An Introduction and a Question
jacandwill
Hi Everyone,
I have been on the list for a while now doing some reading.
Im Jac a mum of a 2.5yr old ds. we attend a steiner playgroup as it is
the only place around here I was fitting in. although now not so much,
I think I am more on the side of RU. but we still have a long way to
go.
I like to let him make as many of his own choices as is safe, we watch
tv, although I choose the channles, he does choose the programs. he can
use the computer but as he uses the inernet I give him a choice out of
a few sites which may be of intres to him.
which brings me to my Question:
is it possible to learn things before hes ready?
is he too young?
he is just 2.5yrs and I don't want to force learning on him I beleive
he will learn things in his own time.
but while he was on the computer today it got me thinking, is he
learning too much too soon?
It all started when we were at my MIL house one night, I thought that
he might be intrested in having a look on the computer at the wiggles
games, which he seemed to be. I would ask him what game he would like
to play, he points to it, then watched as I do the game for him. I
would never asked him to do them. one time he said 'my turn' and pushed
my hand from the mouse. and it all went from there.
I now ask him what stie he would like, wiggles, playhouse disney,etc
then get it up for him and he does the rest.
today he was matching numbers on honey pots to the numbers in the
picture and it blew me away.
I'm never far away if he askes, calls out, for me. I am quite happy to
do it for him but thats not what he wants.
what do you all think?
I probably am just being silly and having the steiner voices creap in
to my mind.
Thanks for reading, sorry its so long.
Jsc
I have been on the list for a while now doing some reading.
Im Jac a mum of a 2.5yr old ds. we attend a steiner playgroup as it is
the only place around here I was fitting in. although now not so much,
I think I am more on the side of RU. but we still have a long way to
go.
I like to let him make as many of his own choices as is safe, we watch
tv, although I choose the channles, he does choose the programs. he can
use the computer but as he uses the inernet I give him a choice out of
a few sites which may be of intres to him.
which brings me to my Question:
is it possible to learn things before hes ready?
is he too young?
he is just 2.5yrs and I don't want to force learning on him I beleive
he will learn things in his own time.
but while he was on the computer today it got me thinking, is he
learning too much too soon?
It all started when we were at my MIL house one night, I thought that
he might be intrested in having a look on the computer at the wiggles
games, which he seemed to be. I would ask him what game he would like
to play, he points to it, then watched as I do the game for him. I
would never asked him to do them. one time he said 'my turn' and pushed
my hand from the mouse. and it all went from there.
I now ask him what stie he would like, wiggles, playhouse disney,etc
then get it up for him and he does the rest.
today he was matching numbers on honey pots to the numbers in the
picture and it blew me away.
I'm never far away if he askes, calls out, for me. I am quite happy to
do it for him but thats not what he wants.
what do you all think?
I probably am just being silly and having the steiner voices creap in
to my mind.
Thanks for reading, sorry its so long.
Jsc
Melissa Gray
No one can learn before they are ready...whether they are two or
twenty. It's really not a big deal. Some kids do things earlier and
some later, and no one can really predict which is which, or even
early number and letter identification doesn't mean that he'll be
reading early. Most of my kids have done the same, but then the girls
were reading by four, and the boys around seven.
Melissa
Mom to Joshua, Breanna, Emily, Rachel, Samuel, Daniel and Avari
Wife to Zane
blog me at
http://startlinglives.blogspot.com/
http://startlinglives365.blogspot.com
twenty. It's really not a big deal. Some kids do things earlier and
some later, and no one can really predict which is which, or even
early number and letter identification doesn't mean that he'll be
reading early. Most of my kids have done the same, but then the girls
were reading by four, and the boys around seven.
Melissa
Mom to Joshua, Breanna, Emily, Rachel, Samuel, Daniel and Avari
Wife to Zane
blog me at
http://startlinglives.blogspot.com/
http://startlinglives365.blogspot.com
On Jun 5, 2008, at 5:51 AM, jacandwill wrote:
>
>
> which brings me to my Question:
> is it possible to learn things before hes ready?
> is he too young?
>
> today he was matching numbers on honey pots to the numbers in the
> picture and it blew me away.
> I'm never far away if he askes, calls out, for me. I am quite happy to
> do it for him but thats not what he wants.
>
> what do you all think?
> I probably am just being silly and having the steiner voices creap in
> to my mind.
> Thanks for reading, sorry its so long.
> Jsc
>
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Bekki Kirby
Hi, Jac! I'm newish here, too... I've been reading off and on for a
couple of years, but finally felt pushed to DO something about it.
I remember reading Steiner stuff about not letting kids near computers
too young. I never really understood WHY. In my laziness :-) I have
allowed my 3-yo to learn how to read much too young. Thanks to the
dreaded television and game sites he can read about 50 words, and is
learning more every day. I suppose that I've shorted out his brain by
exposing him to this stuff so early. *wink*
There might be an addictive element to the bright colors and
quick-changing pictures and that lovely sense of POWER kids can get
with video games. And maybe that's why it'd be good to delay
exposure. But.. we are living in a computer age. Early proficiency
seems like a good thing.
My daughter (who is 9 now) had no interest in computers at ALL until
she was over 5. Just didn't care. Now she spends a great deal of
time online, but has in no way lost her creativity. My 3-yo goes
through periods of time when he's really into his computer or other
electronic games. Right now he's enjoying watching the same TV shows
over and over and over and over. My point is... kids often like to
immerse themselves in one new thing, so even if it seems like your son
is going nuts for computer time, it's ok. He'll get over it.
(Probably.)
Bekki
couple of years, but finally felt pushed to DO something about it.
I remember reading Steiner stuff about not letting kids near computers
too young. I never really understood WHY. In my laziness :-) I have
allowed my 3-yo to learn how to read much too young. Thanks to the
dreaded television and game sites he can read about 50 words, and is
learning more every day. I suppose that I've shorted out his brain by
exposing him to this stuff so early. *wink*
There might be an addictive element to the bright colors and
quick-changing pictures and that lovely sense of POWER kids can get
with video games. And maybe that's why it'd be good to delay
exposure. But.. we are living in a computer age. Early proficiency
seems like a good thing.
My daughter (who is 9 now) had no interest in computers at ALL until
she was over 5. Just didn't care. Now she spends a great deal of
time online, but has in no way lost her creativity. My 3-yo goes
through periods of time when he's really into his computer or other
electronic games. Right now he's enjoying watching the same TV shows
over and over and over and over. My point is... kids often like to
immerse themselves in one new thing, so even if it seems like your son
is going nuts for computer time, it's ok. He'll get over it.
(Probably.)
Bekki
DJ250
I am a forner Steiner addict, Jac!
Let your son be, just be. I'll personally email you the rest.
~Melissa :)
Let your son be, just be. I'll personally email you the rest.
~Melissa :)
----- Original Message -----
From: jacandwill
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2008 6:51 AM
Subject: [unschoolingbasics] An Introduction and a Question
Hi Everyone,
I have been on the list for a while now doing some reading.
Im Jac a mum of a 2.5yr old ds. we attend a steiner playgroup as it is
the only place around here I was fitting in. although now not so much,
I think I am more on the side of RU. but we still have a long way to
go.
I like to let him make as many of his own choices as is safe, we watch
tv, although I choose the channles, he does choose the programs. he can
use the computer but as he uses the inernet I give him a choice out of
a few sites which may be of intres to him.
which brings me to my Question:
is it possible to learn things before hes ready?
is he too young?
he is just 2.5yrs and I don't want to force learning on him I beleive
he will learn things in his own time.
but while he was on the computer today it got me thinking, is he
learning too much too soon?
It all started when we were at my MIL house one night, I thought that
he might be intrested in having a look on the computer at the wiggles
games, which he seemed to be. I would ask him what game he would like
to play, he points to it, then watched as I do the game for him. I
would never asked him to do them. one time he said 'my turn' and pushed
my hand from the mouse. and it all went from there.
I now ask him what stie he would like, wiggles, playhouse disney,etc
then get it up for him and he does the rest.
today he was matching numbers on honey pots to the numbers in the
picture and it blew me away.
I'm never far away if he askes, calls out, for me. I am quite happy to
do it for him but thats not what he wants.
what do you all think?
I probably am just being silly and having the steiner voices creap in
to my mind.
Thanks for reading, sorry its so long.
Jsc
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Matt Speno
I Jac
Seems you have a bit of a dilema here - I, along with my wife, have
been where you are regarding the voices of Steiner - we tried the
Steiner/Waldorf way in two countries and for our three boys and it was
a horrible experience. We wish we would have never have sent our
boys! Don't listen to the voices because it is a load of rubbish - I
have read Steiner's original works in depth and my conclusion is that
the man himself would be turning in his grave if he knew how his
philosphy was being interpreted today - I just know in my heart that
Steiner/Waldorf is not a very accepting and tolerant institution. I
could go on and on but this in not the place. My recomondation is run
fast and run far away from Stiener.
Seems you have a bit of a dilema here - I, along with my wife, have
been where you are regarding the voices of Steiner - we tried the
Steiner/Waldorf way in two countries and for our three boys and it was
a horrible experience. We wish we would have never have sent our
boys! Don't listen to the voices because it is a load of rubbish - I
have read Steiner's original works in depth and my conclusion is that
the man himself would be turning in his grave if he knew how his
philosphy was being interpreted today - I just know in my heart that
Steiner/Waldorf is not a very accepting and tolerant institution. I
could go on and on but this in not the place. My recomondation is run
fast and run far away from Stiener.
Joyce Fetteroll
On Jun 5, 2008, at 9:38 AM, Bekki Kirby wrote:
some adults too) is engagement. The surface behaviors of addiction
and engagement look the same: wanting as much as you can get but the
underlying reasons are totally different.
It's best not to put engagement and addiction in the same box. When
we start thinking like that we tend to want to treat them the same
when they need the opposite! Engagement needs fed! Addiction needs a
healthier release.
Joyce
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> There might be an addictive element to the bright colors andI think what people mistakenly call addiction in kid actions (and
> quick-changing pictures
some adults too) is engagement. The surface behaviors of addiction
and engagement look the same: wanting as much as you can get but the
underlying reasons are totally different.
It's best not to put engagement and addiction in the same box. When
we start thinking like that we tend to want to treat them the same
when they need the opposite! Engagement needs fed! Addiction needs a
healthier release.
Joyce
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
mary
--- In [email protected], "Matt Speno" <mspeno@...> wrote:
Don't listen to the voices because it is a load of rubbish - I
> have read Steiner's original works in depth and my conclusion is that
> the man himself would be turning in his grave if he knew how his
> philosphy was being interpreted today -
I think this is true, too. Below is a link to an article by Stephen
Sagarin titled Playing "Steiner Says":
Twenty Myths about Waldorf Education.
http://www.waldorflibrary.org/Journal_Articles/RBSpring07_7.pdf
The philosophies that Waldorf schools talk about,in my opinion, deal
with schooled children not RU children. RU kids have more options,
more chance for creativity and for security. The idea of learning
things too early has to do with allowing children more time to create
on their own so as to develop more fully and the not reading thing is
to keep them from reading things that would be harmful to their
development. As an RU parent you are there with them and they have
you to ask things about. You know your child best, second to how
well he knows himself.
mary
[email protected]
-----Original Message-----
From: jacandwill <hope_jaclyn@...>
It all started when we were at my MIL house one night, I thought that
he might be intrested in having a look on the computer at the wiggles
games, which he seemed to be. I would ask him what game he would like
to play, he points to it, then watched as I do the game for him. I
would never asked him to do them. one time he said 'my turn' and pushed
my hand from the mouse. and it all went from there.
I now ask him what stie he would like, wiggles, playhouse disney,etc
then get it up for him and he does the rest.
today he was matching numbers on honey pots to the numbers in the
picture and it blew me away.
I'm never far away if he askes, calls out, for me. I am quite happy to
do it for him but thats not what he wants.
what do you all think?
I probably am just being silly and having the steiner voices creap in
to my mind.
-=-=-=-=-
Why would you choose to hold your child back?
If he's capable and comfortable and *wants* to, why would you want to
stop him?
He's a learning machine! Let him learn!
~Kelly
Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
http://www.LiveandLearnConference.org
From: jacandwill <hope_jaclyn@...>
It all started when we were at my MIL house one night, I thought that
he might be intrested in having a look on the computer at the wiggles
games, which he seemed to be. I would ask him what game he would like
to play, he points to it, then watched as I do the game for him. I
would never asked him to do them. one time he said 'my turn' and pushed
my hand from the mouse. and it all went from there.
I now ask him what stie he would like, wiggles, playhouse disney,etc
then get it up for him and he does the rest.
today he was matching numbers on honey pots to the numbers in the
picture and it blew me away.
I'm never far away if he askes, calls out, for me. I am quite happy to
do it for him but thats not what he wants.
what do you all think?
I probably am just being silly and having the steiner voices creap in
to my mind.
-=-=-=-=-
Why would you choose to hold your child back?
If he's capable and comfortable and *wants* to, why would you want to
stop him?
He's a learning machine! Let him learn!
~Kelly
Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
http://www.LiveandLearnConference.org
jacandwill
Thank you all so much for your replies, they are greatly appreicated!
thak you Mary for including the article it was an interesting read,
and Kelly I totally agree with you, I think thats what I struggle
with I don't want to hold him back and tell him 'no' if he is
enjoying what he is doing. that he has learnt something is just a
bonus I guess.
I had to laugh a little in your post Bekki as I thought you were
serious for a second. lol
I think Ds injoys play group and I never use to mind the adult
company although lately as I have been getting more in to RU I kinda
get the feeling that we are 'on the outside' ifywim?
I don't quite know what to think when one of the commitee members
called me up the other day and asked if I would mind comming along to
one of the meetings as the 'babysitter' of the children while they
had their meeting. but thats another story.
Anyway many thanks again!
I'm sure that I will have other questions along the way and hey,
might even be able to help some one out too sometime.
I look forward to getting to know you all better
Jac
thak you Mary for including the article it was an interesting read,
and Kelly I totally agree with you, I think thats what I struggle
with I don't want to hold him back and tell him 'no' if he is
enjoying what he is doing. that he has learnt something is just a
bonus I guess.
I had to laugh a little in your post Bekki as I thought you were
serious for a second. lol
I think Ds injoys play group and I never use to mind the adult
company although lately as I have been getting more in to RU I kinda
get the feeling that we are 'on the outside' ifywim?
I don't quite know what to think when one of the commitee members
called me up the other day and asked if I would mind comming along to
one of the meetings as the 'babysitter' of the children while they
had their meeting. but thats another story.
Anyway many thanks again!
I'm sure that I will have other questions along the way and hey,
might even be able to help some one out too sometime.
I look forward to getting to know you all better
Jac
--- In [email protected], kbcdlovejo@... wrote:
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: jacandwill <hope_jaclyn@...>
>
> It all started when we were at my MIL house one night, I thought
that
> he might be intrested in having a look on the computer at the
wiggles
> games, which he seemed to be. I would ask him what game he would
like
> to play, he points to it, then watched as I do the game for him. I
> would never asked him to do them. one time he said 'my turn' and
pushed
> my hand from the mouse. and it all went from there.
> I now ask him what stie he would like, wiggles, playhouse disney,etc
> then get it up for him and he does the rest.
> today he was matching numbers on honey pots to the numbers in the
> picture and it blew me away.
> I'm never far away if he askes, calls out, for me. I am quite happy
to
> do it for him but thats not what he wants.
>
> what do you all think?
> I probably am just being silly and having the steiner voices creap
in
> to my mind.
>
> -=-=-=-=-
>
> Why would you choose to hold your child back?
>
> If he's capable and comfortable and *wants* to, why would you want
to
> stop him?
>
> He's a learning machine! Let him learn!
>
>
> ~Kelly
>
> Kelly Lovejoy
> Conference Coordinator
> Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
> http://www.LiveandLearnConference.org
>