Saddle Mountain Academy

I've been on this list for short while trying to gleam some insight into unschooling. I have a friend that "does it" and her kids are always doing the most interesting things and I just don't know how to "make" my kids have more interests. If I let them be, they just play barbies all the time. (they are girls 9 and 7). BUT after taking a couple months off at
"school" as my friend suggested. They finally stopped playing barbies once I got K'nex out. They started building kits from the book for about a week then started making up their own models. I was amazed, that my "uninteresting" kids are being creative. THEN out of curiosity, I gave a copy of Home Training Tools to my 91/2 yr daughter and just asked her to look through it and see if anything is interesting to her. I was SHOCKED!! She practically begged for a disecting kit. "You're kidding!" I thought. Now that's something I would NEVER have picked out for her. I told my husband and he was excited and said he wants to do it with her. She also said she's interested in robots but wants to spend her own money on it. Now my youngest, I did the same with her and she has expensive taste. I had to read the catalog to her but she really wants a rock tumbler, stereoscope, and a dinsaur replica to build. I just have to say, I am blown away. Now if I could only get my youngest to read!! Life would be easier.
Sue
Saddle Mountain Academy
Snake River Plains
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In a message dated 6/15/02 8:53:13 AM, saddlemtn@... writes:

<< I just have to say, I am blown away. Now if I could only get my
youngest to read!! Life would be easier. >>

If you leave your youngest to read when the time is right you'll be blown
away again!

I loved the post but the end made me think your revelation wasn't yet
illuminating your whole life with kids! <g>

Once it starts working, let it work!

And the kids don't necessarily need bought kits to learn in surprising ways,
so don't just wait for the order to come in, but start to give them other
things, ideas, and opportunities.

Sandra