Yes, the summer holidays are here and we are taking on some studying and we're actually quite excited about it. I'm not sure how to explain this to someone who has never been excited about studying through the summer, except to say that we really enjoy learning together and we are not doing math. (We like math well enough in it's place, but we need a break from that kind of thing.) This morning we started Lightbearers - a biblical worldview program from Summit Ministries. It looks really good but I can't say much about it yet as we are only as far as reading through the preparation chapter. Interestingly, one of the Bible portions quoted was the passage that we just learned for the Sunday school year-end program. "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. " Matthew 5:13-16
Our mornings will be busy with song and scripture memorization, worldview study, read-alouds and our assigned work for the day, such as gardening, yard work, painting, baking, and the like. No doubt some of our chores will spill over into the afternoon, but I'm hoping to leave a good part of the afternoons open for relaxing, reading, playing, exploring, sewing, biking, swimming and whatever else the kids dream up.
I have found that kids with too much free time complain that there's nothing to do. They seem to need some scheduled time to read/study or do some chores in order to really appreciate and make good use of their free time. So assigning work is a win-win situation. The work gets done and the free time gets filled up with all the things they dream of doing while they're working. :)
All in all, it looks like it will be a good summer.
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6 comments:
Sweet pictures of Nadia! I plan on doing some studies over the summer as well, but we are taking this month off to get caught up on chores and the garden under controle. :) They don't need much time each day to keep them from getting bored - and I think I am more creative with summer studies. Maybe because I don't feel under any pressure to perform???
Jenny
Are those Red Currants that Nadia is eating? I used to love those!!
Just wondering if you have ideas for "summer learning" that's more geared for younger kids...Worldview studies would be a little difficult for 4 year olds! :-)
Great ideas for summer learning!
We're still trying to get the schoolwork out of the way, and we're almost finished. We can hardly wait.
I love the way you combined the pictures with the post. Beautiful.
Annie Kate
Hi Amanda,
You are likely doing a lot of worldview study already, only not in a formal way. What you are teaching about God, His world, and our place in it IS worldview and sets the foundation for future study. :) I don't do much formal study with my kids before age 6 or so - unless they demand workbooks to be like the big kids. Learning takes place so naturally at that age. They ask so many questions, examine things, explore, ask some more questions. Lots of reading of good books is a great thing. At that age a lot of things can be introduced by just talking about it - like time of day, seasons, nature study...whatever. Establishing a relationship of love and trust, respect and obedience and enjoying informal learning is more important than academics for a 4 year old IMHO. But a 4 year old is not too old to do chores, though probably not independently yet. Things like folding socks, cleaning up the toys, drying unbreakable dishes, stocking the bathroom with toilet paper or the change table with diapers, helping to set or clear the table...there's lots of little things like that. It might be easier now to do it yourself but it is so important to teach children to work and have a good attitude about it from an early age. It will pay off in the years to come. I'm enjoying the fruit of that now and it is sweet!
Wishing you God's blessing on your beautiful family,
Carmen
Love that last picture of Nadia!
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