Learning….
August 9th, 2010 | Author: Shannon
Last week I officially decided to really enroll my son in preschool for the upcoming year. He’s almost 4 and has been home with me since he was born.
As I considered the different types of school in our area and what would be best suited for him, and me, I was faced with really delving into my beliefs about education.
See, I like that my son doesn’t know how to write his name; that he’s more interested in building with blocks or running in the forest then learning to read; I like that he can play by himself with a few trucks or trains and be completely content for hours. I wanted to find an environment that would nurture this, rather than just academics.
I was delighted when his future teacher asked me “if I minded that they took a walk to ‘grandfather’ tree each morning”. She cautioned me that the teachers don’t spray the kids with bug spray, if that’s important to me I need to do it before hand.
We discussed the need to limit TV exposure so that my son would have the sounds of nature reverberating through him rather than the jingles of commercials.
Sound like paradise?
When I walk outside with my almost 4 year old and he can name the trees “that’s an oak tree mama!” and the flowers, “aren’t these beautiful tulips, mama” I feel so excited that he loves the natural world like I do. That he distinguishes our chickens by bread: maran, orphington, americana, or RI red and knows the various colorings. He strongly believes that his special chicken {the americana} lays green eggs just for him.
He tells me “I want cow milk” because he knows that milk comes from cows.
He like swiss chard, when I bring it in from the garden he identifies it as “his chard”.
Nature is delicately interwoven into his identity… and I know that Mother Earth will always be important to him, because he feels so close to it.
He’ll learn his letters and numbers and will {hopefully} decide that going to college is important to him in 14 years… maybe he’ll even follow in my foot steps and study the Earth, but in any case what’s important is right now… he feels connected to the greater world, to something bigger than himself. He cares about this world.
A couple weeks ago we were in town walking down the road and he saw some garbage in the bushes. He asked that we go and get some garbage bags so we could clean up the street and then that’s what we did. We picked up cans and wrappers, old drinks and bottles.
That showed me he was ready to go out into the world. He’s already thinking about how to make it a cleaner and more beautiful place … for all.
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It sounds like your son has, and will continue to get, a real education.
Beautifully written post. Sounds like you made the right decision for you and that you’ve built a great foundation. Can’t wait to hear what you both learn over the next year!
.-= Michele´s last blog ..Our Nature Play Club- Reporting on Our June Beach and July Play Events =-.
I’m with Michele – sounds like you made a wonderful decision that’s perfect for you and your family. Can’t wait to hear of the adventures ahead!
Ian always complains about litter. He picks it up constantly and says he wants to make a sign that says. “Please don’t put trash on our planet.”
.-= Renee´s last blog ..So much love =-.
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Beautiful post Shannon. I was brainwashed into thinking I must send my first child to pre-school at 3 yrs so he could learn to write his name etc.He hated it and it almost broke his spirit. With my second and third child I followed my motherly instincts. They stayed at home with me until they were ready to go out into the world.
I think your choice sounds just perfect for your little one…..how exciting for you all.
.-= Marghanita Hughes´s last blog ..Empowerment Pebbles-My Little Humbug Spirit Pebbles =-.
My sons were named “Junior Rangers” at a Park we were at last year. They decided to take this very seriously. When we got home, we got out a trash bag and walked the neighborhood cleaning it up. They are a bit older now (though still young!), and they tell their friends all about the plants and animals in our yard. So far, so good!
There was a study that came out last week showing that the kids that had excellent early childhood (pre school) education made more money (on average) than did kids that had regular early education.
And I was thinking, its not all about raising kids that made more money, its also about stewardship. And did those adults have that as apart of their raising? Are they happy?
.-= Carey´s last blog ..Do you have Fears about using Social Media =-.