I had been thinking about finding something for Bates and I to do on our days home. Sure, we play and have a big ole time but one day I looked at him and thought next time I blink he'll be graduating High School.
He is picking things up like a sponge. The other day I played this song and he started doing hand motions! I didn't teach him those. He must have learned them at school.
His two day a week school is so incredible. We are so blessed to send him there. He's learned so much, academically, socially, emotionally, and physically. But I do not want the sole responsibility of his education to rest with a teacher at a preschool. He should be learning things at home, from his mom and dad, not just from a teacher at school and certainly not from sitting in front of a TV.
Sure, we teach him things, we work on new words, on animal sounds, on counting, on letters, on his name, on jumping, etc. But I was thinking about how I could become intentional in working with him.
While all these thoughts were rolling around in my head I read another adoptive mom's blog who does a "Tot School". After doing lots of research, and emailing her numerous questions... TOT SCHOOL will be coming to our house in January.
It's a simple concept, but one that will hold me accountable. It's playing with purpose. As I was reading through the information, I found myself saying "we do that" (reading books and talking about the pictures, not just read the words) but there was so much more we could do. It's like a mini homeschool preschool. It's activity based education. It's creating activities that will engage your tot, but provide opportunity for educational time. It's hands on activities with mom. It's not sitting your child in front of a TV and having them watch an "educational" video. It's using a song or a video to re-enforce the educational activity you "played". It's simply brilliant.
I made a mini shopping list (there will be more trips!) for some of the basis things to start getting our curriculum and game plan together. When we got home from Hobby Lobby, I needed to start dinner, so I got out the mini colored blocks and his new tray and just let him play....
It was a miracle! He played with those blocks, stacking them, I tried to get him to sort by colors (fail!), and just having fun for over 15 minutes while I got dinner started. This was HUGE. I never get 5 minutes, much less 15!
I'm busy getting our stuff together and can't wait to start Tot School: Brown Style in January. I'll keep you posted!
He is picking things up like a sponge. The other day I played this song and he started doing hand motions! I didn't teach him those. He must have learned them at school.
His two day a week school is so incredible. We are so blessed to send him there. He's learned so much, academically, socially, emotionally, and physically. But I do not want the sole responsibility of his education to rest with a teacher at a preschool. He should be learning things at home, from his mom and dad, not just from a teacher at school and certainly not from sitting in front of a TV.
Sure, we teach him things, we work on new words, on animal sounds, on counting, on letters, on his name, on jumping, etc. But I was thinking about how I could become intentional in working with him.
While all these thoughts were rolling around in my head I read another adoptive mom's blog who does a "Tot School". After doing lots of research, and emailing her numerous questions... TOT SCHOOL will be coming to our house in January.
It's a simple concept, but one that will hold me accountable. It's playing with purpose. As I was reading through the information, I found myself saying "we do that" (reading books and talking about the pictures, not just read the words) but there was so much more we could do. It's like a mini homeschool preschool. It's activity based education. It's creating activities that will engage your tot, but provide opportunity for educational time. It's hands on activities with mom. It's not sitting your child in front of a TV and having them watch an "educational" video. It's using a song or a video to re-enforce the educational activity you "played". It's simply brilliant.
I made a mini shopping list (there will be more trips!) for some of the basis things to start getting our curriculum and game plan together. When we got home from Hobby Lobby, I needed to start dinner, so I got out the mini colored blocks and his new tray and just let him play....
It was a miracle! He played with those blocks, stacking them, I tried to get him to sort by colors (fail!), and just having fun for over 15 minutes while I got dinner started. This was HUGE. I never get 5 minutes, much less 15!
I'm busy getting our stuff together and can't wait to start Tot School: Brown Style in January. I'll keep you posted!
Going to check this out! Awesome idea!
ReplyDeleteThat is a great idea! Can't wait to see what you have in store for Bates!
ReplyDeleteTotally our plans too starting in January! I feel like I could have written this post myself! lol! :) Have fun!
ReplyDeleteChecking this out right now...
ReplyDelete