parenting Archives – Line upon Line Learning

If the Walls Could Talk: The Truth about Our Homeschool

If the walls in my home could talk, they would tell you the truth about a typical day in our homeschool!

If the walls could talk, they would tell you that I don’t spend my days sitting with my little ones around me on a cloud of rainbows.

I don’t great my young students in a bright ray of sunshine as they arise from their slumbers.

I don’t have a magic switch to turn myself into a delightful, cheerful homeschool mom, ready to tackle the day’s list.

No, if the walls could talk, you would know the truth.

I’m a yelling mama.

A typical homeschooling day includes tears of frustration. Maybe mine. Maybe from the preschooler. Maybe from the older kids. Maybe all of us.

And a typical homeschooling day will probably have some yelling. Continue Reading

Back on Schedule: An A+ Way to Start the Year Right

Every August is the same. I quickly realize what we need: we need to get back in to routines. My daughter loves the bedtime routine. My son loves to check things off of a list. Why not put together a schedule to keep us sane? A visual schedule to plan our day helps us keep focused throughout the beginning of the school year.

As a homeschooling mom, I am used to having my kids around all the time. But this summer has been difficult for me. Despite the gorgeous weather and essentially unlimited free time for Raisin and Strawberry, I have heard daily complaints of boredom. Can I tell you how much this drives me crazy!?

At the same time, I had a minor panic attack last week as I pondered teaching fifth grade and kindergarten with my toddler underfoot. How can I get done all that needs to be done? How can I teach when my son gets distracted just going to comb his hair? This is not going to be easy.
Continue Reading

Helping Little Ones Express Big Emotions

I used to be one of those moms. I used to think I knew why kids did what they did. Especially preschool-aged children who have a fit.

But now I know better. Kids are people too. They feel. They are acting up because they still need to learn how to control the immense emotions that they feel. Most of the time, children are not acting up to get attention.

When my child screams, when my child cries, when my child refuses to do something I’m begging her to do, there is a reason. Just like an adult has his or her own preferences, my preschooler too knows what she wants. The difference is that my preschool does not know how to control the intense emotions that come over her. She need our nurturing love and help, not our judgement.

Helping little ones express big emotions is not easy, but helping them now helps them avoid a lot of frustration later in life. It is a skill to be learned.

Infant Play Ideas for Engaging Your 2- or 3-Month Old

It’s so easy to forget to take time to nurture my 2-month old baby, since I’m often distracted by my older children, household responsibilities, and so forth. But although she may not be as vocal about her desire to interact, it’s important that I make time for infant play as well.

But what does one do to play with an infant?

I am not a doctor or a child development specialist, but here are some infant play ideas that I have noticed, as a mother, that my two-month old delights in.Continue Reading

If the Walls Could Talk: The Truth about Our Homeschool

Back on Schedule: An A+ Way to Start the Year Right

Helping Little Ones Express Big Emotions

Infant Play Ideas for Engaging Your 2- or 3-Month Old

Advertisement

Advertisement

I’m a Contributer!

Big Book of Homeschool Ideas Vol 2

Learn with Play