Killing Creativity

When my oldest girls were about 5 and 6 years old, they liked to make little books. They would get several pieces of paper (it didn't matter to them what kind), fold it over, staple the 'spine' edge and make a 'book'.

They collaborated on one book, “The Spider and the Sun”, that I considered thoughtfully written and cleverly illustrated. I tucked it away with some other schoolwork from that year. I saw it occasionally and was still struck with the creativity of the book, especially for the age of the girls at the time.

Over the years, I learned to 'publish' my children's books into a softcover book using a photo book publisher. When my oldest daughter got married recently, I thought it would be a fun gift to turn her book into a 'real' book using my photo book method.

Advice Through the Years

1. First Things First

I wasn't very many days into homeschooling, when I realized that I had a problem. I was trying to teach my daughter to read. I knew that she knew the alphabet - she could recognize and name the letters, but putting them together didn't seem to make sense to her. II decided to call a friend from church – a kindergarten teacher.

Family Favorites Friday: Chicken Noodle Casserole

Another family favorite that I haven't made in awhile until this week.  This would probably fit in the 'comfort food' category.  It makes quite a bit, so you could make it in two smaller pans and freeze one for another day.

Is Average OK?

Once upon a time, at our homeschool co-op, another mom saw a  Redwall book sticking out of my 8 year old son's backpack.

"Is he reading that?"  she asked me, surprised by the size of the book. (hardback, 300+ pages)

"Nah, he just stuck it in there to fill his backpack, " the snarky me thought about saying. But instead, I replied,

Paper People Fun

Printable Paper Dolls/Animals

 When I was growing up, my sisters and I (and sometimes my brother) would cut 'paper dolls' out of the Sears catalog. We made families and cut out furniture and played with them for hours. Sometimes we were lucky enough to have store bought paper dolls.

When my children were young, I discovered the Making Friends website with paper 'friends' to print, color,and cut out. A huge selection of clothes, hair, and accessories can be printed for the friends, also.

A paper doll my daughter made recently.

Family Favorites Friday: Children's Books

I have asked each of my children to tell us about five of their favorite books from childhood.  Today's Family Favorites Friday is from Hannah, who also happens to be having a birthday today.  Even in her late twenties, I think she would still be happy with a pile of books and a box. 

Books have been some of my best friends for as long as I can remember. I have far too many favorites to fit a list of five, but these are the ones I remember reading over and over between the ages of 1 to 10 or so.

What About Pre-School?

It is interesting to me the number of mothers on homeschool forums asking, "What pre-school curriculum should I use?"