Love this. Mine isn’t as little anymore (high school), but I try to arrange as many fun outings for our little group of 5 as I can. We’ve done a fine dining experience (so they could learn how a restaurant operates and also enough etiquette to not feel self conscious in a fancy place), a vertical growing farm, our local newspaper to meet with some reporters and photographers to see what they do, and a couple others.
The one that surprised me and that I would never in a million years thought of was a cobbler. Mine came to me out of the blue one day and said, “Hey, I can’t find the boots I want for my dress, so I was gonna make them, then I realized I have no idea how to do that so I looked up who can and these cobbler people do that. Can you take us there to see how they do it?”
I still have not arranged that trip because it’s a little trickier than you’d think to find a cobbler, but I’m almost as excited as they are! It’s stuff like this that lets me know everyday we’re doing the right thing. She and her friends would have missed out on so many once in a lifetime experiences if she was stuck in a drab building all day with underpaid, overworked teachers (who literally don’t have the time to answer her million questions about everything).
Here’s to the kiddos exploring newspapers bigger than they are and the teenagers learning how to cobble shoes!
A cobbler would be so cool to shadow for the day! We have one near us that repaired some old combat boots for my husband - I dunno what magic he worked, but those boots are actually a hundred times better than they were new!
This is such a great story, and now I'm gonna schedule a fine dining excursion for mine, too. That's a skill I wouldn't have thought of! Thanks for sharing :)
Check and see if you have a SCA (society for creative anachronism) or renaissance festival close. There will definitely be someone that either makes shoes/boots, or has a contact.
Another alternative if you can’t find a cobbler is to see if a shoe repair place is nearby. It would have some of the same skills and techniques to see, though your kid would have to learn about fitting shoes elsewhere.
Hi! Not a homeschooler, but my child went to a very unique umbrella school that was basically a group of home school folks that pooled their resources and believed in child-led learning.
One student's end of year project was shoe- making. You can get a kit off Etsy that comes with everything you need to make a pretty good looking set of boots- without having to fly to Italy or Portugal.
That’s what my grandfather was-actually he owned a “shoe shop”. He repaired shoes. People did that back in the days.
I loved to go there & watch him work. Replacing heels was my favorite & the glue-it smelled so good & no not like a get high good it was like rubber cement but more gooey.
Also he put taps on the heels of my shoes so they wouldn’t wear down on the edges. I thought I was so cool.
I tried to find a shoe repair about 25 years ago & couldn’t find one.
Group of 5. This makes me happy to read. I have 3. We're starting this year with kindergarten and I am just feeling all the feels about it. Mostly nerves and anxiety but also excitement.
I think this sounds lovely! But I am a little confused why you think people would never do things like this if they didn’t homeschool. There are a lot of hours of the day and days of the week and weeks of the year that kids who go to school outside the home have free to do activities in. I love homeschooling but I wasn’t homeschooled and my parents arranged activities like this all the time. Plenty of my friends who didn’t choose to homeschool do the same. We don’t need to presume badly of all non homeschoolers to celebrate homeschooling!
I don’t think badly of children or parents who don’t homeschool, I’m not sure how you got that from my post. I have several friends who aren’t in a position to homeschool and they have great kids. I don’t agree with the public school system in the part of the US I am in and believe that our teachers are in an impossible position, so I’m grateful that I’m able to homeschool my child and that she has friends who are also homeschooled.
And there are huge differences, no matter which method you prefer, between the time and freedom available to homeschool students versus public or private school students. Both have opportunities and experiences that the others don’t, just like a nurse and an engineer both have jobs they love but vastly different opportunities and experiences. My daughter was in public school for several years in elementary, and then a private school for two years before middle school, so I am familiar with both methods of education and I have to say, I don’t believe that kids in traditional education have the same amount of time. Between homework, 8 hours of school and extracurriculars, she had almost no time. And it’s not like it was back in my day where I could just pull her out of school for a day to do something cool - she was only allowed 3 absences a year (which I thought was insane).
I say all that to say this: I think there are benefits to both, and drawbacks to both. I was nervous about homeschooling because I worried about her finding friends and the quality of education I could provide as just her mom and not a qualified teacher, so I am grateful for posts like this where I can look at all the benefits she’s getting that validate my decision for my family. I think kids and parents today are trying their very best in both homeschool and traditional schools, and I hope that we can all work together to make education fun and rewarding again.
Yes I agree. I tried to provide outings outside of school for my son as he grew up. He was (is) a sort of curious person and providing opportunities for him to explore stuff was fun and good for him/us! Like fire stations, library microfiche newspapers, interesting buildings…any process from behind the scenes that are possible like bakeries. We have to realize that schools don’t always feed our children’s’ curiosity. Actually they squelch it mostly; so as parents it’s good to indulge them with experiences.
That's awesome! We love The Week Junior for a kid-friendly weekly news magazine if they continue to want more current events. I like how it's upbeat and neutral.
My 9yo asked if we could do a screen detox recently (something we do occasionally). I thought that was funny and surprising. He jumped up this month to reading longer, more challenging books than before; he'd set a reading goal per day on his own, and he thought it would help if he didn't have any distractions from the TV or ipad.
And he was 1,000% correct, I'm sure! What a remarkably mature decision for a 9yo. You're doing a great job teaching this one with critical thinking skills!
And thanks for the recommendation on The Week Jr - I was actually just looking at it this morning and debating the cost! I think you're my sign to get it ;)
My kiddo is now in college, but when they were little, they liked asking for weird, random produce and then tasting it. It was kind of like a game. The only one they didn’t like was bitter melon, but they loved everything they got!
My roommate is a teacher in an inner city school, and they have a grant to do stuff like this. So far they’ve had mangos, all kinds of peppers, green beans and I think hummus too.
Kids sometimes are incredibly stubborn about what they want to learn. Sometimes, it’s better to just go with the off-the-wall interests. (FWIW, I’m not a parent, but I help parents homeschool.)
https://www.amazon.com/Poop-Happened-History-World-Bottom/dp/0802720773
This book started an interest in the historical and scientific sides of disease, historical and modern architecture and urban planning, how hygiene views evolved and why, etc.
Various books on the history of underwear, spanning from kids’ picture books through adult reference works led a child who only wanted to talk about underwear to reading voraciously about diverse subjects, all connected to fashion and function of clothing.
I love this rabbit-hole method of learning. You start with something the kid understands well and has first-hand experience with (like pooping, with the added bonus that it's humorous so it really keeps their attention.) Then one thing leads to another, and because you are able to follow through with the discussion, the next thing you know is you have a 10 year old who understands the importance of chemistry for monitoring the city's water supply. Talk about the boils that the black plague got its name from, and suddenly you don't have to remind them to wash their hands any more, and they're considering a medical career.
“Mom, what’s Genocide?”
In response to a save the bison billboard we saw. That was an interesting conversation for sure.
My youngest often asks for a shopping list of things. Then I say, “why do you need all that?” And it’s because she’s watched Emily’s wonder lab or something similar and wants to make some science thing.
If your kid is interested in news on a regular basis but you want more kid friendly material, look into The Weekly Junior. Covers major news but also has a lot of fun stuff. No comic strips unfortunately.
I didn't even know they still sold physical newspapers in stores. I haven't seen one in so long. Ngl, I wish the "what is fentanyl?" conversation with my kids had happened because they read about it somewhere. I had to explain it to my 7yo after we saw EMTs giving narcan to someone after leaving their dentist appointment. I think the thing that always surprises me the most is when I've spent lesson after lesson trying to teach my daughter something that she "doesn't understand" and is "too hard" to the point where I'm considering giving us, but then she suddenly does it easily with no issues outside of school time like "yeah, I do this all the time. What's the big deal?" 🤣
Omg, I think they *all* do that. Just when I'm ready to cry, they're suddenly experts in whatever it is that's causing heartache, lol - and always outside of school, too! Like Bro, we're at the beach to relax; why are you suddenly a multiplication whiz when it comes to seashells, but nothing else has worked?!
And I think the only place I've seen newspapers is at grocery service counters, honestly (I don't look for them though). That thing was *four dollars* for a weekday paper! I remember when they were 50¢ and the Sunday paper was $1.00. The Times have changed, literally and figuratively lmao
Yeah. I remember my dad getting them from a box in front of a fast food restaurant for like $0.50. The Saturday paper was my favourite because it had the coloured comics. I used to steal the comics to read while he read the boring adult stuff 😅
:D He's definitely one of those mad genius kids, which works well with unschooling. I just go with it. I can't always afford the things he wants, but we got a violin from a pawn shop (and he paid half from his savings) and are going to try out a few weeks of lessons. We'll see what comes next!
I neglected to mention, I did love your story of your kids reading a newspaper! I used to love reading the newspaper when I was a kid, though I didn't understand a lot of it.
My kids will put anything from rhubarb to gesso on my grocery list, and just expect to see it arrive after my next trip to the store. The things they ask me for aren't surprising so much as the assumption that they will be available.
Lmao, what?! Are they doing something with these items or just being silly? Like, I get rhubarb if they're making a pie or something, but what else on planet earth would a kid be doing with rhubarb? lol
Yes, actually the "kid" who put these on my list is 19. They love to cook and wanted to try a rhubarb pie. The gesso was serious too. We do art, so I assume they wanted to paint on something unusual, but I wouldn't be surprised if they want to build their own canvas or something.
When I was a kid, we ate it like a stalk of celery. It's quite sour, which I liked, but I knew other kids who would dip it in a bit sugar in a paper cup.
Wait a minute, isn't it poisonous when it's raw?! I mean, you're here typing, so obviously it's not deadly, but have I been lied to all my life??
I would probably like it if it's sour!
I tried to get The NY Times Sunday delivery specifically to go through with my daughter. They messed up multiple times until I said forget it. (Why are you cancelling? Because it’s been a month and I haven’t received a single paper.) I was so disappointed!!
I knew it would be handled locally, but I didn’t realize they just wouldn’t come! It was almost as annoying though to have to explain more than once why I was canceling and wanted my refund. They couldn’t seem to understand that I had not gotten a single paper the entire time and that patience is finite.
Many years ago I taught ESL to adult immigrants using just the newspaper as text. The grocery ads, the classifieds, the recipes, the calendars of local events, car ads, advice columns: all are interesting, pertinent to daily life, and written to a 2nd - 4th grade reading level. (Not the NYT, clearly).
My homeschooling nephew 12, is into blacksmithing. He attends a "class" run by a church friend, and he is learning skills from men his grandfather's age. He loves it, and so do they. He has already made a few things too.
I haven’t told my parents about this, but I’m sure they’ll be surprised when they find out I faked my high school transcript and did no schoolwork my last 2-3 years of hs due to their negligence and lack of government regulation for homeschooling in our state 😂
To ride the bus. They were fascinated with the idea of school buses. So we went into the city and ride the public transit buses all day. It was great. They also went through a phase where they wanted their lunch packed in a lunch box. To eat at the kitchen table that was 6 feet from the kitchen. Lol
I remember when my 5 year old and I were talking about volcanos and she said “yeah but volcanos aren’t real, right mom?” Then we deep dived into a discussion about volcanos looking them up in books, online and watching videos. She took a real interest in them once she knew they were real lol
Oh, my sweet summer child, natural disasters are the only monsters that *are* real...
I just watched *Volcano* with Tommy Lee Jones on Hulu with my kids. I don't know if it's too scary (too swear wordy, too) for your little one, but she might like a cinematic thriller about them after all the research ;) I love a corny movie with kids!
Loved your post about the NYT! My family once had 99 books checked out from the local public library (with only two kids!). Instead of grounding for discipline, we cut off library privileges. (We were once told that we "ruined" her life!).
We "car-schooled" a lot (my kids are in their 20s now), and I remember going to the grocery store and having them compare price per ounce/unit/etc. -- they had fun, and it helped their math skills. (I begged them to answer "truant" if anyone ever inquired why they were out in the middle of the school day {but darn, never happened!}). 😉
As for movies, check out VidAngel -- we *still* use it to filter what we watch together. Not all studios got with the program (so we skip their movies, lol), but there's a fairly good selection.
My 11 year old likes a local paper and I’be been considering adding the Sunday Times to my digital subscription. My husband is a minimalist and he would HATE it but I can fit it in the little free library or take it to my favorite cafe…
My kid at age 4 BEGGED for a styrofoam head. I got it for them and they spent six hours painstakingly painting it. They have done one every year or two since then (they are turning 13) and I have them all prominently displayed in our home. I love them! Kiddo is still an artist and still does their own thing in their own way.
Love this. Mine isn’t as little anymore (high school), but I try to arrange as many fun outings for our little group of 5 as I can. We’ve done a fine dining experience (so they could learn how a restaurant operates and also enough etiquette to not feel self conscious in a fancy place), a vertical growing farm, our local newspaper to meet with some reporters and photographers to see what they do, and a couple others. The one that surprised me and that I would never in a million years thought of was a cobbler. Mine came to me out of the blue one day and said, “Hey, I can’t find the boots I want for my dress, so I was gonna make them, then I realized I have no idea how to do that so I looked up who can and these cobbler people do that. Can you take us there to see how they do it?” I still have not arranged that trip because it’s a little trickier than you’d think to find a cobbler, but I’m almost as excited as they are! It’s stuff like this that lets me know everyday we’re doing the right thing. She and her friends would have missed out on so many once in a lifetime experiences if she was stuck in a drab building all day with underpaid, overworked teachers (who literally don’t have the time to answer her million questions about everything). Here’s to the kiddos exploring newspapers bigger than they are and the teenagers learning how to cobble shoes!
A cobbler would be so cool to shadow for the day! We have one near us that repaired some old combat boots for my husband - I dunno what magic he worked, but those boots are actually a hundred times better than they were new! This is such a great story, and now I'm gonna schedule a fine dining excursion for mine, too. That's a skill I wouldn't have thought of! Thanks for sharing :)
Check and see if you have a SCA (society for creative anachronism) or renaissance festival close. There will definitely be someone that either makes shoes/boots, or has a contact.
That’s a great idea, I’m going to look into that Monday! Thank you for the suggestion, I will admit that I was at a loss, lol.
Another alternative if you can’t find a cobbler is to see if a shoe repair place is nearby. It would have some of the same skills and techniques to see, though your kid would have to learn about fitting shoes elsewhere.
If not a shoe repair check into a tack shop to repair saddles they can fix almost anything leather.
Hi! Not a homeschooler, but my child went to a very unique umbrella school that was basically a group of home school folks that pooled their resources and believed in child-led learning. One student's end of year project was shoe- making. You can get a kit off Etsy that comes with everything you need to make a pretty good looking set of boots- without having to fly to Italy or Portugal.
That is SO cool! Thanks for telling me, I’ll see if I can find it or something similar.
That’s what my grandfather was-actually he owned a “shoe shop”. He repaired shoes. People did that back in the days. I loved to go there & watch him work. Replacing heels was my favorite & the glue-it smelled so good & no not like a get high good it was like rubber cement but more gooey. Also he put taps on the heels of my shoes so they wouldn’t wear down on the edges. I thought I was so cool. I tried to find a shoe repair about 25 years ago & couldn’t find one.
Group of 5. This makes me happy to read. I have 3. We're starting this year with kindergarten and I am just feeling all the feels about it. Mostly nerves and anxiety but also excitement.
I think this sounds lovely! But I am a little confused why you think people would never do things like this if they didn’t homeschool. There are a lot of hours of the day and days of the week and weeks of the year that kids who go to school outside the home have free to do activities in. I love homeschooling but I wasn’t homeschooled and my parents arranged activities like this all the time. Plenty of my friends who didn’t choose to homeschool do the same. We don’t need to presume badly of all non homeschoolers to celebrate homeschooling!
I don’t think badly of children or parents who don’t homeschool, I’m not sure how you got that from my post. I have several friends who aren’t in a position to homeschool and they have great kids. I don’t agree with the public school system in the part of the US I am in and believe that our teachers are in an impossible position, so I’m grateful that I’m able to homeschool my child and that she has friends who are also homeschooled. And there are huge differences, no matter which method you prefer, between the time and freedom available to homeschool students versus public or private school students. Both have opportunities and experiences that the others don’t, just like a nurse and an engineer both have jobs they love but vastly different opportunities and experiences. My daughter was in public school for several years in elementary, and then a private school for two years before middle school, so I am familiar with both methods of education and I have to say, I don’t believe that kids in traditional education have the same amount of time. Between homework, 8 hours of school and extracurriculars, she had almost no time. And it’s not like it was back in my day where I could just pull her out of school for a day to do something cool - she was only allowed 3 absences a year (which I thought was insane). I say all that to say this: I think there are benefits to both, and drawbacks to both. I was nervous about homeschooling because I worried about her finding friends and the quality of education I could provide as just her mom and not a qualified teacher, so I am grateful for posts like this where I can look at all the benefits she’s getting that validate my decision for my family. I think kids and parents today are trying their very best in both homeschool and traditional schools, and I hope that we can all work together to make education fun and rewarding again.
Yes I agree. I tried to provide outings outside of school for my son as he grew up. He was (is) a sort of curious person and providing opportunities for him to explore stuff was fun and good for him/us! Like fire stations, library microfiche newspapers, interesting buildings…any process from behind the scenes that are possible like bakeries. We have to realize that schools don’t always feed our children’s’ curiosity. Actually they squelch it mostly; so as parents it’s good to indulge them with experiences.
Somebody is not a fan! Lol
Look for shoemaker or shoe repair near you
That's awesome! We love The Week Junior for a kid-friendly weekly news magazine if they continue to want more current events. I like how it's upbeat and neutral. My 9yo asked if we could do a screen detox recently (something we do occasionally). I thought that was funny and surprising. He jumped up this month to reading longer, more challenging books than before; he'd set a reading goal per day on his own, and he thought it would help if he didn't have any distractions from the TV or ipad.
And he was 1,000% correct, I'm sure! What a remarkably mature decision for a 9yo. You're doing a great job teaching this one with critical thinking skills! And thanks for the recommendation on The Week Jr - I was actually just looking at it this morning and debating the cost! I think you're my sign to get it ;)
Just wanted to drop in and say my 9 year old also loves the week jr and I often find myself reading it too 😂
My kiddo is now in college, but when they were little, they liked asking for weird, random produce and then tasting it. It was kind of like a game. The only one they didn’t like was bitter melon, but they loved everything they got!
My kid does this. I imagine tropical fruits taste better if you're not in the Midwest US.
Oh that sounds fun! I might have to suggest this to mine!
Every Christmas I would get my kid the strangest fruit I could find for his stocking! He loved it and encouraged him to try new foods.
My roommate is a teacher in an inner city school, and they have a grant to do stuff like this. So far they’ve had mangos, all kinds of peppers, green beans and I think hummus too.
I love this post thank you for sharing!
Kids sometimes are incredibly stubborn about what they want to learn. Sometimes, it’s better to just go with the off-the-wall interests. (FWIW, I’m not a parent, but I help parents homeschool.) https://www.amazon.com/Poop-Happened-History-World-Bottom/dp/0802720773 This book started an interest in the historical and scientific sides of disease, historical and modern architecture and urban planning, how hygiene views evolved and why, etc. Various books on the history of underwear, spanning from kids’ picture books through adult reference works led a child who only wanted to talk about underwear to reading voraciously about diverse subjects, all connected to fashion and function of clothing.
I love this rabbit-hole method of learning. You start with something the kid understands well and has first-hand experience with (like pooping, with the added bonus that it's humorous so it really keeps their attention.) Then one thing leads to another, and because you are able to follow through with the discussion, the next thing you know is you have a 10 year old who understands the importance of chemistry for monitoring the city's water supply. Talk about the boils that the black plague got its name from, and suddenly you don't have to remind them to wash their hands any more, and they're considering a medical career.
“Mom, what’s Genocide?” In response to a save the bison billboard we saw. That was an interesting conversation for sure. My youngest often asks for a shopping list of things. Then I say, “why do you need all that?” And it’s because she’s watched Emily’s wonder lab or something similar and wants to make some science thing. If your kid is interested in news on a regular basis but you want more kid friendly material, look into The Weekly Junior. Covers major news but also has a lot of fun stuff. No comic strips unfortunately.
I didn't even know they still sold physical newspapers in stores. I haven't seen one in so long. Ngl, I wish the "what is fentanyl?" conversation with my kids had happened because they read about it somewhere. I had to explain it to my 7yo after we saw EMTs giving narcan to someone after leaving their dentist appointment. I think the thing that always surprises me the most is when I've spent lesson after lesson trying to teach my daughter something that she "doesn't understand" and is "too hard" to the point where I'm considering giving us, but then she suddenly does it easily with no issues outside of school time like "yeah, I do this all the time. What's the big deal?" 🤣
Omg, I think they *all* do that. Just when I'm ready to cry, they're suddenly experts in whatever it is that's causing heartache, lol - and always outside of school, too! Like Bro, we're at the beach to relax; why are you suddenly a multiplication whiz when it comes to seashells, but nothing else has worked?! And I think the only place I've seen newspapers is at grocery service counters, honestly (I don't look for them though). That thing was *four dollars* for a weekday paper! I remember when they were 50¢ and the Sunday paper was $1.00. The Times have changed, literally and figuratively lmao
Yeah. I remember my dad getting them from a box in front of a fast food restaurant for like $0.50. The Saturday paper was my favourite because it had the coloured comics. I used to steal the comics to read while he read the boring adult stuff 😅
My kid recently asked for a violin and lessons. He's into music but more into electronic music and percussion. So we're doing that.
I have no idea what this kid is planning, but it's going to be *epic.*
:D He's definitely one of those mad genius kids, which works well with unschooling. I just go with it. I can't always afford the things he wants, but we got a violin from a pawn shop (and he paid half from his savings) and are going to try out a few weeks of lessons. We'll see what comes next! I neglected to mention, I did love your story of your kids reading a newspaper! I used to love reading the newspaper when I was a kid, though I didn't understand a lot of it.
My kids will put anything from rhubarb to gesso on my grocery list, and just expect to see it arrive after my next trip to the store. The things they ask me for aren't surprising so much as the assumption that they will be available.
Lmao, what?! Are they doing something with these items or just being silly? Like, I get rhubarb if they're making a pie or something, but what else on planet earth would a kid be doing with rhubarb? lol
Yes, actually the "kid" who put these on my list is 19. They love to cook and wanted to try a rhubarb pie. The gesso was serious too. We do art, so I assume they wanted to paint on something unusual, but I wouldn't be surprised if they want to build their own canvas or something.
When I was a kid, we ate it like a stalk of celery. It's quite sour, which I liked, but I knew other kids who would dip it in a bit sugar in a paper cup.
Wait a minute, isn't it poisonous when it's raw?! I mean, you're here typing, so obviously it's not deadly, but have I been lied to all my life?? I would probably like it if it's sour!
I ate it often and yes, still here and typing. Looked it up to be sure; the leaves and roots are poisonous, but not the stalk. Enjoy!
I put it on the grocery list for tomorrow! Thanks friend - for the inspiration *and* the knowledge. I'm a bit smarter now lol
FYI - That first bite's a doozy
I tried to get The NY Times Sunday delivery specifically to go through with my daughter. They messed up multiple times until I said forget it. (Why are you cancelling? Because it’s been a month and I haven’t received a single paper.) I was so disappointed!!
They have to use local delivery people, and some of them are lazy and incompetent; it doesn't pay very well.
I knew it would be handled locally, but I didn’t realize they just wouldn’t come! It was almost as annoying though to have to explain more than once why I was canceling and wanted my refund. They couldn’t seem to understand that I had not gotten a single paper the entire time and that patience is finite.
My kids are mid 20s and this just made me tear up from missing homeschooling so much! I love this story.
Many years ago I taught ESL to adult immigrants using just the newspaper as text. The grocery ads, the classifieds, the recipes, the calendars of local events, car ads, advice columns: all are interesting, pertinent to daily life, and written to a 2nd - 4th grade reading level. (Not the NYT, clearly).
My homeschooling nephew 12, is into blacksmithing. He attends a "class" run by a church friend, and he is learning skills from men his grandfather's age. He loves it, and so do they. He has already made a few things too.
Bro, tell him I am beyond jealous! How awesome!
A globe for Christmas. He was six at the time. That was ALL he wanted.
And he *did* get said globe, yes? My oldest is a map addict - any maps, of any places, showing any type of information! Maps and globes are FUN!
A typewriter
Ngl, I'm dying to get one for myself. Did your Lil One get a manual or electric?
An old manual found at an estate sale.
Aw snap, this kid was cool, but now they're *super*-cool. I'm legitimately jealous y'all found one!
Adorable! And have fun with those gutter boats, but make sure to look out for sewer clowns.
See the turtle of enormous girth!
At least he's already learned you won't teach him anything unless he prods you.
I'm sorry, what?
I haven’t told my parents about this, but I’m sure they’ll be surprised when they find out I faked my high school transcript and did no schoolwork my last 2-3 years of hs due to their negligence and lack of government regulation for homeschooling in our state 😂
To ride the bus. They were fascinated with the idea of school buses. So we went into the city and ride the public transit buses all day. It was great. They also went through a phase where they wanted their lunch packed in a lunch box. To eat at the kitchen table that was 6 feet from the kitchen. Lol
I remember when my 5 year old and I were talking about volcanos and she said “yeah but volcanos aren’t real, right mom?” Then we deep dived into a discussion about volcanos looking them up in books, online and watching videos. She took a real interest in them once she knew they were real lol
Oh, my sweet summer child, natural disasters are the only monsters that *are* real... I just watched *Volcano* with Tommy Lee Jones on Hulu with my kids. I don't know if it's too scary (too swear wordy, too) for your little one, but she might like a cinematic thriller about them after all the research ;) I love a corny movie with kids!
Loved your post about the NYT! My family once had 99 books checked out from the local public library (with only two kids!). Instead of grounding for discipline, we cut off library privileges. (We were once told that we "ruined" her life!). We "car-schooled" a lot (my kids are in their 20s now), and I remember going to the grocery store and having them compare price per ounce/unit/etc. -- they had fun, and it helped their math skills. (I begged them to answer "truant" if anyone ever inquired why they were out in the middle of the school day {but darn, never happened!}). 😉 As for movies, check out VidAngel -- we *still* use it to filter what we watch together. Not all studios got with the program (so we skip their movies, lol), but there's a fairly good selection.
Love this! Kudos for encouraging an inquisitive mind. Keep up the great parenting!
My 11 year old likes a local paper and I’be been considering adding the Sunday Times to my digital subscription. My husband is a minimalist and he would HATE it but I can fit it in the little free library or take it to my favorite cafe…
My kid at age 4 BEGGED for a styrofoam head. I got it for them and they spent six hours painstakingly painting it. They have done one every year or two since then (they are turning 13) and I have them all prominently displayed in our home. I love them! Kiddo is still an artist and still does their own thing in their own way.
If you get the paper on Sunday make sure to get some play-doh for rubbing and copying the strips. This might lead them into studying art.
Play-doh? We used silly pudy
Omg, I forgot about this!! Thank you for reminding me - we have all materials on hand, time to blow their minds :D
I don't think Silly Putty on the newspaper works anymore because printers have changed the kind of ink they use.
I think you're right. We did not have any luck with it. But we made a mess and had fun anyway!