Metamorphosis
Five year olds turning into six year olds is a sort of metamorphosis. At first they’re following you around and unsure of new things. They don’t seem to be able to pay attention long to much, but still have in them that easy excitement over ordinary things. Something special happens around that 6th birthday mark. Attention increases and fine motor skills improve, but more importantly, there is growth in their confidence and readiness to do more “big” things. They really do grow into their own personhood, no longer so much a part of “mama” but a person near her heart. I feel so incredibly blessed to spend these special years with my own.
What I would tell my past self.
I have four girls, and I have to admit that I’ve done kindergarten differently every time. We really can’t escape the fact that we don’t know what we don’t know at times. (I sort of roll my eyes at my eager past self trying to teach place value to a 4 year old and worrying she won’t pass the next lesson!) I have no major regrets, but I’m enjoying a more peaceful and a more thoughtful way to do Kindergarten this time around. Like many moms of a handful of kids, you teach a few to read and do math and you realize there is no point in stressing out about which is the best kindergarten curriculum to buy and whether or not they learn to read immediately when you start teaching them. It will make more of a difference in six years whether you have considered their character and habits than worry about their ability to write a perfect alphabet. (Moms of teens, you know what I am talking about!)
This is a time of introduction to the world of learning rather than a finish line.
A child develops in more important ways than how many words he or she can read in a minute or if we’ve seen the shiny red math workbook to completion. Habits of thought, behavior to others and the ability to focus and notice details; these are the things we want our 5 year olds to develop. These skills will prepare them for the rest of their education, and make the homeschooling process smoother in the future.
No Formal Education Before Age Six
When I say we don’t do “formal” education before 6, it means we can sit with a phonics chart or the reading handbook and read together without complicated lesson plans or scripts, but peeking at the teacher’s guide as a roadmap. We can read wonderful stories together and explore simple painting and drawing techniques. We can memorize scriptures as a family and learn hymns. (It is absolutely heartwarming to hear a five year old recite the psalms!) We can play with math blocks and and count cherries, bake cupcakes and measure flour for the sourdough starter. They can watch birds visit a bird feeder in your yard and take trips to museums, zoos, and state parks. Even every day activities like helping in the kitchen have value for developing strong hand muscles and fine motor skills which will help them later when they learn to write. Also don’t discount the value of the self-confidence that is gained from doing little things to help out around the house.
These young years are so precious. My daughter will have many years to learn in a more structured way, but for now she has the gift of time to relish learning about the world through wonder curiosity and delight. This phase of life comes only once and I am honored to nurture her sense of wonder about the world through the opportunities I can provide her through her environment. I hope you consider this too.
It will make more of a difference in six years whether you have considered their character and habits than worrying about their ability to write a perfect alphabet.
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