[BTW Alexandria did not draw those scribbles in the top photo! Max and I did most of it and then she made some edits.]
I've been meaning to give an update on our home-preschooling activities (which Max has named "acta-tivities") for a while. Last year about this time I noticed that he was seeming ready for more than just all day free play. We started with simple Montesori-based exercises like this one. But our curriculum has grown a lot since then. Right now it's tangrams, figural analogies, pattern blocks and of course a lot of art projects and crafts (we are currently obsessed with Mr. Printables).
From day one it's been a learning experience for me more so than Max. First I had to accept that in a home preschool environment things will probably not happen at a certain time each day. For now I'm happy with spending 1-2 hours on focused activities each day sometime between breakfast and dinner.
It's also been a challenge to keep up with him. The rate at which kids absorb information is astounding. In the beginning I thought we'd be studying the ABC's and single digit numbers for months but it turned out he gotten those down before he was verbal. Since then it's been a race to stay ahead of him. How many times have I sat down to do a carefully prepared lesson with him only to watch him blast through it in 5 minutes!?
So...The "Curriculum":
I plan a series of activities, usually four, and engage him with each one until it's completed or his attention starts to wander, whichever comes first. We always find a way to include our Babyzilla, whose specialty is disassembly. We do the exercises sitting on the floor and include her by creating a parallel activity that blends with ours. The last one is usually art-based. We also have science days, where the whole lesson revolves around a specific concept such as gravity, volcanoes or life-cycles.
More and more we are doing prep work for kindergarten admissions tests. Testing Mom and Bright Kids are the current favorites. We've also been focusing on geography more lately. We assemble our world puzzle or U.S. puzzle and then talk about regions, what they're known for and who we know that lives there.
When I catch something in day to day life that is new or a struggle for him, I will add that to the lessons. Right now it's coin recognition and the numbers 20-100.
Group Activities & Socializing:
2-4 days a week we socialize with other kids in group activities, play groups and playdates. We found an amazing volunteer based playgorup that has a lesson, followed by supporting crafts and activities, followed by free play. Max also has soccer once a week. And a couple times a week I try to take them to the library for story time and play time, once for the babies group and again for 3 and up group.
So that's it in a nutshell (sorry for the lack of relevant pictures but the camera's in the shop!). More to follow when we get it back...
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