This is a photo of my sweet Sawyer, almost three and all boy in every way.
We spent the day at the amazing Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and he found this area in the Scienceworks section.
He was in hog heaven.
Sawyer loves construction vehicles, heavy machinery, and gadgets.
After letting him play for a bit, we needed to go. We had been there for five hours. (Not in that exact spot, mind you – the entire museum.)
Solomon was done. He could go no further. His 18 months was showing.
When I told Sawyer it was time to go, he replied with a stern look, “Mommy. I can’t go. I’m working very hard.”
He stopped me dead in my tracks because this is so much what I believe educationally. As a former progressive teacher that was always looking at the best ways for children to learn lasting knowledge and gain actual understanding rather than rote memorization, this reminded me of what I know to be true.
Children learn by doing. Not by doing worksheets, though there is a time and place for “seat work” (but not all day).
By experiencing a garden instead of reading or watching a movie about it, by actually mixing colors with paints or food coloring rather than seeing a chart with the various colors that can be made by mixing primary colors, by experimenting with various states of water rather than reading about it in a text book. The list goes on.
Can you imagine the dendrite growth that must have been going on in Sawyer’s little brain?
I let him keep working for a bit.
It amazes me how children will “work” at a task like that. Our science center has a ball factory and the kids are very focused at moving balls through all these different contraptions. I think that’s why the world needs child labor laws – the little kids are so willing to work work work!
.-= Joey´s last blog ..Molding childhood gender roles =-.
Amen! You wouldn’t believe (actually you probably would!) how much my children love to mop the floors and clean our windows. All kinds of good learning there AND it really does help me out!
Thanks so much for reading, Joey!
LOL I love it. He looks so busy and hard at work. I bet he gave it his all, right? We went to their right before I had my 3rd child and it was a blast. I really need to go back and what a great time…when you can’t go outside for entertainment and fun. I agree with your hands on education point. Will you home school then? I have been faced with an issue at school. My 8 year old brought home a book about Dinosaurs and it says they lived millions of years ago. In my opinion this is teaching the kids evolution b/c God created the world 6000 years ago so how could dinosaur’s have lived before God created the universe? You should hear some of Dr. Kent Hovind DVD’s. It all makes since! He talks about the Flood and dinosaures. http://www.drdino.com/index.php
Hi, Beth! You bring up a good point. I am always confused by this because I do believe the dinosaurs existed (scientific proof is hard to argue with) but I am always confused on how this works. Thanks for the resource idea.
I am not home-schooling. I am a lover of the Montessori world so we send our children to a local Montessori school. I did consider it but given our family dynamic (i.e. I don’t know what to do with my other two toddlers) I don’t think it would be the best option. I also feel that there are so many things children can learn by being in a school-setting as well.
Thanks so much for reading and for bringing up a good point!
He’s so cute and seems to be taking it all so seriously LOL. Glad you managed to snap a picture of it. It’ll make a great memory.
.-= Clairity´s last blog ..parsley in my teeth =-.
Thank you. I think he’s really cute, too, but I am his mother. I wouldn’t know if he wasn’t.
Thanks for reading, Clairity!
oh, we love that space at the CM.. in fact we’re going this weekend.. for Barbie and Bob, two of our favorites! (well I am hoping that my 2yr old finds Barbie to be her new fave) lol
I could just watch my babies play(work) all day long. I love watching them have imaginary converstations, (or repeat ones they have heard! LOL).. they are little sponges for sure.. and gives me a great feeling as a mom that I am actually creating little people of the world.
i could not read any of your links.. were they important?? =)
.-= Elizabeth´s last blog ..every day should be full of love: =-.
Oops – that link wasn’t supposed to be there. Thanks for pointing it out, Elizabeth! Thanks also for reading!
LOVE this!! What a great reminder to allow our kids to be more ‘hands on’ with everything. I’ll admit, there are times when my 2 year old is begging to help me with things around the house (and things outside of the house) and I just want to get it done. I’ve had to take a breath and step aside in order to allow her to experience things on her own, even if it meant taking an extra 20 minutes.
My mom was a teacher and she is wonderful with my little one. I’m constantly learning how to teach my daughter by watching mom. I’d love to know if there are any good websites out there that would help ‘teach’ me how to become a better teacher to my daughter. Let me know if you’re aware of any.
Awesome post!
~melody~
.-= ~Melody @ 6 Feet Over~´s last blog ..#19 ~ 20 Years =-.
Melody, I really don’t believe there is ever a substitution for just basic language growth through experience and talking. This beats and program or activity out there. And as cliche as it is sounds, there is absolutely nothing NOTHING you could do that would ever be better than reading to your child (you will instill a love of books – I see it even in my 18 month old!) and telling silly, made up stories. I let my kids pick the characters and I just weave a story around their characters. They are at full-attention during those stories and I love the quality time with them. We always do butterflies in the spring (we have a butterfly home you can find anywhere online but let me know if you want more details) and plan to do a SMALL garden this spring/summer. My point is that you do not have to go and buy any programs or have special activities planned because life is a broad enough curriculum as is. Even a trip the grocery store can offer a TON of learning opportunities – colors in the produce section, pricing (when they are older), manners. The list is endless.
I don’t know of any sites but this is most certainly something I have thought about writing on so maybe I will.
Thanks for reading, my dear!
I’m popping on over to say thanks for visiting my blog on my special SITS day! you have a beautiful family and your faith really shines through on your own blog.
.-= elizabeth´s last blog ..Saucy Secrets! =-.
He is such a cutie pie!!! Since I have all girls, I have to live vicariously through you with the boy stuff! That museum looks pretty fantastic!
p.s. Thanks for your prayers..it means so much to me to know people have been thinking of me…and Good news: my sonogram went really well, the baby looks good and I am 12 weeks along (remember this was a surprise for us so we found out kind of late!) Sending hugs your way!
.-= Caroline´s last blog ..Charlie the Little Blue Doggie: Stage 1 =-.
Oh, Caroline. I”m your girl if that little bun in the oven is a boy. I can fill you in on the names of all the construction trucks, airplanes, Bob the Builder songs, and dirt you need.
I am so happy to hear that all is well. Another friend of mine is pregnant with a little surprise and is about as far along as you are. Our third was not a surprise – he was an utter and complete shock. Of course, now I can’t imagine life without his preciousness around.
Glad that the baby is fine – here’s to more energy for you!
LOVE IT!!! We have a children’s museum here in Pittsburgh and it looks exactly like that! It’s heaven for kids. What a great picture. Your kiddos are so sweet.
~Mandy
.-= MandyP´s last blog .."Not Me" Monday =-.
Thanks, Mandy. Desperation to get my kids out of the house in the dead of winter forced us there….
I think that you made the right decision. He is clearly changing the world one wheelbarrow at a time! That is adorable. I agree, hands on gets the synapses firing.
.-= Tracy´s last blog ..Hard Times Bring Broad Places =-.
Like it. Thanks for writing that. I’ll check here to see what’s new and recommend my people about it.