|
Interactive Play dynamics
|
Life is often described as a journey, quest, or mastery through ones existence. The culmination of auto-realization or self-actualization, "Samadhi" creates the purest ecstatic, blissful experience of ones life. To instill this in the earlier years of a child, creates a sense to a greater determination.
I have homeschooled my son his whole life thus far, and while some moments can be challenging and I experience much pressure from my family to send him to school it is a blessing to be the facilitator for my sons future. Many different schools or beliefs when homeschooling is that, the family are the first educators of a child and that teachers and the community of the child are secondary educators. By providing "scaffolding:" how adults support children's development and learning by facilitating the right kind of help at the right time, provides kids with a can-do attitude, and it builds their confidence and self-guided study. This shows them that they are supported if they fall or stumble but otherwise are capable to do it themselves. The level of assistance given can vary from subject or to age.
Homeschooling, also encourages and heals your inner child by finding new ways to play while learning. For example, one way i teach about geography and environmental sciences in the early education of my son was to have a world map with us while we played with pirate actions figures and their pirate ship. It mixed in our interactive play and role playing. He naturally had an interest in pirates so allowing him to be captain and I his first mate would travel the world map. I allowed him to pick which spot on the country we were headed to. He began to learn the names of the countries and their biodiversity's and cultures due to the reinforcement that came later while i read to him what we could research on said place.
With that being said if you are homeschooling and creating fun ways like that doesn't come naturally to you there are ways to structure your lessons without buying and collecting curriculum books. Always remember that the more you take your kids outside or on hikes, their natural curiosity will provide context. There apps like "Plant this" or "google Camera" to help in identification of all things natural. There learning is like a scavenger hunt in this way. You can keep a notebook and have your child write down on the results and then during inside education hours you can both research about the plant or animal and their surrounding ecosystems, where they have traveled to and become invasive species and how that affects other biospheres. you can keep pressed flowers or plants and exoskeletons of creatures can be preserved. If your kid shows know interest in things like then have them watch good educational shows to then build off of; like wild kratts, octonaunts for little scientists. I have seen many shows that are great for little musicians as well.
Other resources that help homeschooling parents educate there kids are: museum members both to traditional art museums for history and culture and science centers for their obvious reasons. You can have a membership to nature preserves, zoos or aquariums which help not only teach the child, but makes them have an emotional connection to the importance to their learning. Alot of these places have interactive play spaces for kids so be diligent in devising times to take a tour and learn, and then reward them with those interactive play spaces.
I know traveling is costly for families, but always remember that travel is imperative. Whether its a road trip (include historical sites) or international travel it can be done. You can start by traveling to places in IndoAsia, south America, or Africa and each of those places the plane rides become the most expensive part. One tip from a frequent world schooler, is remember that these places are very inexpensive and then they can often times provide cheaper ways to traveling to neighboring areas. It can seem impossible to save up for because the way the USA is run, but do it and go. Take your time out their in the world. Thye will learn communication and language skills, they will learn culture and history. They will actually be able to identify with the planet we live on.
Schools have their place. But the most common complaints about them is: their unsafe due to the USA increase in school shootings, they are designed for one kind of learner, they are taking out the creative arts, and they teach things that we seldom use into adulthood. It is no question that the current school system is failing with the rise of disorders that are being diagnosed within school aged children IN THE USA. So do something about it!
if homeschooling isn't an option get on the school board, push political agendas into making smarter decisions. Look into the plethora of different curriculums world wide and different countries school systems. Become an eclectic learner yourself and open your child up to the world.
|
|
|
|
|