Thinking About A True Education?

It's that time again. That time of year when so many homeschooling moms are evaluating this past year and making plans for their child's education next year.

Although we tend to learn year round and not follow the school year calendar too closely, I do find myself reading, thinking, praying and planning.

I am loving the freedom and joy that our family is experiencing as we move toward a whole-hearted, love of learning, tidal, free-range, T.J., C.M. education.

No idea what I'm talking about? Try these resources just to get started:

These aren't just your typical "here's a great way to homeschool" resources. . .

these are PARADIGM SHIFTING,

"change the way you think about education" resources.

No matter if your children are 3, 9, or 15, homeschooled or public-schooled, these are worth your time.

I challenge you to read this book (available on Kindle) and watch this video to educate yourself on what education actually is!

What is TJEd? from Thomas Jefferson Education on Vimeo.

A Few Good Things

While I continue mulling and pondering all of the "really good stuff" that I hope to someday share here, I thought it might be fun to do this lighter series of posts about a few good things that contribute to the daily sanity around here with our Suddenly Large Family (my new way of describing the uniqueness of our family!).

If there is one home management trick my S.L.F. has taught me, it is this:

Bad: having a LOT of stuff

Good: having a LOT LESS stuff

Better: having a LOT LESS stuff and making sure what you do have is useful

Best: having only that which you need and use

to make your home and family

a place of love, joy, and peace.

A Few Good Craft Recipes

I'm sure there are more, but here's where I always turn for my tried and true favorites!

The Holiday Zone

The kool-aid playdough and the perfect play-dough are my favorites.

They are easy to make and safe to eat (just in case!)

This website also has great ideas for crafts, games, songs, and activities for most of the yearly holidays.

A Few Good Games

Originally I had titled this "A Few Good Board Games" but, as you will soon see, I decided to broaden the scope a little in order to include some of our favorites.

Games are a big part of our lifestyle of learning way of Tidal Homeschooling. My children LOVE having a morning or afternoon where they are completely free to just play the games from our bathroom cupboard.

Yes, you heard me correctly. We have an insanely large bathroom cupboard in the boys bathroom. Since we only have "a few good bath towels" (as in, ONE for each child) that hang on hooks, we have nothing more than a few rolls of toilet paper to store in this pantry size cupboard. A great place for games!

Hey, we go with what works!

I recently realized that this bathroom game closet was bulging and unorganized which meant that no one was really enjoying actually playing the games and so we purged and ended up with just what we love and use:

A Few Good Games

• Playing cards

This gives you a relative treasure trove of play possibilities such as Nertz/Dutch Blitz, Hearts, Go Fish, Spoons, Rummy, Solitaire, and, our current favorite: Golf.

• Yahtzee

A GREAT way to work on those math skills without even knowing it! Also, you can use the dice for other games like Shut the Box or Two's and Fives.

• Sorry!

This just might be my children's favorite. In fact, we have 2 sets so all 8 "big kids" can play at once!

• Monopoly/Monopoly Jr.

Another great way to work on math skills. Monopoly Jr. is very fun for the younger crowd!

• Settlers of Catan

This is one that our oldest 4 have just learned to play. They LOVE it! It is sort of like Monopoly; only, you barter stuff like "sheep for wheat" and it only takes about an hour to play. Dads love this game too.

• Uno, Phase 10, Skip Bo

Card games we love to play as a family. I think we have gone through about 3 sets of Uno cards and 2 sets of Phase 10 cards. My children even invented their own version of "team Uno."

• Parchesi

• Chess/Checkers

If you have the board, you might as well have the pieces for both games.

• Memory

The "littles" love this, but my older kids will often join in on the fun.

• Pick up Sticks

For some reason, this game often results in disagreements over if it "really moved" or not, but they seem to work it out and keep coming back to it.

• Candyland

In the realm of "little kid" games, we prefer Candyland to Chutes and Ladders. It teaches the "littles" the idea of flipping a card and moving spaces. You can move right from this game into Sorry!

• Apples to Apples

A VERY fun party game. It requires reading, so it isn't great for little ones but it is a wonderful resource for vocabulary development and one that my husband and I enjoy playing with friends.

• Who Done It?

I think this game is still around. It is a little like "Clue" only slightly more complex and much more fun.

• Life

Come on, you know you LOVED this game as a child! I was always hoping to land on ALL of the baby spaces so I could fill up my car with little pink and blue plastic people. hmm. . .

• Mancala

• Tri-ominos/Dominos/Quad-ominos

• Pass the Pigs

Oh my goodness. This is a really funny little game that comes in its own small plastic case and is sold on the end rack where Uno and the other card games are sold. This one makes everyone laugh and laugh. It is also a good "math" game.

• Othello

This is a strategy game for just 2 players. It is great to pull this out when I'm sensing a child may need a little fun one on one time with mom.

um. . . it still counts as a "few" if I keep it under 20,

right?

My game closet is still rather full, but please let me know if I missed any great ones.

I may just have to make room.

What are your family's favorites?

A Few Good Toys

that's all you need -

a few (as in, not very many)

good (as in, high quality, long lasting, well loved)

toys (as in, things children can actually PLAY with)

as in,

not

cheap,

plastic,

noisemaking

junk

dedicated to a single use

usually coming from a fast food restaurant

or large chain superstore.

I'm talking about having just

A Few Good Toys (and where to store them)

• Legos (large shallow plastic tub with wheels and a lid)

Seriously, if we could only have one toy, this would be it! Of course, maybe "one" is sort of a misnomer; it's more like 14,678 toys! But, just stick them all in a large, shallow tub and roll it under a bed. Easy access, easy clean up, easy storage. HOURS of fun!

• Building Blocks (Large basket or bin)

If you have Legos, you don't really need more building blocks, but we have found that a good set of wooden building blocks are quite useful for many days of creative play. "Jenga" blocks work great if you can't find or afford to purchase another good set.

• Dollhouse with people and vehicles (Large basket or bin)

and/or a farmhouse with animals and vehicles. Boys and girls will both love these sets with very high play value. We like the wooden sets, but there are some o.k. plastic ones too.

• Play food and dishes (medium basket or bin)

If you have preschoolers, you've got to have this. Again, we prefer wood (like the Melissa and Doug brand). There are some sets that have fruits and veggies that kids can "cut" in half

• A good assortment of dress up clothes (an old hope chest or extra dresser)

Some princess dresses and accessories, of course! Also include historical period pieces if you can and don't forget the boys. My 2 and 3 year old boys love hats and masks. My older boys love Dad's old sports uniforms, funny jackets, hats, and wigs.

• Baby doll and/or stuffed animal (on the child's bed)

I'm pretty sure most families have WAY too many of these things! One baby doll that is well-loved is worth much more than 10 random stuffed animals gathering dust! One or two of these can live on each child's bed, but any more than that is like a zoo.

As far as inside toys go, that's about it. Of course we have art supplies and outside items (maybe I'll post about that tomorrow).

Just take the 3 or 4 baskets and bins and put them on a bookshelf, in a low closet, or along a wall. Even the little ones can clean up and sort toys when it is this basic.

So, what do you do with all of the rest of your toys?

Just throw it all out.

Really,

you'll feel much better and your kids won't even be able to remember it after a few weeks.

In fact, they might not even notice the junk is gone. They will appreciate how much easier it is to keep their rooms clean!