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Lap Books!

I have heard about them for a couple of years and even purchased a couple of "how to" books on lap booking but it just didn't become real until we were personally introduced four days ago at a "Girls for God" meeting sponsored by our local home school group. Mia Turner, home school mom and lap booker, provided everything needed and guided us through the process of making a lap book on "Love, 1 Corinthians 13 Style." Her creativity and enthusiasm were so contagious that we are now hooked! After getting home that evening my eleven year old daughter decided to make a lap book on "The Reformation." My sixteen year old daughter decided to take her "Love" lap book a step further and added information about dating and courtship. And my four and six year old girls added more details to their "Love" lap books too. If this wasn't enough for a day! Yesterday my eleven year old invited a friend to come over to make lap books together about horses. They collected a bunch of info and pictures from the internet and made some really nice books. While this was going on my sixteen year old wouldn't be left out so she started researching and made a really neat lap book about mountains. It's never ending!!!! What a creative and exciting way to learn - not to mention FUN!

Christmas 2008

The red and green Christmas boxes were pulled out the day after Thanksgiving and in no time, thanks to our four daughters, the house was transformed into a cheerful Christmas atmosphere. Each item pulled out brings back memories of years past; like decorations made by the children, special items given to us by dear ones and the nativity set that has survived five toddlers. I always display our little porcelain nativity set on a low table so our young ones can see, touch and learn about the best gift of all. It's surprising to me that we have rarely had a piece broken. I think even little children sense the awesomeness of God's gift as represented in these little figurines. Truly, Christmas is another expression of Thanksgiving and both of these holidays are miniature representations of what our lives are to be like. Our lives should be full of God's grace, generosity to others, and thanksgiving for life on earth and the hope of eternal life because of Christ's birth, life, death and resurrection. May everyday be Christmas and Thanksgiving in your heart.

Personal Devotions for Little Ones

Enough people have inquired about personal devotional books for pre-schoolers that I decided to post some things we have used with our children through the years.

For the early years, before your child is able to read, these are some we enjoy:

Bible Promises for Tiny Tots
Psalms for Tiny Tots
Tiny Tots Library
My Bible Friends
My Bible First Sabbath School Lessons
We have also used some of the daily devotional books for little ones from the ABC.
(All of the above can be obtained from the Adventist Book Center online. I hope they are all still in print.)

Some wonderful audios are:

The Ladder of Life
Thy Word Creations (Wonderful illustrated scripture song blooks)
Morning Time Devotions by Janice Smith

As our children became old enough to listen and draw pictures of what they were hearing, we decided to play an audio of someone reading the New Testament, one chapter a day, and have them draw a picture of what they heard. I love this! I treasure the "Illustrated" New Testaments that our three older ones completed years ago.

I'm sure there are hundreds of other ideas for personal devotions with pre-schoolers. These are just some we have used and are using. I would welcome input from anyone on this subject. Devotions should be a never-ending project.

Our Typical Day

This is our “skeleton” schedule. Some days it is adjusted for various music lessons. Our sundays are big project days also. But for the most part our days run on this schedule.

5:30 to 7:30 Rise, dress, & devotional (times vary per child)
7:30 Morning Worship
8:00 Breakfast
breakfast chores
9:00 School begins
1:00 School usually finished
1:30 Lunch
lunch chores
Free time or finish school
4:00 House chores
5:00 Family Time and projects
(optional supper to be finished before 6:00)
7:00 Prepare for bed
7:30 Evening Worship

Pre-School Education

Many mothers begin to think about their child's education when he/she reaches the age of 3 years. We wonder if their is anything we need to be teaching them at this young age. As far as a structured curriculum goes, every child is different. Ellen White says that many children are not ready for a formal education before the age of 10. This, of course, is not the rule.
There are many things your pre-schooler can be taught and must learn.

*Obedience is the first and foremost lesson we need to be teaching our little ones.
* Develop their attention span requring them to pay attention for periods of time and increasing it gradually.
*Capitalize on their wonderful memories and teach them scriptures, songs, and poems. (You can also teach them the names of the states and presidents. )
*Teach them to tell you what they see in a picture; tell the story that, they think, is happening.
*And read, read, read to them.

The best curriculum for , that I have found, is put out by the Critical Thinking Company:
www.ThinkingToLearn.com/113.html. They have wonderful programs that teach your pre-schooler not only to think but to think critically. This really builds the child's reasoning skills and prepares them for structured education. My youngest, who is now four, has enjoyed this curriculum for the last two years. She begs me to do her "school" with her and loves every minute of it.

Charlotte Mason Style Education

Charlotte Mason was an educator in England during the 1800's. Her approach to education is not traditional but emphasizes "strengthening the right". Though we don't see eye-to-eye on some of the suggested reading, much of what she taught reminds me of my favorite author and educator, Ellen G. White. If you are interested in a non-traditional approach and would like to learn more about Charlotte Mason's style of education go to the following websites:

www.simplycharlottemason.com (The free e-book is worth reading also the "Inside SCM" e-newsletter has valuable info.)

www.queenhomeschool.com (This is a homeschool family that publishes a curriculum that is Charlotte Mason Style.)