Thread: So what are all you other He families....

...up to at the moment?

I'm feeling very positive and happy about HEing Mia, have just read the 'Unschooling handbook' and I'm now starting 'And the skylark sings with me' written by a HE dad, both great so far.

Just wonderd what everybody else's kids were up to and enjoying doing at the moment? I feel so excited when I think about all the exciting things we'll be able to do as Mia and the new baby get older!

At the moment Mia (22 months) is a total bookworm and seems to be following her dad with a fascination for birds (the feathered kind!) She loves exploring the rock pools and digging in he sand and is generally excited by and interested in everything....

We're really looking forward to our move to Swansea in 10 days as there's a very active HE group there. There's also loads going on there and we're looking forward to taking her to craft events at the summer festival, the botanic gardens and maritime museum etc...and growing our own fruit and veg in tubs, hooray!

Oh, 'Montessori'..... don't know much about this style of HE, but they have a book of Montessori learning at the local discount bookshop, but I thought maybe it was based on a quite structured way of learning?? Anyone know much about it?

Hope all you other HE'rs are well and happy!
Love Gina***

You are so brave!

I coundnt do it,

Montessori is not a system for training children in academic studies; nor is it a label to be put on educational materials. It is a revolutionary method of observing and supporting the natural development of children. Montessori educational practice helps children develop creativity, problem solving, social, and time-management skills, to contribute to society and the environment, and to become fulfilled persons in their particular time and place on Earth. The basis of Montessori practice in the classroom is respected individual choice of research and work, and uninterrupted concentration rather than group lessons led by an adult.

So basically what you are doing anyway....exploring the environment, promoting respect for it, learning with what you have available to you....
Love
Sarah xXx

DD went to a Montessori nursery and we all loved it and DD was much loved by the staff there.

I don't know much about the philosophy, but each child was encouraged to work alone and at their own pace. The workers went around tuning in to each child and helping them on to the next stage in whatever they were doing. There was a real sense of respect for others and the environment. And the thing I remember most was the quiet and peace in the nursery-no raised voices. The workers would play the piano quietly to tell the children that it was time to finish what they were doing.

Our whole family benefitted from the time that DD wa there. She was very sad to leave and found it hard to go into the harsh environment of the local school. All in all,very positive memories.....

Good luck with your HE.

Akame

Akame

Thanks for the Montessori info, might have to buy that book then as I love reading stuff about HE at the moment!
Love Gina***

Some more infomation on Montessori

http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-mont.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montessori
http://montessorimom.com/index.php?A...tessori_Method

Hi there! We are just enjoying the sun really! Not a lot of structured stuff going on atall in our house just now.

We've been spending lots of time gardening and having plenty of days out. We are members of the National Trust so I try to visit one of their properties when I can. The girls enjoy this as long as they don't have to write about it afterwards!!

Today the girls spent the day with my mum. She is moving house soon so they have been having a whale of a time helping her with painting. Another life skill so I can't complain. Really, I am just happy for them to potter about and fill their time with whatever pleases them at the moment. As long as they are doing SOMETHING and not just watching TV or playing computer games, then I am happy. Summer is a time to be out and about as much as possible I think. We have all the long, dark days through the winter to spend with our noses stuck in maths books.

Glad things are going well with you. x

As we have recently got an allotment and bantams, we are doing a lot on growing things, birds, eggs etc.

Cool Blog Caroline!!

Hi Gina,we are mainly chilling out and enjoying the new baby!
One of them has been looking at lots of flag,related to the world cup!!
One designing a set of top trumps based on our family!
lots of drawing,cooking and tonnes of reading books!
Plus all the usual weekly groups and activities!
Gosh,glad I replied as I had been thinking that Solomons arrival had meant they were hanging about and I was neglecting them!!

Education just happens,in fact the best bits are the constant marvellous conversations we have all day!