Amy, Author at Around the Thicket

Literacy | Home Education | Charlotte Mason and the Early Years | Learning at Home | Skills | Philosophy | Resources

Five Books, Twenty Minutes, One Charlotte Mason Friendly Home Preschool
ByAmy November 2, 2017May 22, 2020

This entry is part 9 of 10 in the series Charlotte Mason for the Early Years
In previous posts, I’ve covered both why we are doing preschool at home this year, and how we are keeping it in line with Charlotte Mason’s educational philosophy. Now I’d like share the five books I have in our preschool basket. Each of these books is appropriate for my nearly four-year-old. Some are just a…

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Our Journey | Learning at Home | Philosophy | Home Education | Charlotte Mason and the Early Years

Charlotte Mason Friendly Preschool at Home
ByAmy October 30, 2017May 22, 2020

This entry is part 8 of 10 in the series Charlotte Mason for the Early Years
In my last post, I listed the reasons why our family is spending time on ‘preschool’ this year. Despite Charlotte Mason’s belief that children shouldn’t have formal lessons before the age of six, I think that our approach to preschool is in line with her philosophy. Preschool is short. Really short. We are looking at…

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Home Education | Our Journey | Charlotte Mason and the Early Years | Learning at Home | Philosophy | Philosophy

Why bother with Preschool at Home?
ByAmy October 24, 2017May 22, 2020

This entry is part 7 of 10 in the series Charlotte Mason for the Early Years
One year ago, I assumed I wouldn’t do any sort of a formal preschool with my kids. Charlotte Mason advocates starting formal lessons no earlier than age six. So why complicate things? I trusted the method, and the wisdom of many home educators who said, ‘Wait on formal academics’. How things change in a year,…

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Adventures | Places to Visit

A Ramble up Arnside Knott – Walks for Preschoolers
ByAmy October 22, 2017February 20, 2019

Back when my husband and I were young and carefree (you know, no kids, no house renovations), we enjoyed walking as a hobby. There is plenty to enjoy nearby. We like to get to the Lake District when we can manage it, but we are also very close to the coast and to Arnside and…

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Learning at Home | Literacy | Home Education | Charlotte Mason and the Early Years

Teaching Reading the Charlotte Mason Way – Getting Started
ByAmy February 21, 2017May 22, 2020

This entry is part 6 of 10 in the series Charlotte Mason for the Early Years
It’s easy to think that there isn’t much to do school-wise for the first six years of a child’s life when you plan to home educate the Charlotte Mason way. She assertively states in her writing that a mother’s (modern-day me reads that as ‘parent’s) chief responsibility is to make sure that a child’s first…

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Learning at Home | Philosophy | Parenting

What Americans are Getting Right and Wrong in Their Obsession with Parenting
ByAmy December 15, 2016February 20, 2019

Parents are investing more and more time into their children’s development, Alia Wong points out in the beginning of her recent article on The Atlantic: The American Obsession with Parenting. Wong points to several studies showing that this is quantitatively true, and I think we all know in our gut that there is an intensity around…

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Learning at Home | Resources | Home Education

Three Simple Activities to do when your Preschooler is Interested in Rainbows
ByAmy December 1, 2016February 20, 2019

[sc name=”Disclosure” ] A few weeks ago, I mentioned that N age-nearly-three asked me if we could make a rainbow. I saw this as a great opportunity to follow his interest and to expand his experience with rainbows. Today I want to share a few, simple activities we did together to ‘go with the flow’…

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Family Relationships | Holidays | Parenting

Lovely Christmas and Birthday Gifts for the Early Years
ByAmy November 17, 2016February 20, 2019

[sc name=”Disclosure” ] What do you give a child who may not remember this holiday? With a child who is growing by leaps and bounds, how do you choose a gift that is going to last longer than their current developmental stage? What toys will encourage creativity and meaningful play? Over the last few years,…

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Family Relationships | Holidays | Parenting

Simple Christmas for Families: Gifts
ByAmy November 17, 2016February 20, 2019

I am a total gift person. If I had the time and money, it would be so easy for me to buy mountains of Christmas presents for my family and friends. I would love to be able to pick up whatever I see in a shop that reminds me of one of my children, and…

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Parenting | Family Relationships | Siblings

Not a Bully, Not a Victim: Using Sibling Conflict to Teach Empathy and Empowerment
ByAmy November 3, 2016February 20, 2019

How many ways can you manage sibling conflict? My kids are very young – nearly 3 and 1.5 years old. Both of them occasionally bite the other (for no apparent reason). The older quite likes to push the younger down (for no apparent reason). I see them both snatch toys, pull hair, and do everything…

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