Olivesprouts Mama

Sometimes in our modern culture it gets forgotten that preschool children really learn best through play. If you have found yourself unexpectedly homeschooling preschool (or, you’ve been planning to anyway!) here are my best tips. First, I  would invest in some imaginative toys - play food and pans are usually a big hit (Ikea has good ones) dolls, a toy phone that doesn’t do anything (requires more imagination!). A sand box is great if possible. Play dough. Crayons and paper. Music toys! Play silks! Less is more but having good imagination building toys will really help your child learn to play and discover. Next, create an environment for learning. Have a gentle, flexible routine that includes read aloud time (with picture books), outside time, rest/nap time, and “helping” with house chores (life skills!) Play music around the house and keep the tv off as much as you can. Go for walks. Point out flowers and birds. Collect pine cones and paint them or turn them into bird feeders. F

Morning time! We begin our Morning Time with singing The Lord's Prayer as our breakfast prayer. This  beautiful, simple tune  is an ancient one and I love that we are singing it daily and my children will carry it in their memories. Then, they begin eating and I begin reading! Here is our current version: Morning Time Liturgy The Lord’s Prayer (sung) (from Cantus Christi) (sheet music available here ) The Bible (we are using the Bible Reading Challenge plan so about 4-6 chapters a day. I start the audio and we all listen while I serve breakfast and the kids eat while I sip tea and watercolor.) The Christian Almanac Victor Journey through the Bible (if there’s something that ties into our reading) Life of Fred (we have been working through the series together!)  (Other books are rotated through as time allows - spelling, science, history, fun read aloud fiction, manners, etc!)  Psalm or Hymn from the Cantus Christi Then I send everyone to brush their teeth

Fall is coming! I'm so excited. Many people seem to get a fresh jolt of energy at New Years - meanwhile, I'm still eating my Christmas stocking chocolate - but my yearly burst of energy comes in September. Fresh markers and pencils! Fresh schedules! Changing colors! Perfect weather for sipping tea! Bonfires! Mums! Pumpkin everything! It's basically got all my favorite things, PLUS, I have a sweater body. So. It's a win. Hot girl summer can go put a sweater on and calm down.  Here are a few things on our fall bucket list so far... pumpkin pancakes family photos go look at fall colors in the mountains chai tea drink apple cider make leaf rubbings dry leaves in books take a fall nature walk

Morning time! We begin our Morning Time with singing The Lord's Prayer as our breakfast prayer. This beautiful, simple tune is an ancient one and I love that we are singing it daily and my children will carry it in their memories. Then, they begin eating and I begin reading! Here is our current version: Morning Time Liturgy The Lord’s Prayer (sung) (from Cantus Christi) (sheet music available here ) The Christian Almanac Bible reading Victor Journey through the Bible (Other books as time allows - science, history, fun read aloud fiction, manners, etc!)  Psalm or Hymn from the Cantus Christi Schoolwork to do during reading... Handwriting Geography tracing Free drawing We have been doing Morning Time consistently since last summer, and it just gets richer as we go!

I tried googling for something like this for my kids to read and couldn’t find it, so I wrote one. Feel free to take it and tweak it for your personal use with your kids. :) —————————— Birthday Manners When someone takes the time out of their day to come to your party, that is a gift. Time is valuable and they’re spending it on you. When people arrive, greet them cheerfully and say hi. If they say Happy Birthday, say “thank you!” When they leave, say, “thank you for coming!” It is important to be and act thankful for every single gift, even if you do not like it.  The giver spent time and money on you and it is rude to act disappointed or bored with a gift, no matter what it is.  Thank each person politely, with eye contact & with a smile as you open their gift.  When a gift is wrapped in a gift bag, take out all the tissue paper first, then the gift. This way the bag is clearly empty or not, and you don’t miss anything or look like you expected more by loo

Family dinner is so important and so good for us - but sometimes bickering or lack of good conversations make it seem less enjoyable for everyone. Here are some ideas to get everybody talking and engaged! 1. If you could live in any book...what book would it be, and why? (Alternative: If you could live in any movie...what movie and why?) 2. What is your favorite memory? Or, what was your favorite thing this week (or today)? 3. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?and why? 4. If you wrote a book - where and when would the story take place? 5. If you were in the Great British Baking show - and you could bake whatever you wanted - what would you design to impress the judges? 6. What is your favorite song and why? Can you sing it for us? 7. If you could have any animal as a pet - what would you pick? 8. If you could have one superpower...what would you choose? And why? 9. If you could turn into any animal for a day - what would you pick? 10.