Raising Young Kids IS Homeschooling

I had a realization the other day on the treadmill as I was reflecting on my morning with the kids. I realized that I have been homeschooling my kids since they were born! And that raising little children IS homeschooling!

Think about it. Home...schooling. In those first years, every day is a learning experience. Most parents haven't planned a lesson for that day. If they are like me (or, at least how I was before I decided on homeschooling), they wake up, get kids dressed, feed kids, care for kids (which equals diapers, or potty training), play, work, then it is clean up, and repeat in reverse order for bedtime.
Parenthood, right?

But if we look at it a bit closer and dissect that day, it looks just like homeschool. Before I jump into a snapshot of what the homeschool looks like, I do want to note the obvious--until kids are mentally alert and actually learning and observing around them, the "schooling" as a parent is more like caretaking. And these are the precious months, when snuggles and kisses fill the days. Enjoy those, and please don't plan, "How will I help Sissie learn to hold her head up today?" She will figure it out on her own. =)

So, let's jump ahead to when babies become toddlers and are aware and curious about the world around them.

Wake Up
Parents are teaching: Time (You see this clock? That is a 7. Please stay in your room until this little hand is on this 7! Please!), Small and Large Motor Functions (Making bed, brushing teeth, combing hair, how to hold all 5 stuffed animals in their arms as they climb the stairs)

Get Dressed

Parents are teaching: Vocabulary (All day long really, but here are a few--pants, shirt, underwear/panties, socks, overalls, etc.), Small and Large Motor Functions (putting pants on, shirt on, washing face, etc.), Character Traits (patience, perseverance, honesty, calmness, etc.)

Feed Kids
When the day gets rolling, this is where the real teaching begins. As parents are feeding kids, they are teaching: Math (measuring, counting, comparing, sorting, symmetry), Small and Large Motor Functions (putting dishes away, wiping off table), Discipline (following routines)

Care for Kids
When kids are in diapers, parents are teaching: Responsibility (as my 2 year old approaches potty training, he wets his bed because he's taking his diaper off in the middle of the night. This is a big theme in my house right now), Cleanliness (Keep your body clean and let Mama clean you!),

Potty training CAN be fun!

When kids are potty training, parents are teaching: Self-Awareness (as the experienced parent knows, potty training is a process and kids must learn to be aware of their body's needs), Perseverance (try and try again!), Ownership (Whose poo is this? Yes, I know it was you!), "Potty" Skills (I'm a girl, and thank heavens for my husband, because there are skills that boys need to learn that I never would have taught them. Think, cheerio target practice. Ditto for girls.)

And then there are all the menial parts of the day that make for great learning opportunities--laundry, folding, cleaning, bathing, dishes, etc.

In our family, we lick the bowl!

Play
Playtime is actually real life learning time, in action. One of the biggest epiphanies I had was that even when I wasn't actively playing with my kids and they were watching shows, I was still carefully crafting their education! Daniel Tiger, Leapfrog, Justin Time, Little Einsteins--these shows were teaching my kids Reading, History, Social Skills, Problems, Music Theory & Recognition! Kids are taught: Social Skills (sharing, taking turns, compromising, following rules, order, friendship),  Problem Solving (Argh! That block tower just fell down again!), Language and Literacy Skills (conversation with friends, siblings and parents, practicing sounds, words and phrases), Small and Large Motor Functions (building, clapping, drumming, rocking baby, painting, drawing), Decision Making (do I play with the doll with the pink dress, or the doll with the blue dress???). And Much More.

Work
Toddlers learn mainly by play, but simple chores are a good way to teach additional skills: Order (putting toys away, clothes in hamper, stuffed animals on bed), Honesty (Did you do it? Let's check!), Routine (Never underestimate the value of routine. Kids like to know what is expected and so do parents! It creates a daily rhythm that is good for everyone!).

Ah, so clean. Hopefully for longer than it took to clean it!

Clean Up
Cleaning up is a vital skill that creates calm and peace in the children, parents and in the home. Children learn both Pride in doing a good job, as well as Responsibility for what they have created. They also learn what it feels like to have a good growing, living and learning environment.

Bedtime
Putting kids to bed is one of those things that are enjoyable, but often more enjoyable as I reflect on them after the kids are asleep. Kids are taught: Literacy (sounds, words, storylines, etc.), Morals (what happens when the boy continues to cry wolf?), Everything about the world! Books, nursery rhymes, and songs teach anything and everything under the sun. You can emphasize lessons that your children may need to learn, like how to express anger appropriately, colors and letters and numbers, the solar system, why the sky is blue, how to deal with a sad day. A little plug--read good books to your children! And...done.

This is a short list of things that kids learn from parents in a day, but I realized in this moment of inspiration that home schooling is nothing more than a continuation of these parenting things I've been doing now for almost 5 years. Yes, the skills get more complicated, but that means they get more fun to teach, too! I jump for joy these days when my boys and I have an actual conversation about telling time, or proper cooking technique (rather than "can I taste it yet?")! Parenting is fun, and I believe homeschooling will be just as fun! Now, I just need to finish my grieving process of never putting my kids on that school bus, and I'll be good to go!...=)