While there are a lot of ways to raise children, there are a few parental qualities that I see repeatedly held up as ‘ideal’. Mainly, in an ideal situation, a parent will have high expectations of their children, while also showing them ample warmth and love. A parent will set and maintain appropriate limits. A…
Yesterday I mentioned that if an activity would interrupt our schedule of rest, we would probably pass on that opportunity. While that schedule is a bit fluid, I’ve noticed a few patterns since we start more formal homeschool lessons that have informed this schedule. Fridays off. At least until later in the afternoon. Four days…
Our current culture is obsessed with doing ‘things’, especially for kids. Even my podcast co-host mentioned that, in her part of her home state, you have to book your children in for summer camp by January – otherwise they are full. We want our kids to have time to play and ‘just be kids’ –…
If I wake early to read my Bible and pray, and have not love when my children interrupt me, I am only a donkey in a lion’s skin. I may hide under a mane of righteous actions, but the bray of self-centered entitlement exposes me. If love is patient and kind, I am anything but…
Throughout high school and university, I acquired more than enough ‘leadership experience’ to fill a resume. After all, teachers, professors, and counselors touted leadership as essential to any future success. But despite this emphasis on leading others, I did not find stepping into the leadership role of ‘motherhood’ natural. Before children, I worked with groups…
I come to the same place at least a few times a day. A place where I want to temporarily ‘check out’ of my current circumstances. It’s a combination of tiredness from physically caring for my family, and of weariness from near-constant conversation with young children most of the day. I want to tune it…
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…
[sc name=”Disclosure”] Outdoor Learning in the Early Years by Helen Bilton takes a broad look at outdoor play in early years settings (affiliate link). Bilton’s book starts from the increasingly familiar premise that outdoor play is quite often neglected: Outdoor play spaces are often either small or non-existent, exclusively tarmacked hard surfaces with few natural elements….
The question is not how we can “teach” an infant to move well and correctly, using cleverly thought up, artificially constructed, complicated measures, using exercises and gymnastics. It is simply a matter of offering an infant the opportunity – or, more precisely, not to deprive him of this opportunity – to move according to his inherent ability. Dr Emmi Pikler, The Development…
Toddler N. will be two years and six months old in less than two weeks. Two year olds, in my opinion, get a pretty bad rap. The age is associated with temper tantrums, willful disobedience and getting into all sorts of mischief. As I’ve been thinking about the last six months, though, the more I realize…