My major in college was Early child development with a minor in psychology. I never finished my degree but hey it's totally helped me relate to my kids!
I have been working in depth this summer on being a better "teacher" for my children. Lots and lots of inner work on myself too. I am always amazed at people who tell me that they could never homeschool 'cause they just don't have the patience. It has very little to do with patience and a lot to do with truly loving yourself, your life and being with your children. This is not meant to degrade anyone! Just my observation on the fact homeschooling isn't just about patience.
As I look at today's modern public school and the complete lack of curriculum based on maturation and cognitive development, based on where children are at in each stage of their little lives, I am just flabbergasted. With the exception of a few innovative charter schools, let us just cram as much "school" down their throats as possible. We have a nation full of children who have lost their sense of wonder! We have teens who use texting to communicate when the person they are texting is sitting right next to them.
I started this so many years ago with the desire to have my children love to learn. To have Shakespeare as their friend, to lay on the grass and make the clouds into elephants, to still have that sense of wish, wonder and surprise.
We started with leanings of Waldorf -inspired home schooling 16 years ago. The beauty of the natural toys and being in tune with the seasons spoke to me. We have spent lots of money on lots of different styles of curriculum and today we are still back with Waldorf.
I have spent much time praying and meditating over my children and their needs for school this year. At my side is Steiner's "The Education of the Child in the Light of Anthroposophy".
He gives a quote that really struck me as he is speaking about the child leaving the early years of imitation and example.
"...so for the years of this second period the magic words are Discipleship and Authority. What the child sees directly in his educators, with inner perception, must become for him authority --not authority compelled by force, but one that he accepts naturally without question. By it he will build up his conscience, habits and inclinations; by it he will bring his temperament into an ordered path. He will look out upon the things of the world as it were through its eyes. Those beautiful words of the poet, " Every man must choose his hero, in whose footsteps he will tread as he carves out his path to the heights of Olympus", have especial meaning for this time of life."
We need heros that our children can look up to and emulate. I see this with Chaiya and her friends. They are looking for people worthy to be their heros.
I thought the nine year change might be a little delayed with Lydia because of her disabilities. No, I was wrong. Last week she put socks in her shirt and ask what I thought of how she is going to look with boobs. hmmmmmm.
Quayde didn't lose his first teeth until age nine. Losing teeth is an indicator of cognitive changes and maturation in Waldorf circles. He still needs help reading, he will get there. We are working on helping him feel better about being Quayde. He kind of got gypped on the having the early joyful childhood part.
I am really looking forward to this year, even though our schooling is a major lifestyle more than anything else. We do not school at home. We singing, create, play, celebrate and learn.
Waldorf is more than the crayons, silks and wooden toys. Those are all nice but it's about each child, each developmental stage and creating the magic and miracles that childhood should be about.
Then you get to bake them! It takes about 30 to 35 minutes.
