard it called. Imagine your child's mind like a computer hard drive. They are sponges for information, and ask a million questions, storing away the answers. Even when it's a concept they cannot possibly grasp completely, there is no harm in explaining it simply, opening a file on that subject so …
Here's a great resource: your local library! Books are always a good thing. So much to be learned in a book, and the research supporting reading aloud to littles is undeniable. "[T]he more adults read aloud to their children, the larger their vocabularies will grow and the more they will know and understand about the …
The other day, sparked by a post on an Instagram account I follow (@ourbilingualhomeschool), we set out to do something a little different when Eddie wanted to play with LEGOs. I asked him to draw what he was planning to build before he even touched a LEGO brick. Now, this is a bit of a …
We drive past a really neat foot bridge atop a dam spanning a large canyon. It was built in the early 1900's to control the flooding of rainwater running down from the mountains. We've never taken the time to find the trail leading to the bridge, but finally, needing a walk the other day, I …
From IKEA purchases to a brand new recipe to business protocol, there are times when following the directions is a must, right? But where is the art in coloring inside the lines all the time? In the interest of STEM turned STEAM (that's Science Technology Engineering Art/Design Mathematics), let's talk about learning to follow directions …
Launching Rocket Babies 