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Charity · 11-28-2004, 11:54 PM

I have found that my kids don't neccesarily like being "taught" stuff, especially when "I" initiate it. If "I" initiate doing a subject or doing "schoolwork", all of a sudden it becomes boring and uninteresting to them. If I put out books or toys having to do with the subjects I want them to learn, and then leave them within the kids reach, I find them picking things up, initiating questions and trying to figure out how things work. They just want to be the ones to initiate that learning process, rather than be told what to learn about.

For your situation with Maddie, I would just leave alphabet books in her reach, alphabet puzzles in her reach, computer games that deal with letter recognition out where she can get it out and put it in when she feels like playing with it, a writing tablet that she can pick up and try whenever her heart desires, I would get coloring books of her favorite characters and some new markers and leave those out where she can get to them when she wants. You will find if you give her time to wander the house looking for something to do, she may pick up the alphabet puzzle and try it on her own, or maybe she will attempt to do a coloring page when no one is looking and the pressure to succeed is off. This is how we had to do things with my ds, and he has learned everything he needs to know just from putting learning things in his environment and then letting him decide when to use them. My ds is also a perfectionist and if I was with him and he was coloring, and couldn't do it, he'd get mad and not want to try (this went for MANY things we tried to learn). I found that it was when I walked away and got interested in other things, that he would pick it back up and try again, eventually leading to him running into me to show me how he figured out how to color in the lines.

For your ds, I think he is acting normal. Most kids don't want to do more than expected when it comes to subjects they didn't necessarily want to learn about in the first place. I would guess, if given a lot of free time, that in his boredom he would find something that interests him and really seek out more information about it. Kids in public school don't get much free time in a week, and won't want to do more than expected because it takes away from what little down-time they get. If he was homeschooled and had a whole day to play as well as learn, he might want to get more interested in things knowing he had enough time to do it all.

Besides making their environment full of educational games, and toys, you could also find fun ways to learn the boring stuff they need to learn. For instance, If you want to teach them about Thanksgiving, throw a thanksgiving feast party and invte their friends. Have them play games that pilgrim children might have played, have them make hats that pilgrims used to wear, make foods that pilgrims used to eat. While they eat, read them a story about the first Thanksgiving.

If you want to have them practice addition, subtraction or multiplication, make math hopscotches and see how far they can get on the hopscotch.

Have them play games to win prizes, like sit them down and quiz them on stuff that is age appropriate. (for instance hold up a letter flashcard and ask your youngest what letter it is, same with numbers, hold up an addition or subtraction flashcard for your ds, ask them how to spell an age appropriate word, to practice reading hold up a word and ask them what it says, etc...)
They both are on the same team and when they get so many questions right, they win and get a prize (candy bar, movie rental, trip to the park, etc...).

Quiz them both on stuff during car trips and grocery store runs. Say "This is hard, but, Who can name all 12 months?". Your little one may not be ready for it but ask them both anyways. Your oldest will pipe up quickly trying to beat his sister and you will get to have them practice what they know, and your youngest will pick up by hearing it.

Board games are great for practicing math and reading too.
Games like Sorry, Life, Monopoly, Letter or Number Bingo, etc... My youngest learned her numbers by sight by playing number bingo with me every day. When I held up the number card, I'd say the number. She eventually remembered them. We did the same with a word-bingo game and a letter bingo game. My ds has gotten really well at making change by playing monopoly.

Play grocery store with them and have them put tags on their favorite toys and practice buying stuff. For your littlest, price things at under 10 cents and give her pennies. When she has mastered that move onto to bigger prices and more coins. For your oldest you could price things higher and give him a mixture of coins and see if he can buy multiple items. Have him also be store keeper a few times and teach him how to make change.

Ask the kids if they want to bake cookies, and then make a double batch. Have them read the ingredients on the recipe sheet and find the right measuring cups for the job. Point out how you are doubling the recipe and that each ingredient will need to multiplied by 2 to get the right amount. Help with each step. When you are done, pop in a movie and have a picninc on the floor with a plate full of warm cookies.

11-28-2004, 11:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
Charity ABCDEFG... iTrader: 47 / 100% Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Engrossed in the Twilight books... Posts: 8,414	I have found that my kids don't neccesarily like being "taught" stuff, especially when "I" initiate it. If "I" initiate doing a subject or doing "schoolwork", all of a sudden it becomes boring and uninteresting to them. If I put out books or toys having to do with the subjects I want them to learn, and then leave them within the kids reach, I find them picking things up, initiating questions and trying to figure out how things work. They just want to be the ones to initiate that learning process, rather than be told what to learn about. For your situation with Maddie, I would just leave alphabet books in her reach, alphabet puzzles in her reach, computer games that deal with letter recognition out where she can get it out and put it in when she feels like playing with it, a writing tablet that she can pick up and try whenever her heart desires, I would get coloring books of her favorite characters and some new markers and leave those out where she can get to them when she wants. You will find if you give her time to wander the house looking for something to do, she may pick up the alphabet puzzle and try it on her own, or maybe she will attempt to do a coloring page when no one is looking and the pressure to succeed is off. This is how we had to do things with my ds, and he has learned everything he needs to know just from putting learning things in his environment and then letting him decide when to use them. My ds is also a perfectionist and if I was with him and he was coloring, and couldn't do it, he'd get mad and not want to try (this went for MANY things we tried to learn). I found that it was when I walked away and got interested in other things, that he would pick it back up and try again, eventually leading to him running into me to show me how he figured out how to color in the lines. For your ds, I think he is acting normal. Most kids don't want to do more than expected when it comes to subjects they didn't necessarily want to learn about in the first place. I would guess, if given a lot of free time, that in his boredom he would find something that interests him and really seek out more information about it. Kids in public school don't get much free time in a week, and won't want to do more than expected because it takes away from what little down-time they get. If he was homeschooled and had a whole day to play as well as learn, he might want to get more interested in things knowing he had enough time to do it all. Besides making their environment full of educational games, and toys, you could also find fun ways to learn the boring stuff they need to learn. For instance, If you want to teach them about Thanksgiving, throw a thanksgiving feast party and invte their friends. Have them play games that pilgrim children might have played, have them make hats that pilgrims used to wear, make foods that pilgrims used to eat. While they eat, read them a story about the first Thanksgiving. If you want to have them practice addition, subtraction or multiplication, make math hopscotches and see how far they can get on the hopscotch. Have them play games to win prizes, like sit them down and quiz them on stuff that is age appropriate. (for instance hold up a letter flashcard and ask your youngest what letter it is, same with numbers, hold up an addition or subtraction flashcard for your ds, ask them how to spell an age appropriate word, to practice reading hold up a word and ask them what it says, etc...) They both are on the same team and when they get so many questions right, they win and get a prize (candy bar, movie rental, trip to the park, etc...). Quiz them both on stuff during car trips and grocery store runs. Say "This is hard, but, Who can name all 12 months?". Your little one may not be ready for it but ask them both anyways. Your oldest will pipe up quickly trying to beat his sister and you will get to have them practice what they know, and your youngest will pick up by hearing it. Board games are great for practicing math and reading too. Games like Sorry, Life, Monopoly, Letter or Number Bingo, etc... My youngest learned her numbers by sight by playing number bingo with me every day. When I held up the number card, I'd say the number. She eventually remembered them. We did the same with a word-bingo game and a letter bingo game. My ds has gotten really well at making change by playing monopoly. Play grocery store with them and have them put tags on their favorite toys and practice buying stuff. For your littlest, price things at under 10 cents and give her pennies. When she has mastered that move onto to bigger prices and more coins. For your oldest you could price things higher and give him a mixture of coins and see if he can buy multiple items. Have him also be store keeper a few times and teach him how to make change. Ask the kids if they want to bake cookies, and then make a double batch. Have them read the ingredients on the recipe sheet and find the right measuring cups for the job. Point out how you are doubling the recipe and that each ingredient will need to multiplied by 2 to get the right amount. Help with each step. When you are done, pop in a movie and have a picninc on the floor with a plate full of warm cookies. __________________ ~Candace~ VIEW MY FEEDBACK HERE Last edited by Charity : 11-29-2004 at 11:04 AM.