6 year old

I now have a 6-year old. It's been an amazing year for my 5-year old and we had a lovely little birthday party. We made paper dolls and had a basket of tissue paper and glue and crayons to design them with. We also did some felting using cookie cutters and played Pass the Parcel (amusing because I was distracted when I was wrapping the layers and forgot to put something in for a few of them!).

Today was a fabulous day. Springy and I went to her N's house because Springy's daddy had a very special visitor. Anyway, Springy did some colouring in and the lovely cat who visits N's house came by too. After that we came back home and then nipped out again to go and feed the ducks and swans. Springy had a lovely letter from a lady with 2 dogs that we met a year ago. She sent her a couple of photos of her dogs and one of her cat as well. She also sent Springy the first Milly-Molly-Mandy book and I read 3 chapters of it today. Springy loves the stories.

We also played Frustration! this afternoon (which is Ludo with a popomatic dice and one of my all time favourite childhood games).

Felting and dancing

Springy and I have had a lovely week or so since last posting. We went to a Christmas Fair and Springy went on a pony ride, made a lovely peg doll and a felted necklace. It was a bit commercial (typical school fundraising stuff and some of the prices seemed ridiculous since to me this time of year is about making it special for children) but okay and Springy didn't notice (because she wasn't paying for it!).

We have no more swimming lessons until next year which is a shame because Springy had just got the hang of it (swimming under and on top of the water). However, we had our first French lesson for ages (with the tutor) and Springy really enjoyed that. She was beaming all yesterday with her smile and we had a lovely time today as well. This morning we brought the guineapigs lots of vegetable cuttings which they love and then we did some dancing. We did a waltz (1,2,3). This afternoon (following a good game of tag in the garden) we did some wet felting using cookie cutters. We're making some homemade presents for family members. We stuff the felt in the cutter in a bowl of soapy water (I use baby shampoo) and then poke it to agitate it. We've made some really pretty shapes today, including a snowflake. Springy loves the feel of the warm, soapy water and after her interest wanes from the poking the felt part, her attention turns to the bubbles in the water.

Numbers

Springy has wanted to get her numbers the right way around for a few weeks. She's been successfully drawing the number 8 and also lazy 8s for a bit but is still reversing 7s and 9s. It's not something that I would have worked on with her until next year but because the motivation and interest has come from her I found a worksheet thing over at Montessori for Everyone. She filled it all in yesterday morning and can now manage her numbers the right way round and she's really pleased about it.

Our little maths fairies are looking very sweet. Dorothy Harrer has a lot to answer for in terms of I seem to recall that she was the original source of Maths Gnomes. I think they really are a good way of dealing with the four processes though and I have them ready for next year.

We have:

Penny Plus (mother) - moss green - she has to go around picking everything up
Minnie Minus (baby) - pale blue - she's very little and drops things
Maria Multiply (little girl) - yellow with a golden multiplication symbol - is like Springy and likes to somersault all over the place gathering up as much as she can
Daddy Divide (father) - red and has a beard - sorts out all the sharing in the family

Springy does understand the basics of the four processes already and maths is something that I believe can be brought in much earlier without it having to become an 'academic' subject or working in the brain too much. So many nursery rhymes contain mathematical elements e.g. 'One, two, three, four, five
Once I caught a fish alive
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
Then I let it go alone...'

or
'One, two buckle my shoe,
Three, four, knock at the door,
Five, six, pick up sticks
Seven, eight, lay them straight,
Nine, ten a big fat hen
Eleven, twelve, dig and delve
Thirteen, fourteen maids a courtin'
Fifteen, sixteen maids in the kitchen
Seventeen, eighteen, maids in waiting
Nineteen, twenty, my plate's empty'

Steiner Waldorf - overview

An article by an experienced Waldorf teacher:

http://www.gracemillennium.com/winter01/waldorf.htm

French resources - Graindor

We ordered some more Graindor issues and they arrived yesterday (can't wait to make the moving pictures from them). I think Imaginedition has the most beautiful stuff and their service is excellent. Je suis tres content :)

http://www.imaginedition.net/

We also received the CD Au Fil des Saisons which is just wonderful. The quality of the music is more than I imagined - it has a complete soundtrack of proper folk instrumentation (troubadour period) and birds singing etc. The songs go through the seasons and our favourite is Track 11 which is about un escargot et une pomme (Springy breaks down in laughter when she hears this).

I just spoke to our French tutor - we missed a lesson but it was due to a misunderstanding because I had to cancel a few sessions due to Springy's cold and then we had someone stay (my wonderful B-I-L) and this week we were not well either. I hadn't rearranged another session but our tutor thought there would be one. Anyway, all sorted. We have to go fortnightly from now on because I just cannot afford weekly ones at this time of year (the money was my birthday present money) and I am hoping that she will find some extra children so that the cost will come down a bit (£10 for half an hour - ouch).

Bad colds and reading and writing

We're all suffering from a bad cold at the moment. I can barely speak (pharyngitis) so have only managed to tell 2 stories today (very short ones) from books.

Springy has had a fairly nice time nevertheless. Her silicon swimming hat arrived yesterday, along with a pair of pink goggles (to match the hat) and she has been practising with both of them in the bath tub. She's not happy about her appearance because she looks "different" with the hat on - it squashes and distorts her face and she doesn't know who she is when she looks in the mirror. Her other lovely comment was from the weekend when we sat and watched Return of the Jedi together and she came out with "I know why they have breaks... it's so the people can change their costumes between scenes". This girl shows she has been to the theatre a few times ;)

Anyway, I found two really useful articles at the Waldorf Library:

http://www.waldorflibrary.org/Journal_Articles/Learnreadwriteward.pdf - by William Ward

and the other is on
Teaching our children to write, read and spell by Susan R JOhnson MD. It also mentions bedtime issues and links proprioreceptive stuff i.e. the child is not aware of where their limbs are to having difficulty in getting to sleep. I'm going to think on this for Springy but I'm not sure whether that's really the issue. I know she thinks too much at night but she's very much in her body, more than I was at her age (and I was a good sleeper) but maybe I do need to giver her limbs a gentle massage before sleep and see if this can help. In terms of active days most days she has been out and about and we do other movement type activities. I know on some days we have walked miles, done balancing, climbed and so on and she still can't sleep with ease. I think this may just be the nature of Springy (this was the baby who until 8 months old would have to be woken up to feed and was a very easy and contented little baby.. then teeth and sleep patterns changed).

Another story for autumn

I've been telling the story of Mischief Mouse from the Enki Kindergarten Nature Stories. Springy really liked it and figured out that the orange thing the little mouse was sleeping in was a pumpkin (we don't tend to use the jack lantern term here).

Today I slept in for the first time in ages. We've all got a cold and I was left in bed whilst Springy and her daddy went out for an adventure. I fell asleep this afternoon as well, on the landing and Springy found a blanket to cover me over. One minute I was talking with Springy and the next ... out for the count. It's gone really cold outside and I noticed frost on the ground this morning so no doubt it will be the same tomorrow.

Books for this time of year (mid autumn)

We love Pumpkin Soup and have read that story over and over.

Tonight's bedtime tale was The Gruffalo's Child and then Springy insisted that she read a story to me and she read The Gruffalo.

Yesterday, we had a lovely day - she went to a 4th birthday party for her twin friends and then we went to a Bonfire Night display with fireworks and ... a bonfire (despite many places trying to ban them based on carbon footprint stuff - so fireworks are okay but bonfires aren't...!). There were too many sweets at the party but Springy brought them back here (under my watchful eye - loaded with hyperactive e numbers) and then I sent them off to the Sugar Plum Fairy (which is an idea that came up on the Waldorf lists for dealing with too many Trick or Treat sweets from Halloween).

House schedule

I'm looking at the areas I need to address which affect the way I home educate. I often have a problem with my home being messy (not dirty but untidy).

I'm looking at my schedule:

Daily:
Kitchen - washing up (after every meal or so) and wiping surfaces
Vacuuming - downstairs only
Recycling - taking recycling to bin (it blocks the surface in the kitchen - move recycling bin nearer to address this)

Every other day:
Toilet - upstairs
Bathroom - sink and toilet
Laundry washing

Once a week:
Wash bathroom and kitchen floors with disinfectant (although I know I do this more often)
Wash bedding (difficult to dry it in winter)
Vacuum upstairs (vacuum cleaner is not user friendly)

Fortnightly:
Mow the lawn

Monthly:
Window cleaning - inside and outside

My main blockages are a) my kitchen sink area (which I do try and do so it's clean overnight) b) my kitchen work surfaces (messy husband who leaves lids of jars and forgets to use plates) and c) my daughter's table which is meant to be for her use in terms of painting and so on but often ends up covered with other stuff. They often delay us from doing things and they block all the time. My husband just made laugh - "If you told me you love me more often I would help more!" - :)

And the other place that blocks is the spare bedroom which is our office which has a pile of laundry. Our wardrobe space is severely limited and it makes it difficult to put things away. We live without a real double bedroom - the rooms are all singles and we've managed to squeeze a double into what is our room but it means there is no other furniture in it.

Times Tables

Here is a really useful tool/project/piece of art that can be used to show the times tables to a child (or a grown up):

http://robinsunne.com/robinsunnes_multiplication_clock

I've been interested in learning about Sanskrit which is a good foundation for language studies as well as learning all the richness of the culture - poetry etc.

A story of Gopal:

http://scsmath.org/trove2/btfl_gopal/b_gopal_p00b.html

Something I never have understood is the blatant sexism when it comes to sports in our schools. Boys do football (soccer) and cricket, whereas girls tend to play netball (snooze) and hockey (ouch). Swimming always used to be a nightmare for me - the humiliation of communal changing rooms (especially during and after puberty), dirty floors and so on used to put me off and I never did enjoy school swimming lessons. I remember always being damp for the rest of the day because we'd usually have no hairdryer etc. There is a soccer club for children but as yet we've not done it but I think Springy would like to have a go so next year I'm hoping to be able to take her a few times and see if she likes it. It would be great for co-ordination and the fact that the club is a weekend one, without the sexism of school will, I hope, make a difference.

Times Tables songs

I'm currently in the process of learning songs for the times tables. The reason being is that as Springy is coming up to 6 I want to ensure that she has, along with all the nursery rhymes and short tales that she has memorised over the past few yeras, a knowledge of her times tables based in simple memory. I know that children who learn these later often struggle so if I can get these in as songs now it will be easier for her later on.

I also need to cancel French from being weekly and set it back to fortnightly or even monthly. I'm aware that because of the tutorial being weekly I have become rather lazy at doing any French with Springy and yet in learning languages, it is so important for them to be encountered daily.

Left vs right brain

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22556281-661,00.html

I saw this going clockwise at first but could reverse it. I guess that makes me dominant right-hemisphere for the visual side of me

"THE Right Brain vs Left Brain test ... do you see the dancer turning clockwise or anti-clockwise?
If clockwise, then you use more of the right side of the brain and vice versa. Most of us would see the dancer turning anti-clockwise though you can try to focus and change the direction; see if you can do it. LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS uses logic detail oriented facts rule words and language present and past math and science can comprehend knowing acknowledges order/pattern perception knows object name reality based forms strategies practical safe RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS uses feeling "big picture" oriented imagination rules symbols and images present and future philosophy & religion can "get it" (i.e. meaning) believes appreciates spatial perception knows object function fantasy based presents possibilities impetuous risk taking "

I'm reading a brilliant book The Well Balanced Child - it's by Sally Goddard Blythe and is published by Hawthorn (Early Years series). It covers a lot of basic neuro development including the evolutionary aspects.

Pumpkin Alert

I forgot to say that on Monday we got out first pumpkin for the season. Springy and I scooped out the seeds, kept them to roast (lovely with a little olive oil and sea salt in the oven - or even dry roasted) and made a little face (I did that bit with a very sharp knife). The pumpkin is a very traditional looking, plain orange pumpkin but it's a bit early for Halloween in terms of it lasting inside the house (heating - mould) so I think we're going to have a trial run with a candle over the next few evenings and then get another pumpkin/swede/large turnip early on next week. I love this time of year - we had celeriac and turnip mash the other night, with bangers (sausages) and it was so delicious.

We played our Hedgehog Game again (from the Early Learning Centre) which is good fun.

I've found a recipe for a gingerbread house so I'm going to attempt making one for the first time ever this season. We made some delightful gingerbread fairy cakes (cup cakes) recently (must post recipe).

It's half term this week so we've been catching up with some of the families with children in school. I'm ever so glad that we don't have to go back to school next week. We've been able to make use of the bright days and play outside when we can - I'm working my way through the flower beds in terms of weeding and Springy and I have planted crocus and tulip bulbs (the daffodils are already in).

Springy helped me today with work - she stuck labels on for me. She loves doing that - I guess that to her they are stickers.

Pumpkin Soup

Today we read one of our favourite stories ever and that is Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper. We also read a story book on dinosaurs which is by Jane Yolen.

As we were sitting there reading we heard a gnawing sound and I realised it was coming from near the bookcase. Springy and I spent the rest of the afternoon taking all the books off and moving the bookcase. Lo and behold underneath was a mouse nest - poopies, bits of chewed paper and several crusts of toast! Anyway, I vacuumed, dusted and changed the position of the bookcase - the energy was blocked there (in exoteric terms it was a very impractical corner to get into) and the room feels much better. I've changed all the books in terms of which shelves they are one and somehow the room feels bigger. I'm even thinking about getting a blackboard on the wall which is now open, rather than covered by the bookcase. Whether or not this has solved the mouse issue I do not know but at least I know where to look (and traps have been set again).

Tonight Springy wanted some more jelly after dinner, despite having had a small tub full at lunch. The jelly happens to be a natural fruit jelly with no artificial flavourings or colourings etc, but even so I'm allowed to say "No". Springy disagreed and had a meltdown temper tantrum so because husband and I were starting to get flustered and losing our objectivity (think of one of those old-fashioned weather houses where either the man or the woman moves forward depending on the pressure - that was us and we both kept having to step out of the room to take a breath because she really was being 'horrid'). Anyway, we phoned up Grandpa who is wonderfully objective in these types of situations and is able to act as a mediator. That is unless Springy decides she doesn't want to talk to Grandpa... She did after about 10 minutes speak to Grandpa - she didn't want to at first because she knew her behaviour was not right ("I don't want to because I'm in trouble"). Grandpa sorted it all out over the phone and I held and cuddled her (if I can calm down enough and not lose my temper, despite all the buttons being pressed) then I know that she isn't really every naughty - just bad at communicating or intolerant of my views. She apologised to us, sobbed a little at Grandpa and we discussed the jelly situation and she really did want some so I explained to her why I said No but also decided that (didn't tell her this) that in all honesty the jelly was not really going to cause any major issue. Therefore she ended up with jelly and do you know the real reason for all this? She was plain and simple tired out from lifting all those books today and being such a good little helper and I was too power crazy for that split second at dinner to see that one tiny pot of jelly wasn't a principle worth keeping to. :)

Parenting...

Further to my recent posting on fairy tales I found this fascinating piece of historic debate on the subject:

http://www.socsci.kun.nl/ped/whp/histeduc/disc01.html

Weaving, swimming and harlequin ladybirds

We've been to a country craft fair recently and there I went through how to use our weaving loom. Springy and I are creating a woven rug for her dolls house. It's going to be 100% wool and feels lovely and soft.

Springy is also doing well with her French. She's been so quiet and hadn't understood "Encore" so I let her know that Encore means 'Again' and also I told her some things in a very quiet voice which she could hardly hear and she now understands that if she is with her French tutor she needs to talk a little bit louder. I'm still on a quest to find a German language person - it's as much for me because I prefer German to French.

Swimming is going well - she managed a couple of strokes but then sank her legs down to the floor again.

At night, Springy is singing Mr Blue Sky (ELO) to herself, before she falls asleep. It's really fun to hear her. We've read a lot of Mr Men books recently, as well as our usual fairy tales and Elsa Beskow books. She is reading everything at the moment and trying to work out words wherever we go. She has also managed to do a number 8 herself. However, I'm going to wait a bit longer for academics - I'm fine with the fact that her interest has been driven from her very own self and I would not want to suppress it. The fact that she has these skills is going to make things a lot easier but there is still such a huge need for play and I don't want to take that away from her childhood. She's into building dens - unfortunately these usually happen later afternoon/early evening and we have to clear them up before bedtime (unless we want to trip up).

Today we made a bead bracelet - it was with hemp thread and the knots we did created a spiral. Springy helped thread the beads on and held the end steady whilst I knotted (it was complicated). It's really pretty and Springy has put it into her 'treasure box'.

Springy jumped in!

Springy's swimming lesson went well. This week she jumped in from the side without holding on to anyone and went under the water and, thank goodness, came up and smiled. It was the first time she's ever jumped in on her own and she really is almost swimming by herself - she managed a second or two. She keeps putting her head in the water at the pool and also in the bath at home.

French is working out and I really like our new tutor. She seems to understand under 7s need to move about, sing and so on.

Springy is so little at times. She smiles her way through life most of the time. The night before last it was quite upsetting though because she had "forgotten how to sleep". It appears that the Sandman has not been coming to help her sleep; even the Sandmama couldn't help. I ended up sleeping next to Springy and tried to settle her down but she was wriggling away. I felt so sorry for her.

Yesterday and today we cut out all TV, not even 5 minutes. We had cheese for breakfast, followed by a little cereal. We went for a walk in the afternoon and popped to the playground and had some nice storytime and then Springy settled down fine. Tonight I took Springy for a walk in the early evening on her tricycle - a bit more fresh air before bathtime and then we spent the evening colouring drawings (we did a park scene each) and then we had a story (October Little Acorns on St Francis) and The Tiger Who Came To Tea (Springy read it to me).

Update on Springy - she's now taken to reading books in bed. I tell her a bedtime story but then she wants to read a book to herself as well. I'm not going to stop her because I know that we are working within a very holistic approach so all the other stuff is being played and worked upon too. She built an amazing den this evening too using the Disney poncho from Grandma and Grandpa and 2 kitchen stools. This morning she used her cowrie shell as a telephone and held a rather amusing conversation with her daddy. I had to be the shopkeeper who sold it to her, along with the stone sausuage (it's a stone we found at the beach on holiday and it looks just like a sausage!) and a butterfly.

German rhymes

Hör, ach, auf zu weinen, Listen, stop to cry,
die Sonn’ wird wieder scheinen, the sun will shine again,
die Glocken werden klingen, the bells will chime again
die Vöglein werden singen, the birds will sing again,
der Kuckuck wird schrei’n, the cuckoo will call
' s wird wieder schön sein.- and all will be well again
Sanft über die schmerzende Stelle streichen

Denkt euch nur, der Frosch ist krank! Think about the frog is ill
Liegt nur auf der Gartenbank, he only lies on the garden bench
quakt nicht mehr, wer weiß wie lang, he doen't croak any more, who knows how long
ach, wie fehlt mir sein Gesang! how I miss his song
Denkt euch nur, der Frosch ist krank! think about it the frog is ill-
Use your hand as the poorly frog

Denkt euch nur, der Frosch war krank! think about the frog was ill
Lag nur auf der Gartenbank, he was lying on the garden bench
quakte nicht, wer weiß wie lang, didn't croak who knows how longa
ch, wie fehlte sein Gesang! oh I missed his song
Gesund ist er nun, Gott-sei-dank! now he is healthy, thank goodness
Qaaak! Quaaak! croak, croak, -
Bei "gesund..."
die Hand langsam wegnehmen und zum Schluss quakend "davonhüpfen" lassen. Take the hand slowly away when the frog returns to good health and make it jump like a croaking frog away

RE: Fairy Tales

A thread came up today on fairy tales and their symbology. I studied fairy tales a good few years ago and one of the things I find interesting with the Steiner education system is their use of fairy tales for children. Many Steiner teachers in schools are convinced (indoctrinated in training?) that these stories were designed for children and developmentally appropriate for children. I know that Alan Whitehead feels the opposite and says that Steiner didn't say fairy tales but did think that local folk tales were of value.

The thing is when you start doing research into the origins of fairy tales you realise that they are quite sordid and dangerous for young children. There is a great deal of sexual content and so on. So it's one of those issues that I've not really broached with Steiner-based teachers as many of them seem to live in a gentle bubble... and I'd hate to burst that.

That said, I like the modern retellings of fairy tales such as when I was a child and I tell these to Springy too. But when people think that fairy tales are developmentally appropriate in Steiner circles part of me wants to say, "Well as long as you choose the ones that have been censored and altered from their original versions".

It's the same for the other parts of the Steiner school curriculum. The Olympics in their original form were homoerotic (no ladies) and involved lots of nakedness, the Norse myths are very bloodthirsty and there seems to be a lot of 'noble savage' stuff that influenced Steiner which stems from the time period he lived in. Archaeology and present historic research have moved on quite a bit and we know that our ancestors were not quite as noble.

That said, I understand that for children it would be nicer to make the world seem like a beautiful place.

Our favourite stories for September

I'm telling two regular stories to Springy for September:

The first is from the Little Acorn Learning's September curriculum and is the story about 'The Little House with No Door, No Windows and a Star Inside'. It features apples and Springy likes enacting the little apple poem at the end of it too. We've done this before from other resources but it always seems to engage little ones.

The second is The Garden of Seasons from the Oak Meadow Kindergarten. It's a lovely story and lends itself to be enacted out with playcloths for snow (white), sunshine (yellow) and green and pink or lavender for a flower. It's ideal because we're into autumn but are still getting quite hot sun and this story covers the seasonal changes and those inbetween. Springy is now joining in with moving the playcloths to the story.

"Thirty days hath September, April, June and November
All the rest have thirty-one
Except February which has twenty eight days clear
But twenty nine in each Leap Year!"

We have a magnetic calendar board (I think it's a brand called Melisa and Doug?) which Springy loves to keep an eye on and change throughout the year. She got it for Christmas last year from my parents and it's an ideal way of playing to learn about months and seasons.

Horses and haystacks

Today was lovely. Springy got to hang out with horses and play with haybales (not stacks as they were too small).

Yesterday we went apple picking and raspberry picking too. We got some runner beans (must get more and make a bean and sausage soup). Springy spotted a big orb spider on her web - I love this time when the cobwebs glisten in the gold of the autumn sun.

A fantastic day

Today was another early autumn day with a very warm sun. I did my work in the morning and then we went shopping and for a walk together. We went to the butcher and the greengrocer. The butchers is an a traditional style and they are very friendly. My mum has a similar one near her and they all recognise you and ask how you are. I like the 'human' connection with local shopping. Afterwards we went for a walk around the area with the swans and ducks. The houses around the pond are gorgeous and it's so convenient for day-to-day shopping.

Springy had a new toy yesterday - it was one of the Beanie dolls that was for sale in a charity shop. I also found a knitting toys book which looks good (not that I'm likely to be able to follow the patterns!).

I'm busy tonight writing a review and I'm very aware that I have to do some more editing soon. The fields are full of seagulls which is funny to see. They're walking along the furrow looking for grubs which have been dug up.

French off

The French lesson is off for now as the tutor phoned to apologise but she has family visiting. No problem - will get going again in 2 weeks and I can always do a bit of French with Springy using the resources we already have. I also use it around the house by asking, "Ca va?" or "Quelle age a tu?" (excuse spelling and symbology) and she responds. We also discuss the cochon d'Inde as well.

I've found another French group - group rather than one-to-one and it looks to be quite affordable but it will tie us up every week which isn't always convenient. I wish I could alternate week them...

We've also located a ballet/tap dance teacher who seems quite nice but then went on about discipline and uniforms to wear etc and ... well for goodness sake, they are not professional ballerinas. I know that Springy would love a dance class, well to dance with more than just me, but I am loathe to put her into the hands of someone who could stress her limbs/body or stop her being 5 years old. I think I will wait a bit longer when she is old enough to make more of a decision herself. She already has lots of physical exercise in terms of her day-to-day running/walking about and she also has weekly swimming lessons. I can play music for her to dance (and I do) and professional dance/ballerina schools wait until the girls are at least 8 or so anyway.

Hedgerow Crumble

Today was Hedgerow Crumble today. Yesterday morning we went for a walk along the hedgerows, picking out blackberries, elderberries (Sambucus Nigra), and wild damsons. With a cooking apple and some flour, plain butter and honey (and a little bit of unrefined sugar) Springy and I made a crumble (destone the damsons, pull the elder berries of the twiggy bits, chop apple rough and throw in the blackberries; crumble mix is 5oz plain flour and about 3.5oz butter - rub together to make a crumble and add sugar and honey to fruit to suit your own taste). We had it with double cream and it was delicious. Elderberries are great at this time of year and I intend to make some elderberry syrup for the winter months (but I need to get going as they are almost at the end of their best before on the umbrels).

Yesterday, apart from hedgerow foraging, involved going off in a rowing boat with a picnic for our lunch. It was beautiful weather and we fed ducks and swans (and a few fish) along the way.

Sharon fruit story

We've been reading the sharon fruit story in The World of Fruit: The Storyteller's Guide to Healthy Food series. It's aimed at slightly older, in terms of the activities, than Springy but she enjoys the stories. The series is written by two Russian authors and they have a whole pedagogy/educational philosophy called Moral Education. I love their stories - they're holistic in nature and use fairy and folk tales to convey the information. I've never had a problem getting Springy to eat fruit or vegetables but even so I think it's a nice way of learning about food.

Springy and I ate an artichoke today (as in globe variety, not 'Jerusalem' sunflower root type variety). To prepare cut off the stalk near the base, snip any very raggedy outer tips off and boil for about 30-40 minutes. I popped it in a to share bowl and Springy enjoyed peeling off the 'petals' and eating the fleshy bit.

I just tried to use the artichoke water to dye some wool. It was the most beautiful turquoise colour but as soon as I added vinegar as a mordant it went clear. Doh! I need to read up on what to use as the colour is gorgeous.

Languages

We've got another French language tutor and are meeting her for the first time next week. She sounds nice and 'play-based'.

Tooth Fairies

So what did the Tooth Fairy do? Well, I asked Springy whether she wanted to keep her tooth or if the fairies could take it. She said out loud, "Dear Tooth Fairy, I want to keep my tooth." As her first tooth it was a bit of a trauma for her. The day she lost it she put it under her pillow and in the morning she found 20p plus a letter on the windowledge in the tiniest handwriting and it had little footprints on it too.

The weather wasn't great which is why the Tooth Fairy didn't bring anything else (somehow Springy was convinced that she would bring an extra gift and I got convinced too!). Anyway, about a week later the weather was great (as can been seen from our beach trip) and Springy found a teeny tiny cowrie shell under her pillow. She's got the tooth, her coin and the shell in a little box now.

Bunny in the Garden

There's a bunny in the garden. He or she is so cute and loves nibbling our lawn (probably because it is organic and full of extras other than just grass). Springy loves seeing her bunny friend but if we go out he goes off into the undergrowth. When I hang out the washing I can hear him so he doesn't seem to be running off too far.

I need to mow the lawn and trim the hedgerow a little before they get too unruly.

We've still got a small crop of blueberries appearing everyday. We love Elsa Beskow's 'Peter In Blueberry Land'. I love stories that tie in to our life.

A day at the beach

Yesterday we spent a gorgeous afternoon out at the beach. The weather was super - it was a bit cold but Springy was able to swim using a 'noodle' around her waist. There was a small shoal of sea bass in the shallows, along with school bass (smaller). Springy was happy when a 3-month old labrador puppy turned up - it was Amber's first time at the sea and she didn't want to go in. Springy tried tempting her in with a pretend treat in her hand but the waves lapping at Amber's paws were a bit too much.

My husband felt a lot better by being in the water. On the way there and on the way back we listened to ELO's 'Mr Blue Sky' which is such a cheerful song. It's Springy's favourite song at the moment.

Tooth fairies

Well Springy's wobbly tooth finally fell out. Today was rather traumatic for her because it bled a bit this morning and had become even more wobbly overnight (apparently her tongue has not been listening to the instruction not to wobble!). She's had that particular tooth for 5 years exactly so it's the oldest one of her deciduous teeth.

I was relieved that it fell out when it did because I told her that if it fell out in the night then it would more likely end up with the Poo Fairy than one of the Tooth Fairies. I'm hoping that the fairies realise that she has a tooth awaiting inspection - we asked them to come but I'm not sure that they will be along tonight.

Finn Family Moomintroll

The story we are telling at the moment is Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson. If I was better at arts and crafts I'd make felt versions of the illustrations because they are so cute but for now they will stay 2-d in the book and 3-d in our minds. Springy listens to the story but only for a short while so I'm guaging whether to stop reading them to her and just read them again to myself for now (I'm wondering whether they are more of a 6/7-year old thing?).

Tap-A-Shape

I'm still not able to afford a wooden toolkit at the moment but we got a tap-a-shape set today. It's bits of wood, tacks, a hammer and a corkboard and it has really met Springy's needs - she was totally absorbed for an hour creating pictures this afternoon (despite the rest of the day not being totally balanced). We did (as in she did it but I suggested) a boat scene, a hot air balloon scene and she created a dog with his bowl of food herself.

It's similar to this one:

http://www.elc.co.uk/toy-34426

but ours was priced at under £5.

Transitions

Well the three days (well half hours on each day) are over and it will now be in September until swimming starts again. It's gone colder and the leaves are starting to tint. I need to remember that when clouds "look like rocks and towers, then you can be sure of heavy showers" because I left some washing out and when we got back it was wetter than when I hung it up to dry.

Springy didn't have enough of a physical day to day and near bedtime was getting very bouncy. We had a slow morning without doing much and an afternoon spent in the car getting bits and pieces and none of that suited Springy at all. She really needed a good climb in the playground. I think so many children are labelled "naughty" when in fact they are just sending messages that their needs have not been met. Yesterday we had a child who did beanbag games, had stories, went to the playground and was eating some fresh picked cherry tomatoes - bedtime was easy. Today we didn't do those things and bedtime was not so easy (it would have been worse if I hadn't recognised that it was not "naughtiness").

I'm in a state of transition at the moment and so is Springy. My daughter has stopped breastfeeding in the last few weeks (we got to 5 years and 7 months) and I can see lots of changes from the infant/toddler and 4-year old kindergarten aged child to the now almost 6 years, just at the end of kindergarten. The breastmilk has pretty much dried up - I'm not sad or happy about that, it just is, but I'm glad that it was something that worked for both of us and that it stopped without any trauma. We've now got 1 wobbly tooth and I am aware that arm length is reaching over the head to the ear. When we were swimming the other day I could see the difference between her and the 3-year old that was there, in terms of physical features of the face, limb length etc. I'm still unable to ascertain how she is walking on the feet (I get it in theory but the visual isn't being processed properly). We've got a reader and writer on our hands and it's so tempting to go academic on it but I see other signs of her not being there (as opposed to ready - it's more of a there and then, a place and time).

I've learned so much from holistic understandings of childhood such as Waldorf, Enki and all the parents who are ahead of me on the learning curve. I feel such a deep sense of awareness (although there is still a lot to learn and sometimes I am baffled or end up reading something over and again without it being absorbed) for my child.

Anyway, going back to autumn, there seem to be apple trees everywhere. I keep noticing roadside apple trees, branches overhanging paths etc and they're not ripe yet. I can't wait to go apple picking ... and that goes back to education. You can see the apples, you know where the trees are, but if you pick those apples early they just won't be ready, even though part of you is raring to go. You might be able to stew them but they just won't work as well as how they would be if you just wait that little bit longer. This last bit of kindergarten requires a lot of patience - you've not got one thing or another but you can't go back (well you can if they decide to have a tantrum and then you get your toddler back) and you can't go forward because you're not the apple on the tree.

Alpacas and dancing

Just had a brilliant weekend with my parents arriving as a surprise.

On Sunday am we went to see some alpacas. Baby ones were due but had not arrived so instead we met with the three boys. They are such gorgeous and curious creatures. We got sniffed at and they come up so close that you end up nose to nose with them. Springy was so happy to see them.

Later we went to a dancing workshop thing complete with live band playing behind.

Three days this week are summer swimming days (well half hours). Springy is doing so well with her swimming lessons and really enjoys and has confidence in the water, although she's not quite swimming just yet.

Seasonal Finger Plays/Rhymes - Autumn

The summer seems to have barely been and although it's hot today, with blue skies, I can feel that harvest time has started and autumn is just around the corner.

The Apple Tree
Here is the apple tree with its leaves so green.(stand tall with arms outstretched like branches)
Here are the apples that hang in between. (curl up hands into fists and rotate to make little circles to show apples hanging)
When the wind blows, the apples will fall. (wave arms like branches blowing in the wind and drop hands down)
Here is a basket to gather them all. (hold arms in front like a basket to hold apples)

Autumn
The leaves are floating gently down,(wave arms up and then down)
They make a soft bed on the ground. (crouch down or if sitting hands on lap)
Then 'whoo whoo' (wave arms about and flap to show the wind)
The wind comes whistling by,
And sends them dancing back to the sky.(hands flutter and dance upwards)

The Whirling Leaves
(Flutter fingers above head and down to the ground repeatedly)
The little leaves are whirling round, round, round,
The little leaves are whirling round,
Falling to the ground.
Round, round, round, round,(flutter fingers round and down)
Falling to the ground.
(with older children get them to be each leaf)

Finger rhymes - animals/birds

Five Little Kittens
Five little kittens standing in a row,(With one palm out, stretch digits up and out)

They nod their heads to the children, so.(Make fingers nod)

They run to the left, they run to the right.(Wiggle fingers left and right)

They stand up and stretch in the bright sunlight.(Stretch fingers up high, slowly — reaching to the sun)

Along comes a dog who’s in for some fun,(Creep other hand toward stretched fingers)

Meow, meow, meow!See those kittens run!(Run fingers and hide by folding down)
Five little mice sitting in a row,(With one palm out, extend five fingers up and out)

They nod their heads to the children, so.(Make fingers nod)

They scamper to the left, they scamper to the right,(Wiggle fingers left and right)

They stand up and stretch in the bright sunlight.(Stretch fingers up high, slowly - reach to the sun)

Along comes a cat, who’s in for some fun.(Creep other hand toward the stretching fingers)Squeak, squeak, squeak!See those little mice run!(Run fingers away to hide again)




Three Little Kittens
Three little kittens, they lost their mittens,

And they began to cry, (Pretend to cry and wipe tears)

“Oh, mother dear, we sadly fear

Our mittens we have lost!”“What? Lost your mittens?

You naughty kittens!(Shake finger as if chastising)Then you shall have no pie.”

“Meow, meow, meow, meow!”

“You shall have no pie!”


The three little kittens, they found their mittens,

And they began to cry,(Mimic crying and wiping eyes)

“Oh, mother dear, see here, see here,

Our mittens we have found.”

“What? Found your mittens?You good little kittens!(Cuddle and hug the 'kittens')

Then you shall have some pie.”

“Purr, purr, purr, purr.”

“You shall have some pie!”



Owl

The barn owl hooted and told of the morning star,

He hooted again and told of the dawn.

The Cobbler and the Mouse
There once lived a cobbler and he was so wee
He lived in a hole in a very big tree
He had a good neighbor and she was a mouse
She did all his washing and tidied his house
Each morning at seven he heard a small tap
And in walked the mouse in her apron and cap
She lit a small fire and fetched a wee broom
And she swept and she polished his little tree room
To take any wages, she always refused
So the cobbler said 'Thank You' by mending her shoes.

Little Mousie
See the little mousie (curve middle finger and index finger on thumb for the mouse)
Creeping up the stair, (Creep the mouse slowly up the arm)
Looking for a warm nest (mouse is looking and sniffing)
There - Oh! There!(Mouse wiggles in armpit)

Snail Song (recite it slow-ly)
The snail is s-o s-l-o-w, the snail is s-o s-l-o-w, (move curled up hand up other arm slowly)
He creeps and creeps along.
And as he does he sings his song:
The s-n-a-i-l i-s s-o s-l-o-w.

Death

I think pets can be a very helpful way of learning about death. Due to their shorter lifespans a death of a pet is inevitable. We had a pet triops who died (they only live a maximum of 3 months) and we had a funeral for him (it) in our garden (yard). He was well loved (they are interesting creatures to observe) and they are easy to care for. I think for a child facing a death of something that is a very simple life form in such a matter-of-fact way means that when death happens to someone much closer, a family member, they are able to have more coping mechanisms in place.

Sewing onto Binka

The other day I bought some Binka with which to make a sewing sampler as part of our home education provision. I've got a bodkin needle and the plan was to borrow my old sewing sampler that I did years ago as the model. However, my mum seems to have lost it somewhere! Oh well... so I'm trying to find out about sewing stitches at the moment because I haven't got much of a clue any more (since in a typical school fashion we did this project once so my brain has since forgotten it). I am hoping that we will sew a lot so that this will become a skill into adulthood (but I'm going to have learn alongside Springy).

I've also bought some felt to make the ballet shoe stocking thing as a room decoration. So far we've cut out the pattern (well I have - she just watched a bit but is so busy playing with everyone else here).

Floods

We had what was like a tropical monsoon here this afternoon. Looking at the news it would seem that much of the country is under water. A lot of the buildings affected seem to be new build - built on flood plains! Sending lots of good thoughts to everyone in the rescue teams.

Where is the military action that this country requires to assist its people?

I really had a very good laugh today (this is a true story):

A family friend has a friend who has a photographic studio. He recently had a query from a lady about a photo that she wanted him to deal with digitally. It was a photo of Prince Charles and Lady Diana (so a bit old) and she wanted to know if he could remove the policeman who standing behind them. The photo man said that yes, it would be possible. "Oh good, because I'm standing right behind the policeman!"

The World of Fruit

This book is a really good resource:

The World of Fruit

My favourite recipes

Fairy Cakes
1 cup SR flour
1/2 cup caster sugar
2 eggs
butter

Cream sugar and butter together.
Add eggs gradually
Add flour (sieved)
Spoon into 12 cake cases
Bake for 12 minutes at 180deg C

Chocolate Sponge Cake
(use Victoria sandwich tins)

5 oz SR flour
1 oz cocoa powder (preferably organic)
1 tsp baking powder (optional)
6 oz butter
5-6 oz caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
3-4 eggs
2 tbsp cold water

Cream sugar and butter.
Combine dry ingredients and add gradually with egg and 'wet' ingredients.
Spoon into sandwich tins.
Bake for 12 -15 minutes in 180deg C oven (fan).

Chocolate Ganache (icing)
5 oz plain chocolate
5 oz double cream

Melt chocolate in bain marie. Stir in cream when chocolate has melted.
Pour on cake and leave to set.

Almond Chocolate Cake
4 eggs (separated)
150g dark chocolate
150g diced butter
75g golden caster sugar
1 tbsp runny honey
200g almond flour
75 ml milk.

Separate eggs (beat egg whites until they are stiff)
Bain marie: chocolate, butter, sugar and honey - melt down
Add egg yolk
Then add almond flour and milk.
Fold in egg white
Add to cake tin (flat round e.g. Victoria sandwich)
Bake 15 minutes at 170 deg C (fan - 190deg non-fan)

A little on our educational philosophy

I believe very strongly that (neurotypical) children need to play as much as possible during childhood.

We wake up between 8 and 9 am and either sing a little, tell a story or just talk about something in bed. In the summer and on bright days we bounce up and have our breakfast. We may do a story then, or again sing a few rhymes or songs. We play board and card games a lot - Top Trumps to Max the Cat or Memory. At the moment we are playing a lot of Ludo (I use 2 dice as it means the numbers are a little more of a stretch in terms of learning). Dolls come out to play - they go on adventures in the wooden train or climb up mountains (the sofa).

We do a bit of arts and crafts - today for instance, we made a clock using a brass paper clip, a round pizza base card (no - not home-made pizza - naughty us!) and then we did some cutting out of the cardboard clockhands. We do a lot of watercolour painting (wet-on-wet technique), beewax modelling and drawing (mainly pencil crayon or wax crayon). For some reason, glitter and glue is more of a winter activity.

In terms of reading and writing - we don't do anything formal or instructive in this. I believe strongly that later emphasis on academics is better than the early system in place in mainstream schools. Reading and writing depends on so many areas and I think it's better to wait before formal instruction begins. Eye tracking, co-ordination, phonemic awareness and so many other things are best naturally developed/learnt through having free play rather than formal reading schemes. We have lots of stories and songs in our house. I'd rather wait for a child to naturally develop into reading and writing, even if they are 7 years or above. I love the creativity of facilitating learning without using textbook instruction.

Audio books

This is an interesting site:

Learn Out Loud

Fridge magnet

This is a very useful resource:

http://www.fridgemagnet.com/

They have fridge magnetic rolls - you can cut a bit off and stick it to a postcard or something you've made and hey presto... instance fridge magnet decoration.

French nursery rhymes we know - comptines et chansons

This is one of our favourites:

(it sounds like a little fanfare in terms of song style):

Pomme de reinette
Pomme de reinette,
Et pomme d’api,
D’api, d’api rouge.

Pomme de reinette,
Et pomme d’api,
D’api, d’api gris.
(you use your hands to tap - make a sideways fist so your hand is the apple. The song is a nonsense rhyme apparently)

Moustache, moustachu
Moustache, moustachu
Voici le chat
Griffa, griffu
Griffa, griffu
Sortez les griffes
(whiskers, cat, claws out, claws return are the gestures)

http://bmarcore.club.fr/Tine/E167.html
Le Grand Cerf
Dans sa maison un grand cerf,
Regardait par la fenêtre,
Un lapin venir au loin,
Et frapper chez lui.
"- Cerf cerf ouvre moi, ou le chasseur me tuera!",
"- Lapin, lapin entre et viens Me serrer la main."
(In his house the big deer was looking out of the window, a rabbit came and knocked, "Deer, Deer open up for me, otherwise the hunter will shoot me!" "Rabbit, rabbit of course you can come in and we will shake hands."
(the gestures are: use your hands as antlers - fingers spread out, make a window shape, use hands as rabbit ears, knock, hands round mouth to indicate shouting, use your hand to make a gun, enter motion with hand, shake hands)

Bedtime tales

Tonight I told little one a story about the gnome who lives in our garden. Today, whilst I was sat outside in the garden I heard a lot of squeaking and twittering noises and thought it was a bird in distress. I went to have a look and instead saw a shrew. They are so tiny but they are so busy and unbelievably noisy. I was stood over them watching - they appear to be living under our shed and don't seem to care that the human neighbours they have know about them.

Anyway, I made up a story tonight (had to be short because I have a sore throat and a sniffly nose) about our resident gnome hearing the twittering sound and going to have a look for what he thought was a baby bird. Instead he finds that he has new neighbours - the very noisy shrew family. He looks, listens and sniffs for the creatures making the noise and finds them. At the end, having said, "Hello" he goes back home and he and his family settle down for the night.

Anyway small person liked it - I got the "Mum did you make that story yourself?" It's nice to be able to improvise and not hold a book but have all the component parts of a kindergarten age story - little adventure then safe return home again - and it lasted all of about 3 minutes (thus saving my voice).

I've always wanted to do a storytelling course or two because I think it's amazing that people can weave together or memorise stories.

German (Deutsch) resources

I believe that other languages are so important and small person (hmm need a nickname for here) loves hearing them. We have quite a few of the German Pixi books to read - Rapunzel, The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids. We also have a few CDs in Deutsch.

This is very useful for songs and rhymes:

http://german.about.com/library/blmusik_kinder.htm

For French we have our French tutor (sadly she has another job so won't be available after this week) who we have seen for about 18 months. I also have French language books and an ELC Fun with French CD (songs and rhymes).

Spanish is something I would like to introduce and we also have the name of a Latin teacher somewhere but this will be more formal in the way it is taught so we intend to wait for a year or so on that.

The good thing with home education is that you can learn alongside your child. The problem is many of the foreign language resources are mostly aimed at adults and they seem to be written by soap opera dramatists. They have the most awful plots running through them. I got one out of the library on German (a BBC one) and it seems to be about an Eastern European man trying to stay in Germany and earn a living and take up residency there. It really put me off because I want something that is not dramatic but is more joyous to learn from. Oh well...

You're not my friend

I read a story to the small person tonight. It's about a fox cub who is playing with his mummy and then his mummy tells him it's time for bed. He doesn't want to go and tells his mummy "you're not my friend". Naturally, at the end of the story it all turns out all right and they snuggle down in their den for sleep, as friends again. Well, after I finished reading it, certain small person decided to test the story's plot and declared that I was no longer her friend. Distraction often works best in these scenarios so I sat looking out of the window at the sunset and she came to see it too. I was asked to take her back to her room which I did and then, when I left again, after saying "Good night" got a "You are really my friend mummy" moment. :) The joys of stories and 5 year olds.

Toolkits

I want to get into the crafts resource and do some woodworking stuff with my child.

There is this resource here:

http://www.forsmallhands.com/

I've also looked at a company called Moulin Roty who do a toolbox too.

At the moment I need to save up a little more for either option.

Garden education

It's been wonderful the past few days and we've been out in the garden loads over the past few weeks (apart from when it was raining too much). We have loads of butterflies in our garden and this is because I am very careful about what is growing in it. We keep our nettles and keep lots of indigenous and/or butterfly-friendly plants in the garden. We grow rosemary, mullein, nettles, foxgloves, lemon balm, dandelions (lots of insect species love these, along with birds such as finches) and buddleia. I also weed by hand rather than using chemicals.

Yesterday I had one of those moments. I was stood in the garden with birds twittering, the sound of my child singing, bees buzzing and the scent of the butterfly bush, complete with peacock and red admiral butterflies probing for pollen, all surrounding me. Totally found the 'now' - ah, beautiful.

If you have a garden then make it butterfly and bee friendly, if you can and if it suits your climate. It's a most wonderful resource for a home educator to go about spotting and identifying butterflies. We made butterfly fridge magnets (used a butterfly stencil - cut out shapes and painted them according to a butterfly wall chart). The scent from most butterfly-friendly plants is incredible - it's a really good to way to help with olfactory (smell) sense integration. Eye tracking by following around butterflies is so natural.

We have lots of bumblebees too (less honeybees this year).

Also, this week has seen the birth of 4 girls to our friends, neighbours or family members.

Some useful, artistic links

Jan Brett: www.janbrett.com


Frances Tyrell: www.francestyrrell.com/index.html

Marillen Cake

Apricot Cake

Need a flat cake tin

2-3 eggs (dependent on tin size - needs to be a minimum 1" high)

Weigh eggs with shell on -
Measure out same weight of butter
and of flour
and of sugar (you can reduce sugar slightly)

Cream butter and sugar first
Then add in dry ingredients
Grate in rind of lemon and squeeze in some lemon juice and add 1tsp vanilla essence
Mix in
Add to tin
WAsh apricots - remove kernels
Add the apricot slices onto top of cake dough
Bake in oven until golden - 20 minutes (180deg C)

Living Crafts

There's a wonderful new crafts magazine coming out which is natural craft/nature craft focused. It sounds really good:

http://www.livingcrafts.com/

Favourite Games

We love playing:

Snap
Lotto (French)
Memory
Max the Cat
The Orchard Game
Ludo

May the Force be With you

Well, at the end of this month (the 28th) it will be 30 years since Star Wars first came out (I also have a special friend whose birthday it is).

I've not blogged much but we have been very busy and learning loads.

I have a new book on block crayon techniques from a Steiner school perspective. It is excellent and I've been teaching myself from it by practising the lessons within. Sigi's book (Sigi De Francesca MA Ed) is just brilliant (this is her website http://www.kitntales.com/).

E has done loads of things recently - birthday parties, nature walks, playground visits, shopping, drawing, painting, crafts, library trips, playing outside in the garden, caring for her guineapigs, getting new shoes (pink ones) and more playing.

We sat out in the garden tonight and did some pictures. If she was at school I would be worrying that it was already bed time and we wouldn't have so much time together and the closeness that we have.

The other day she amazed me because I'd talked to her about odd and even numbers (not in any depth and not in an engaging the head too much way but just matter of fact because she had asked) for while now and I was printing off the A Little Garden Flower kindergarten e-book and because I had to reverse the pages I was sorting them out for the printer - counting out loud 1, 3, 5, 7 and then E continued the rest of the sequence until the late 80s/early 90s (in odd numbers).

We've been reading a Reg Down book featuring Tiptoes Lightly:

http://www.tiptoes-lightly.net/

I really like the stories - they are short and flow nicely. I love the way the story finishes and E wants to know what happens in the next story (great for bedtime or for a regular story session).

Balloons

Today we went to a birthday party for a 2-year old. Daughter had a lovely time and there were 7 children in total - on the way out she received a helium balloon. Once we got home she tried tying a doll to it only to find that this dragged the balloon down - "The doll is too heavy for the balloon" so she untied it. We then used hair tyes and added them one-by-one and watched for the balloon to dip down. It was a nice little observation and it was interesting to notice her experimenting with the science without any explanation.

Beans and Triops

Our bean thing is growing well - I need to move it to a larger container - but daughter continues to water it every day. The red currant bush seems to be flourishing and the change of soil in the autumn for the blueberries means that they look well - lots of flowers so I hope there will be lots of fruit. I need to weed around the strawberry patch but the raspberry canes look like they will give us a crop again. I'm looking forward to picking our own at the nearby fruit farm as well - last year we saw a hornet in the autumn (beautiful but scary) when we went apple picking.

Our strange crustacean friend (Candle the Triops) is huge - he's about 2 inches in length and zooms about looking for food still. I will really miss him (or her) when he dies because he has been such fun; today, whilst I was chopping the vegetables I could hear him sifting through the stones in his tank, so he's quite good company in the kitchen.

We've been playing lots of card games recently e.g. snap, Top Trumps and daughter seems to recognise a lot of numbers. Tonight she worked out that 10 and 10 is 20 (from counting all her fingers and all her toes).

There and back again...

We had a lovely time at my parents' house. We went to a zoo, to the Chestnut Center for Owls and Otters (if we had gone a week later we would have seen the valley covered in bluebells), and a number of other things.

We went to the library - daughter likes the Oxford Reading Tree books ( we don't have them in our local library) and read a number to me at the library. She had a great time playing with cousins and also children of old friends of mine during our stay as well.

I managed to dye some wool using the leftover pink dye from our boiled Easter eggs. With a capful of vinegar the colour has stayed put (the wool looks like candy floss - it's a cochineal-based dye). Unfortunately we both picked up a bad cold whilst we were away and although daughter has recovered I've got pharyngitis (and I feel useless because I can't read or sing).

Today was French (usually I attend but didn't want to pass this on to the tutor) so daughter went in alone. I noticed daughter doing scissor legs (Enki stuff - well not Enki in origin but she's picked it up through that) around the garden today and she's getting very adventurous on the swing (fell off and bumped her elbow and then re-enacted same thing for daddy to show him how she had fallen off, only this time she bumped her head - fortunately not hard!).

She also went to the playground when the schools had finished. It's a good way to ensure social interaction (with an only child you need to make a lot more effort) by finding a good local playground and going on a regular basis. She has made some friends there who now bound over to her. I think they are fascinated as well because they know she doesn't go to school. After that we went to the library and I found a few knitting books with small items in. I've decided that I will stick to knitting small items because no matter how much I try anything larger eg a jumper goes wrong for me. I also got a feltcraft book out (I'm awful at handicrafts but enjoy doing them and reading up on the theories and then attempting the smallest item possible).

Tonight's dinner was a tagliatelle bolognese - olive oil, celery, carrots, onions, garlic, tomatoes, beef, smoky bacon

Spring 2007

Spring has arrived and although we are away from home on a holiday to grandparents at the moment, here is what our Spring looks like.

First off, we are growing a bean (planted on a waxing moon) plant. Daughter has been very interested in watching it from the first shoots to when we left it the other day with about 6 leaves.

We have also grown a Triops, called Candle, from an egg. He (or she) was the only one to hatch and daughter has been enjoying feeding Candle every day. She has learned about cleaning it out (I do it but she helps by ensuring I don't catch it in the cleaning pot) and had to patiently wait before it hatched. It's a fascinating little creature (it's a type of crustacean) and it zooms about its little tank and when it finds food it gets very excited, homes in on it, grabs the food and swims on its back (a bit like a sea otter). They are a lot of responsibility so not recommended for families who won't look after them properly!

We also are using some stories and songs as a regular part of our rhythm:

Princess Spring - Enki Education
The Story of the Root Children - Sybylle Van Olfers
Pelle's New Suit - Elsa Beskow

I also ordered a bag of fleece and some mini carders. We washed the fleece by soaking in warm water and washing up liquid (Ecover) - soak and don't rub unless you want felt. We dried it and then carded it. I've tried to spin it on a drop spindle but that isn't working (well it works but I don't know how to do it right, despite some good instructions).

Daughter has also seen some spring lambs who were just a day old.

Easter is only a few days away and gifts this year are toothpaste (Weleda calendula and Green People Orange), a little knitted rabbit (homemade), a wooden orange, and some felt egg cosies (which we need to make).

My Child - Remember Your Child

To me the whole reason we are home educating is because we believe that is best for our child and that no one else could improve on that level of responsibility and care.

We're not following any particular method. Since we discovered home education as an option I have always felt that our method is based on our child's needs which is why we're not Waldorf, or Montessori or Enki and so on. Yes, I may borrow some of the ideas from each of these (and other) approaches to education but to me the most important factor to indicate success is the child at the heart of it.

Sometimes it can feel that people are so busy focusing on someone else's approach that they forget their very own child is the reason they are doing the thing they are doing. I know on occasion I have become so entangled with reading up on an idea or philosophy that I go off at a tangent and want to change things to the point that I forget that what I already do is working and needs no label. At the same time I enjoy reading, studying and learning more and more.

The most important thing that Steiner Waldorf has shown me is that you don't need to rush things like academics in too early. At the same time, because my daughter has wanted to read and has figured out reading a little herself I'm not going to discourage her either. It's so beautiful to see her work out symbols around her environment. At the same time it's nice to see her not distressed and also not totally academically focused.

Rhythm

Rhythm to me is not the same as routine. This is a term used in Steiner Waldorf circles, particularly for Kindergarten age children and also mentioned are the terms in-breath and out-breath - breathing in and breathing out. This relates to our lives, the parts of the day, the seasons and is also a natural physiological function and mentioned in yoga as well (e.g. pranayama).

How to find rhythm?

I'm not perfect at this (not sure anyone can really be) and this is something that I am still working on. Something that helps is to ask yourself two questions and then write down the answers to give yourself focus:

What do I want to do?

What do I need to do?

and relate these to each person in your family, your family as a collective (we), your daily lives, weekly lives, monthly and also seasonal periods.

In my family housework is important - I need to do laundry, washing up (don't have a dishwasher and we have an annoyingly small sink), the garden during the spring and summer months (a little in the autumn) and so on. We also want to bring in painting, baking, knitting, playtime (very important) and running our businesses etc. I don't even believe that rhythm is exclusive to SW education but it's something that people need (and some people prefer stricter schedules and routines but that's not something that appeals to my rebellious nature).

Steiner Waldorf and Holistic Curriculum

Here is a useful list of curriculum resources:

A Little Garden Flower (Melisa Nielsen)

Christopherus (Donna Simmons)

David Darcy

Enki Education (Beth Sutton)

Golden Beetle (Alan and Susan Whitehead)

Live Education (Bruce Bischof and Rainbow ...)

Nature Kiddos (Jodi Carnes)

Seasons of Joy (Annette Frontz)

Waldorf Curriculum (Rhoda ...)

Waldorf Home Educators (Marsha Johnson, Shining Star, Oregon)

Waldorf Without Walls (Barbara Dewey)

There are a couple more but I need to dig them out.

Sick with a bug

Ill - yes we've been ill which is why my idea to blog has fallen by the wayside until now. We were supposed to have had a home ed meet up with another family yesterday but just before 2 pm my daughter vomited as we were about to set off.

We have had a weird bug that is going around; it's a cold with either a) diarrhoea (I love spelling that word) or b) vomiting or both. I had the former at the beginning of the week (herbal info for diarrhoea: bistort root with cinnamon bark - place 1 dstspn bistort and 1 cinnamon stick in pan with 1 cup cold water, bring to boil and simmer for 10 minutes - caution in pregnancy etc) and now my little girl is in bed with a temperature (currently asleep which is why I am writing but I keep checking her) having both.

I stayed up all last night with her to check she was all right and to help her hold the bucket, sit on the toilet and then carry her back to bed. At about 6 am she stopped vomiting after drinking and has now been keeping fluids down - cold camomile tea and water, alternating, with little sips of each. Husband is wonderful because he took the night off, got his sleep and then took over late morning when I was too tired (managed to get a much needed nap).

I'm hoping that the fever will break and then she should be fine. It's always a worry when you love someone that much and I hate to see her look so sad and weak.

I read her three stories today. She wanted to remain quiet and was asleep for most of the day but I asked if she wanted some stories and I read her three from the Oak Meadow Kindergarten collection. She really enjoyed the one about Princess Eliza and the one about The Golden Spider (who weaves blankets for baby fairies); the third story was The White Snake but it wasn't a good story for reading to a sick patient, at least not my sick little girl.

Home Education and home made

Home education was first enshrined in English legislation back in 1944 under the Education Act (by Winston Churchill's Government).

Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 means that home education is legal in this country. Sadly, the recent Labour Government has been seeking to undermine this by changing legislation surrounding it and also they are now directly involved with making all types of education come under Government statutes. This is something I disagree with - I think the diversity in education is very important because much of the Government does not have child development knowledge, nor do they have experts who are omniscent (plus some of the research the advisors used has been misinterpreted).

To me it is very important to have independence from state interference in terms of education - child welfare is a separate matter and it is important that there are laws to protect children from physical, sexual and emotional violence and abuse. However, getting back to education, I feel strongly that parents' views on education need respecting.

I find myself as a mother under more and more disrespect from professionals. When I chose homebirth I found some professionals openly hostile to my choice. Thankfully I was very fortunate in that I had midwives who were actively respectful to it. I want my own child to have birth choice. At the moment, independent midwives are under attack due to badly thoughtout Government legislation which will make them unable to practice due to costs (insurance-related which will cost more than an independent midwife could earn per annum). Although my own midwives were NHS, it is a lottery as to whether a midwife is a) pro choice in birth and b) has adequate knowledge to help with a holistic birth.

I found the following resources useful:

a) Ina May Gaskin's books
b) the www.homebirth.org.uk site
c) other empowered women who had birthed without their choices being removed (not easy due to the bullying of many professionals)
d) other empowered women who had their choices removed but who have energised other women with information because of being let down
e) Gill Thorn's books

I utilised Kiegel exercises, birth visualisations, breathing exercises and a very supportive husband.

My love goes out to all mothers who have wanted the best for their baby - for those of you have had your choices taken away, my thoughts go out for your daughters so that they can be empowered.

Thank you to all midwives who trust that birth should be beautiful and help support women and their babies in that loving energy.

Welcome :)

This is my public home ed blog.

I home educate one child who is in Kindergarten stage - under 7.

I believe that children of under the age of 7 don't need formal academics thrust on them and certainly not my child.

I believe that parents should retain the responsibility of their child's education - welfare and education are two separate issues.

I believe that here in England we start our formal academic school education far too early. I believe that more should be done to encourage and help those parents who wish to spend time with their children to do so. I believe strongly that since we now live in the 21st century, more and more people could be assisted in working from home and for hours that are adapted to family life.

SureStart programmes were started to help people if they wanted and needed it. The research that shows their success was not supposed to be applied across the board - sadly many parents believe that if they don't send their to child to nursery and get them reading from age 3 onwards and "socialising" (in a loud, noisy, survival situation) that somehow their child will be a "Failure". Many parents "reframe" (making the best out of a bad situation by lying to yourself) that they could not bear to spend all day with their child at home - why not have a goldfish instead then? (if you feel the need to pass your child into the care of strangers for a greater percentage of their waking hours than you can be bothered to input for, then my belief is you should not bother to have children - have them adopted instead by someone who will love and care for them directly).

As parents we need to empower ourselves with a range of information as well as trust our instincts.

My child is home-made (we conceived her at home, birthed her at home and we home educate - although this does not mean we spend all our time at home, far from it...). I believe that as my child's parent I should have ultimate responsibility and be treated as such by Government and professionals.