How would one go about unschooling Waldorf style? - Page 2

[mamaUK]

Originally Posted by momofmine

It's hard when you're not seeing eye to eye. But why is a "regular school" the default? Why is it that b/c he won't agree they are going to school? Why isn't it that you don't agree with regular school, and so they are being homeschooled?

ETA: I'm not meaning to say that either is right, just pointing out the opposite. I could just never imagine allowing something to happen that is that huge of a choice, just b/c my partner said so. Not meaning to be harsh, but I think it sounds like you need more communication. Not to convince him of your point of view, but to discuss and be a team in deciding what feels right for your family.

I can totally see what you saying here. thanks for the hugs!
I guess the regular school is the default b/c it is the mainstream thing to do here in the UK. Also he feels very strongly that they should go to school b/c he is a secondary (age 11-16) school teacher himself. Funnily enough I am/was, (i'm a SAHM now) an early years primary school teacher myself.

He 'has put his foot down' (goodness that sounds oldfashioned) and said no way. (Funnily enough he had said yes about it about 6 months ago, but I think that was for a quiet life and didn't realise how serious I was) and now has categorically has said 'no'. I think it hurts my feelings a bit (alot) b/c he doesn't trust what I can do, I mean if i can teach a class of 30 why the heck can't I teach my child on a one to one basis? He doesn't seem willing to discuss it now and has totally shut of his mind to it. I wish I could do something about this.

(I will mention his reasons: he is worried about our LO not socialising. I do not/cannot drive, we couldn't afford to be a two car family anyway, so I would find it very difficult to meet up with other home schooling mamas. He says our LO loves preschool, and he is right, she does right now. He feels it would make her 'different' from everyone else. He wants her to be more 'mainstream' and 'accepted' I guess. I have put all this in inverted comma's b/c I don't agree with this)

BUT on the otherhand I feel scared about doing the right thing and would not feel comfortable homeschooling/ unschooling without his support. What a mess.

[momofmine]

I think the socialization theory is a common concern for many parents who aren't familiar with homeschooling. I don't really know your situtation, as far as being able to get out and meet up with others, so I can't say, but I do know that many people worry about that initially, until they realize how much happens just by going to the library, the grocery, the children's museum, ballet or soccer, etc, just going about every day life.

But, you must do what you feel is right, but there is always time, and maybe you could just ask him to read some articles about homeschooling that you give him, to feel like he is listening to your concerns and instincts about what is right for your dd. Good luck to you.

[LuxPerpetua]

Unschooling Waldorf/Montessori style in action

I apologize for this reply being so photo heavy, but unschooling is so intertwined with living that I essentially took photos of all the rooms in our home so you can see our external interpretation of Waldorf, free of Anthroposophical dogma . As you'll be seeing, our home does not look like a typical Waldorf home--we have lots of color, no silk canopies, no playstands, toys made of a variety of media, and some Montessori "academic-type" activities. However, if you just let go of the whole "It must be made of solid wood and scented with lavender oil!" concept (sometimes small budgets just don't allow for that, and until recently we've been living off of one student income), you'll see that many of the toys we have are of the same "essence"--they are open-ended, imaginative, and allow for lots of creativity. Waldorf/Montessori have influenced how we have our playspace set up but in unschooling style, we follow dd's lead. Of the academic "jobs" (per Montessori parlance) we have, they have all come about after dd has demonstrated a desire or need for that activitiy in other ways. One of the things I like about her toys is that they are so open-ended that they can be used for years to come. I also like that since we unschool I can feel free to pick and choose what things I like from different pedagogies (please refer to my previous post for more details if you haven't read it already), and being "on the fringe" I have learned to see both Waldorf and Montessori limitations and short-comings. But being "on the fringe" also can be a lonely place because you get snubbed by many purists. Oh well. Enough philosophizing . . .

So, how about a tour of our tiny home? (We live in a 2 bedroom apt. currently).

First up, our seasonal decorations.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-177F.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-174F.jpg

For each upcoming holiday, I decorate our door and the wall space beside it. I usually also do a seasonal nature scene on part of our dining room table, but after taking down one billion Christmas decorations, I'm going to skip that step this winter season (winter's barren anyway, right?). DD arranged all the hearts on the wall, hence the rather interesting placement, and the map is because she is currently very interested in learning geography (she just turned 3, and I've heard this is a big 3 y.o. thing).

I've found this seasonal wheel is so much fun for understanding the months and seasons. DD loves it. We also have a month song that we sing along with some Elsa Beskow books and the Gerda Muller picture books to help with an understanding of the seasons:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-194F.jpg

Next comes dd's play kitchen that is in a small nook between our front closet and the living room space.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-173F.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-201F.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...MVC-202F-1.jpg

I did some close-ups of the felt foods that I cut out of crafting felt for her because I'm rather proud of them. I think they may have cost all of $3 to make and they are perfect for layering to make sandwiches or putting in soups, etc. The spice rack is also really neat because not only are these "real foods" that give the cool effect of being able to unscrew a jar to measure out the "ingredients" but dh just recently used the nutmegs as math manipulatives to help dd understand the concept of zero. Talk about multi-purpose!

Also, near her play kitchen is this bookcase filled with knick-knacks that dd can play with on their own terms or use to enhance a dining experience from her kitchen. We believe strongly in teaching children how to handle "adult" things properly and with great care, hence the glassware and crystal.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...MVC-178F-1.jpg


Now, our main play area, our living room. This area is actually very small--probably 8' x 6'. On the left of the room there are more Waldorf-style things, and on the right more Montessori.

Looking toward the left: http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-157F.jpg

Schleich animal figurines, cars/trucks/trains, parking garage, and what I have termed the "random toy basket" bin where I put things that I have no idea where else to put: http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-171F.jpg

A closer look at the figurines on the shelves: http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-170F.jpg

Our nature baskets (these are so great for building forests, acting out stories, or even using as pieces in dice games): http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-169F.jpg

Our play fabrics, which consists of velvets, satins, and silks:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-168F.jpg

Play fabrics in action (dd is making herself a swimsuit):
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-133F.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-139F.jpg

Farm set and homemade play mat up-close:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-140F.jpg

Toys on the backside of the table:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-167F.jpg

The Montessori side of our living room space:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-214F.jpg

Shelving up-close (I love the Lauri pegboard on the bottom right. DD likes to use for planting her garden.) The puzzles are neat, too, because they not only are good for motor skills (you have to use a rod to catch fish and bugs) but dd catches the fish in her puzzle and then takes it to her kitchen to cook:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-216F.jpg

Our homemade moveable alphabet following Montessori ideas of coloring the consonants and vowels differently. On the front of each card is the uppercase letter and on the back is the lower case. Also, there are numbers 0-9 for explaining numeration of quantities.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...MVC-213F-1.jpg

Our game shelf and herb garden:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-161F.jpg

Our homemade game box, opened (It contains a homemade wooden "Memory" style game and a color sorting activity):
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-162F.jpg

Connect Four is great for making patterns and honing motor skills:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-164F.jpg

Our current science projects of sprouting an avocado seed (we recently finished a lima bean sprout) and an oil/water mixture study, along with our breakfast and lunchtime votive and some of the seeds for our spring garden.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-180F.jpg

Down the hallway is our smaller bedroom where we essentially keep dd's stuffed animal collection (she loves them!), a wicker rocking horse, a sit and spin, and dd's climbing bar. She doesn't sleep in this room, as she still co-sleeps.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-149F.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-150F.jpg

On to our master bedroom where she has an art wall with paper up continually and art supplies below for whenever the mood strikes:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-144F.jpg

Here is the corner where I keep our "mommy is to supervise" art supplies:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-145F.jpg

Our keyboard and instrument basket in our bedroom:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-146F.jpg

Her playsets beside the keyboard and near our bed:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-147F.jpg

Our bookshelf with knick-knacks for play, including some music boxes and her button collection:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-148F.jpg

You can't beat a bathroom for sensory play. DD draws in the steam from my shower every day. She loves to draw mazes and dot games, currently, as well as people.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-192F.jpg

Sink-time water play:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-198F.jpg

Bathtime water play toys (which include pipettes, a water wheel, sea shells, animals to wash, watering cans, and buckets . . . and shaving cream:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-190F.jpg

Continuing with sensory play, we have a sandbox outside on our balcony when the weather is nicer:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-189F.jpg

And last, but not least, dd's new Waldorf doll arrived today. I guess I shouldn't include it here since we're putting it away for later but I'm so thrilled with how it turned out, I just had to post some pictures of it. I bought it from "Maineartisen" on Etsy and it was a custom order that she did in like 2 days. It was wrapped so beautifully when it arrived, too!

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-210F.jpg

And she even comes complete with bodice and pantaloons!
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-209F.jpg

Bless your heart if you actually looked at all those. I'm nothing if not verbose and thorough.



ETA: Oops! I totally forgot dd's shelves in the kitchen w/ homemade playdough and supplies and her spice rack with real spices that she shakes into water to make soup concoctions. She's the only 3 year old I know who can identify all the major herbs and spices by smell and look. You never know how much stuff you have until you try photographing all of it!

[*theophane*]

thank YOU for taking the time to share all this with us so very inspiringly...

[LuxPerpetua]

Originally Posted by *theophane*

thank YOU for taking the time to share all this with us so very inspiringly...

You're very sweet. I don't think it's particularly inspiring so much as "realistic on a budget" Believe me, if I could have more wooden toys and playstands and such, I would . . . but with that said, I don't think it would change the way dd plays at all, it would really just be for me. I'm attached enough to her toys as is, I'd hate to think if I was paying mega bucks for them! Dh thinks it's weird that I've been sneaking peeks of dd's new doll all evening.

I was really rather intimidated about posting pictures here on this forum because I know that I don't live up to Waldorf standards, and in my mind I feel lots of judgment (I doubt it's there but you know how minds are!). I do want people to know, though, that you can be inspired by Waldorf without feeling the need to follow everything to a tee, and that it really is okay to not buy a $300 farmhouse with matching wooden figurines.

[momofmine]

Thank you SO much for posting those pics, yes it is really good to see what it looks like in someone else's house. Especially since you said you had a small space, but you've made wonderful use of the space you have. Thank you and I loved all the pictures, and yes, I clicked on all of them, some a few times!

[mamaUK]

Originally Posted by LuxPerpetua

that give the cool effect of being able to unscrew a jar to measure out the "ingredients" but dh just recently used the nutmegs as math manipulatives to help dd understand the concept of zero. Talk about multi-purpose!

!

just wanted to check something, which has got my heart beating so fast, are they real nutmegs????????????? b/c if they are if a whole one is eaten/swollowed by mistake it could kill a little one. Just though I'd check b/c that has really frightened me. I just googled it to double check and they can be really dangerous if too much is eaten at one go.

[mamaUK]

I clicked on all of your photos and I think you have really wonderful open-ended toys. Out of interest, with all the amazing toys, does your LO play independently alot? I bet she must have a great time with such a wonderful choice. It reminds me of my friends house ,she's not into anything waldorf ( she doesn't really do wooden toys) but she has chosen really open- ended toys which lead to such great play from her LO's. I get amazing 'toy' tips from her all of the time.

[counterGOPI]

thanks for sharing! but who really has a $300 barn on here?!

[redfoxmama]

I loved your post and pictures.
We live very similar to you. I have a 3 year old son & we live in a 2 bedroom apartment/townhouse so I loved seeing how you incorporate Waldorf/Montessori into your home.

I actually have been inspired a bit to change things around in our home and some future toys for my ds. Where did you find the cash register with the conveyer and scanner? My ds would love something like that.

Thanks again for posting!

Originally Posted by LuxPerpetua

I apologize for this reply being so photo heavy, but unschooling is so intertwined with living that I essentially took photos of all the rooms in our home so you can see our external interpretation of Waldorf, free of Anthroposophical dogma . As you'll be seeing, our home does not look like a typical Waldorf home--we have lots of color, no silk canopies, no playstands, toys made of a variety of media, and some Montessori "academic-type" activities. However, if you just let go of the whole "It must be made of solid wood and scented with lavender oil!" concept (sometimes small budgets just don't allow for that, and until recently we've been living off of one student income), you'll see that many of the toys we have are of the same "essence"--they are open-ended, imaginative, and allow for lots of creativity. Waldorf/Montessori have influenced how we have our playspace set up but in unschooling style, we follow dd's lead. Of the academic "jobs" (per Montessori parlance) we have, they have all come about after dd has demonstrated a desire or need for that activitiy in other ways. One of the things I like about her toys is that they are so open-ended that they can be used for years to come. I also like that since we unschool I can feel free to pick and choose what things I like from different pedagogies (please refer to my previous post for more details if you haven't read it already), and being "on the fringe" I have learned to see both Waldorf and Montessori limitations and short-comings. But being "on the fringe" also can be a lonely place because you get snubbed by many purists. Oh well. Enough philosophizing . . .

So, how about a tour of our tiny home? (We live in a 2 bedroom apt. currently).

First up, our seasonal decorations.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-177F.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-174F.jpg

For each upcoming holiday, I decorate our door and the wall space beside it. I usually also do a seasonal nature scene on part of our dining room table, but after taking down one billion Christmas decorations, I'm going to skip that step this winter season (winter's barren anyway, right?). DD arranged all the hearts on the wall, hence the rather interesting placement, and the map is because she is currently very interested in learning geography (she just turned 3, and I've heard this is a big 3 y.o. thing).

I've found this seasonal wheel is so much fun for understanding the months and seasons. DD loves it. We also have a month song that we sing along with some Elsa Beskow books and the Gerda Muller picture books to help with an understanding of the seasons:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-194F.jpg

Next comes dd's play kitchen that is in a small nook between our front closet and the living room space.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-173F.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-201F.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...MVC-202F-1.jpg

I did some close-ups of the felt foods that I cut out of crafting felt for her because I'm rather proud of them. I think they may have cost all of $3 to make and they are perfect for layering to make sandwiches or putting in soups, etc. The spice rack is also really neat because not only are these "real foods" that give the cool effect of being able to unscrew a jar to measure out the "ingredients" but dh just recently used the nutmegs as math manipulatives to help dd understand the concept of zero. Talk about multi-purpose!

Also, near her play kitchen is this bookcase filled with knick-knacks that dd can play with on their own terms or use to enhance a dining experience from her kitchen. We believe strongly in teaching children how to handle "adult" things properly and with great care, hence the glassware and crystal.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...MVC-178F-1.jpg


Now, our main play area, our living room. This area is actually very small--probably 8' x 6'. On the left of the room there are more Waldorf-style things, and on the right more Montessori.

Looking toward the left: http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-157F.jpg

Schleich animal figurines, cars/trucks/trains, parking garage, and what I have termed the "random toy basket" bin where I put things that I have no idea where else to put: http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-171F.jpg

A closer look at the figurines on the shelves: http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-170F.jpg

Our nature baskets (these are so great for building forests, acting out stories, or even using as pieces in dice games): http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-169F.jpg

Our play fabrics, which consists of velvets, satins, and silks:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-168F.jpg

Play fabrics in action (dd is making herself a swimsuit):
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-133F.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-139F.jpg

Farm set and homemade play mat up-close:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-140F.jpg

Toys on the backside of the table:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-167F.jpg

The Montessori side of our living room space:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-214F.jpg

Shelving up-close (I love the Lauri pegboard on the bottom right. DD likes to use for planting her garden.) The puzzles are neat, too, because they not only are good for motor skills (you have to use a rod to catch fish and bugs) but dd catches the fish in her puzzle and then takes it to her kitchen to cook:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-216F.jpg

Our homemade moveable alphabet following Montessori ideas of coloring the consonants and vowels differently. On the front of each card is the uppercase letter and on the back is the lower case. Also, there are numbers 0-9 for explaining numeration of quantities.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...MVC-213F-1.jpg

Our game shelf and herb garden:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-161F.jpg

Our homemade game box, opened (It contains a homemade wooden "Memory" style game and a color sorting activity):
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-162F.jpg

Connect Four is great for making patterns and honing motor skills:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-164F.jpg

Our current science projects of sprouting an avocado seed (we recently finished a lima bean sprout) and an oil/water mixture study, along with our breakfast and lunchtime votive and some of the seeds for our spring garden.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-180F.jpg

Down the hallway is our smaller bedroom where we essentially keep dd's stuffed animal collection (she loves them!), a wicker rocking horse, a sit and spin, and dd's climbing bar. She doesn't sleep in this room, as she still co-sleeps.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-149F.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-150F.jpg

On to our master bedroom where she has an art wall with paper up continually and art supplies below for whenever the mood strikes:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-144F.jpg

Here is the corner where I keep our "mommy is to supervise" art supplies:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-145F.jpg

Our keyboard and instrument basket in our bedroom:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-146F.jpg

Her playsets beside the keyboard and near our bed:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-147F.jpg

Our bookshelf with knick-knacks for play, including some music boxes and her button collection:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-148F.jpg

You can't beat a bathroom for sensory play. DD draws in the steam from my shower every day. She loves to draw mazes and dot games, currently, as well as people.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-192F.jpg

Sink-time water play:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-198F.jpg

Bathtime water play toys (which include pipettes, a water wheel, sea shells, animals to wash, watering cans, and buckets . . . and shaving cream:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-190F.jpg

Continuing with sensory play, we have a sandbox outside on our balcony when the weather is nicer:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-189F.jpg

And last, but not least, dd's new Waldorf doll arrived today. I guess I shouldn't include it here since we're putting it away for later but I'm so thrilled with how it turned out, I just had to post some pictures of it. I bought it from "Maineartisen" on Etsy and it was a custom order that she did in like 2 days. It was wrapped so beautifully when it arrived, too!

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-210F.jpg

And she even comes complete with bodice and pantaloons!
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-209F.jpg

Bless your heart if you actually looked at all those. I'm nothing if not verbose and thorough.



ETA: Oops! I totally forgot dd's shelves in the kitchen w/ homemade playdough and supplies and her spice rack with real spices that she shakes into water to make soup concoctions. She's the only 3 year old I know who can identify all the major herbs and spices by smell and look. You never know how much stuff you have until you try photographing all of it!

[MamaMonica]

Moved to Unschooling.

[cat2116]

Mamauk-

I can so sympathize with your situation.....my DH is very much against the idea of homeschooling despite the fact it would suit our lifestyle much better (DH does not get home from till 11pm and works weekends and holidays).

He too thinks DS needs to socialize etc..etc...etc

Although......I THINK he MIGHT be starting to change his mind, DS started proper school after Christmas and he HATES it, seriously we drag him in every morning crying...it's heartbreaking. He is afraid of the big playground, the new teachers and children....and he loved pre-school.

Also I have been in hospital over the last few days....we kept DS off school....and the school were not happy. Apparently you can only keep your children off if they are ill......no. other. reason.....

[LuxPerpetua]

Originally Posted by mamaUK

just wanted to check something, which has got my heart beating so fast, are they real nutmegs????????????? b/c if they are if a whole one is eaten/swollowed by mistake it could kill a little one. Just though I'd check b/c that has really frightened me. I just googled it to double check and they can be really dangerous if too much is eaten at one go.

: Why did I not know that???? Thank you so much for the heads up!

[LuxPerpetua]

Originally Posted by mamaUK

I clicked on all of your photos and I think you have really wonderful open-ended toys. Out of interest, with all the amazing toys, does your LO play independently alot? I bet she must have a great time with such a wonderful choice. It reminds me of my friends house ,she's not into anything waldorf ( she doesn't really do wooden toys) but she has chosen really open- ended toys which lead to such great play from her LO's. I get amazing 'toy' tips from her all of the time.

I wish she did. She is one of those people who has to have constant interaction and she's been that way since the day she was born. I could never just lay her down on a blanket with a couple of toys like I've seen some moms do. I had to talk to Cecily about everything and show her everything and have her touch everything, etc. At 3, she's very creative but she will not play independently for long. Usually when I'm in the shower she sings and draws on our mirror and that's about as independent as it gets around here right now. My mother says I was the same way so it must be an inherited trait or something. I did eventually grow out of it, though, after age 5. I love playing with dd but toddler play can get a bit old at times . . . with that said, though, I'm sure I'm going to really miss it when she no longer wants me to be her buddy. Feast or famine, I guess.

[LuxPerpetua]

Originally Posted by momofmine

Thank you SO much for posting those pics, yes it is really good to see what it looks like in someone else's house. Especially since you said you had a small space, but you've made wonderful use of the space you have. Thank you and I loved all the pictures, and yes, I clicked on all of them, some a few times!

Awww, thanks. I'm actually rather proud of what we made out of such little space and such a small budget--not in a braggy sort of way but in a "wow, we did the best we could!" kind of way, if that makes sense. I really appreciate your kind words.

[LuxPerpetua]

Originally Posted by counterGOPI

thanks for sharing! but who really has a $300 barn on here?!

Thank you for looking. Maybe other Waldorf moms know how to find better deals than I do . . . any tips?

[LuxPerpetua]

Originally Posted by redfoxmama

I loved your post and pictures.
We live very similar to you. I have a 3 year old son & we live in a 2 bedroom apartment/townhouse so I loved seeing how you incorporate Waldorf/Montessori into your home.

I actually have been inspired a bit to change things around in our home and some future toys for my ds. Where did you find the cash register with the conveyer and scanner? My ds would love something like that.

Thanks again for posting!

You are very kind.

I bought the cash register and set from Magic Cabin. It's made by Selecta so I'd highly recommend buying now before that insane new law comes into effect (crosses fingers, hoping it will be repealed . . . ). That and her wooden kitchen are my two "splurges" really. I think I paid about $120 for the full cash register/market set. I found one similar from Pottery Barn Kids after I bought this one, but it isn't wooden. I can't remember the price difference, though, and it may not be significant.

[LuxPerpetua]

I just wrote this for another unschooling thread, and thought it might be relevant here as well.

A day in our unschooling life . . .

We are Waldorfish unschoolers so our days and weeks have a rhythm to them, but it is a flexible rhythm. Today was baking day for us (Monday is cleaning day, Wednesday baking day, Friday market day, and the rest are free-for-alls).

DD and I woke up at 9:30 a.m. and spent the next 30 minutes nursing and being silly in bed. DD helped "wake up our day" as we say by opening the blinds while I made the bed. Helped dd get dressed and went to make breakfast. Asked dd if she wanted to light our candle at breakfast, she said no, so we poured cereal and made chocolate milk, said our blessing and ate. During breakfast we played with some fun color tiles that we have and made patterns, and played some Memory matching games. After breakfast, dd helped start our dishwasher. Then we played "going to the swimming pool" where dd showed me how to swipe my "swim pass" (an old gift card) in the crack of our closet door and she made us "swimsuits" out of play fabrics. Then we made a fort out of cushions and fabrics. DD wanted to jump on the bed while I sang and played our keyboard, so we did that a while, and then she made up her own songs and played and sang them. Then we acted out a story that I made up of 3 elves who live in the forest and take care of the forest plants and animals. DD added her own touches which included using silly putty (or as she calls it, turtle wax) to keep the animals from slipping on the forest rocks--this was actually a rather elaborate routine of "fixing the wax" and making it just right before putting it on the rocks. Then dd helped me brush teeth and helped me make lunch. For lunch she requested that we light a candle with a match, so we did (and dd said our candle verse). We said our blessing and ate soup, during which I told her the story of stone soup. After I told her that story, she requested that we read some books, so we did. After lunch, dd helped turn on my shower and squirted soap into it (I have no idea why she likes to do this but she has to do it every day or the world will end). She sang songs while drawing pictures on our mirror in the steam from the shower. After my shower dd played songs on our keyboard and sang as I was drying my hair. Then we went to the kitchen and she helped me empty our dishwasher and sort our dishes (she's in charge of silverware). DD got the silverware basket from our dishwasher and used it to make beds for some of her animal figurines. I got out our ingredients for making pumpkin bread and dd helped measure all the ingredients and even added a few of her own (such as sifted pigs, in which she put her pigs into our sifter and pretended to sift 11 cups of pigs, as she said). While the pumpkin bread was cooking we played some more games where we rolled dice and put that many rocks into a basket. Then we played our homemade Memory game again and dd started making up her own games and telling me what to do (but whatever I did it was always the wrong thing and she had to show me the right way to do it). We snacked on yogurt and pumpkin bread while chatting and singing songs together, during which we discussed why people in France speak French and we speak English (one of our songs was in both French and English). We also looked at our herb garden and talked about herbs and the vegetables that we want to grow this spring. After snack, dd took her animal figurines that she had left on our counter from when we made our pumpkin bread and started trying to stack them, which brought up a discussion of totem poles. And now she is at my parents' house making valentines cards and doing who knows what else (you never know what they're going to get into--my parents are lots of fun).

This is a pretty typical day for us. Writing it down makes it seem busier than what it felt like, and yet I know there are so many things we did that I can't remember. Unschooling totally rocks!

[momofmine]

Wow, what a beautiful life you are creating together! It sounds wonderful! Reading that I feel like I spend too much time doing "my" stuff. They are that age for such a short time, though, it is awesome that you are embracing it and enjoying it!

[mamarabolli]

Originally Posted by LuxPerpetua

Connect Four is great for making patterns and honing motor skills:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/MVC-164F.jpg

Wonderful! Thx for sharing. Very inspiring. Can you tell me where you found the wooden connect four?