Posted at 6:38 am on October 22, 2009 by Catherine
To be a really good, creative mother you have to be an extraordinary woman. You have to keep yourself involved with your child during great periods of the day when it’s just the two of you and you feel that at any moment you may literally go out of your mind. – Meryl Streep
For a number of reasons my three year old is not going to preschool this year. It was a hard decision to make, though all along I knew what my instincts were telling me and, having made the decision I have never second-guessed it. Without doubt it was the right decision for us.
And yet, another winter like last year’s is not something I think I could survive. So I have been very busily researching things that he and I can do during the long, cold, dark cabin-fever months.
After searching through countless websites, perusing dozens of books through interlibrary loan, and questioning several helpful friends, I’m excited about the things I have settled on. It’s a bit hodge-podge, and I plan to use it all to whatever extent it is helpful, in whatever way it is helpful. He and I are calling it our “Homeschool Preschool” and we’re both pretty excited about it.
A’s Activity Book – For play time I put together a little scrap book with a picture of different toys and activities he can do on his own (mostly) around the house. For example, there’s a page with blocks, another for play-doh, another for trains, another for finger-painting. Next to the picture I have printed the word as well so he can learn word recognition. My hope is that this will help fill those countless winter moments when neither of us can really think of anything for him to do and naughtiness so freely steps in to fill the void.
The Preschooler’s Busy Book – Where was this book last year? I truly almost cried with regret when I first flipped through its pages. With 365 games and activities for 3-6 year olds, I hope to use this when our own Activity Book fails us. My intent is to plan in advance two or three things each week, but also to flip through it during those naughty-prone hours as well.
Slow and Steady, Get me Ready – I’m also very excited about this book. It offers one developmentally appropriate activity per week for the first five years of a child’s life. That’s intense. This will be nice because I can do it with both boys. This may become a baby-shower standby gift!
The activities in all three books mentioned above have a wide range of developmental value – some are for play time, others for reading, large motor, fine motor, math, music, etc. But I wanted to go deeper in a few areas as well. I’ll link to them here, and if you’re interested you’ll know where to learn more!
Sound of the Week – A is really and truly learning how to read! It is so fun to introduce a new sound to him each week and see him looking forward to it, so eager to learn. And then for he and I both to sit down with a word and realize that he has the tools to read it…Wow.
Starfall- this is where A learned his letters, but it doesn’t stop there. I’m using this to supplement our Sound of the Week lessons.
Puggles – so fun! We’re learning about the sun, about trees, about clouds…all with fun activities and stories suggested, while learning about Faith as well.
Also…for those of you who are looking to “Homeschool Preschool” but want a bit more structure, I nearly decided to do the
Joy School. I haven’t seen the materials but what I’ve heard sounds wonderful.
So this is some of what we’ll be up to this winter…I’m hoping that these days will truly be rich ones for my boys and I as we play and explore life together.
Do you have a plan for surviving cabin fever this winter? Send me your ideas or, better yet, write up a post and become a guest blogger!
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