Better Late Than Never? Better Late.

At the beginning of every school year, I get the same questions over and over again. The ones I find most amusing are the questions asked by parents with young learners or by first time homeschoolers. One particular topic always surfaces...

Just to be clear, I was once a new mom and a first time homeschooler! I asked the same questions and didn't heed the advice. I thought, "They don't know me or my child. I can't do that!" Do I have your interest peaked? Good.

"What curriculum should I buy for my 3 (or 5) year old?"
If your child is not ready to read yet, don't push it. If you have the type of child that enjoys 'playing school', by all means, provide some fun learning books! However, do me a favour and avoid a full curriculum. Playing school and being forced to fill out pages are two entirely different things! Buy learning books at the dollar store. Watch Between The Lion and Sesame Street videos. Enjoy playing Word Girl on the computer and visit PBS kids. Elmo is waiting to play online! Pick up some colouring books to practice finger dexterity and buy a lite bright or plasticine for fine motor strength. Count cars or barbies, bake cookies, sort lego, go on nature walks, finger paint with pudding, and just have FUN! They are only young once, enjoy it! There are lots of learning opportunities waiting to be explored and discovered with just living everyday life!

"I want to teach my baby to read, he's really bright."
Of course he is bright. He's the smartest child in the whole wide world. I'm sorry, sarcasm. My nephew, my Hubby, my sister, all read by age 3, none of them had curriculum. They just did it. My brother, myself, my one son, and a nephew, all read by age 9, none of us had curriculum. That's not to say curriculum isn't a help in some cases!! My youngest son has dyslexia and is using a curriculum (see 'Verticy' tag on right). I'm just saying buying that expensive hooked on baby reading program, may not be the best option. Some children are extremely bright when it comes to reading. Some children are extremely bright at climbing into the fridge and reaching the eggs on the top shelf. Besides, doesn't diapering and feeding and making cute baby sounds take up most of your time? Enjoy your baby, they grow up way too fast!

There are a myriad of health reasons, for the love of learning, developmental reasons, and many (MANY) studies done to show how pushing formal education at an early age is more harmful than helpful.

If you are a parent that believes you should NOT be waiting for academics and are for a more formal approach to learning, please consider reading the Moores book "School Can Wait II". You can find it at the HSLDA Canada store (and support them!) or if you are outside of Canada, at the Moores' store (where you can find a write-up of the book too). Then make an informed decision!