Homeschooling, grief and learning to play
Hello friends, when we decided to homeschool, our son was three years old. I want to share how things progressed and how we went about growing into this new season of our lives.
Firstly, a three-year-olds greatest need is to know they’re loved, they belong, and they play a part in the family. So, for the most part we played, and we loved on our boy. We took time to get on his level. We had always read to our son, even when he was a brand-new babe, and I was nursing. While he nursed, I read out loud to him. Therefore, he had always enjoyed reading.
But now it was my job to play with him. (Thats how I looked at it anyways) I had always enjoyed playing with him, but when my mom had gotten sick and the pressures of everyday life and working full time started really grating, we did less and less of it. He played while I worked. But then, my mom had passed away and our little family was going through it. So, I took playing as seriously as I could- I wanted to learn more about who my child was, now remember- we came from working full time to being home full time. In some ways I didn’t have a lot of expectations for play time, I just wanted to engage. I wanted to be present as much as possible- because although our son understood Nana had passed away; children don’t grieve like we do, and I noticed that when he felt sad, he cried, when he wanted to play, he played, and I followed his lead, and in doing so I learned how to play in spite of grief.
As we played, I realized that within these hours is where so much of the learning takes place. We lined up cars, organized them by color and size, we counted them and talked about differences and similarities. As we drove cars through our town map, we pretended to go to the library for books, to the grocery store for food and to the post office to send packages. Doing so helped him have a greater understanding of what and how when we did those things in the everyday.
We played outside, drew letters in the sand, caught bugs and marveled at God’s creation. We took walks and talked about the beauty of the natural world around us.
Education is a lifestyle; we breathe it, and the lungs are curiosity themselves.
We baked, tended our chickens and grew vegetables. In those first years- it really is so much simpler than what we think it ought to be. We had play dates and talked about kindness and treating others with respect- conversations we’ll have for years to come.
Anyone whose considering homeschooling or maybe you’re in your first years- be at ease mama- do life, slow down… bring them into all of it. Give thorough answers to their questions and if you don’t know the answers, be honest, and show they how to find them. One of the greatest lessons I learned in those first year, a lessen I’ll be learning for the rest of my years- is that a little humility goes a long way. Often times, my son would ask questions, I just didn’t know the answers to- so we sought them out. We would go to the library, get books on the topic, and learn together. Sure, I could google whatever I wanted, but that didn’t show him how to get the information he was looking for.
I found that this was one of the single most important things we’ve done and continue to do- is read to learn. It’s beautifully simple. So, get to your local library, get a card and check out all the books.
Be encouraged dear friend- trust in the Lord and he will equip you in all things.
May you never lose your wonder.
With love,
Kira Lynn