amommysjoy: Tot School, Taitum Style!

While combing through homeschooling sites to find resources for Piper, I have also come across 'Tot School'. This is basically setting aside some time each day to get down and play one on one with your tot - in my case, Taitum! I was very excited to come across the idea and examples provided of fun, age appropriate activities at 1+1+1=1. Considering the amount of time and energy I was finding myself putting into Piper's homeschool preschool, I felt it was only right to be providing Taitum with some specific opportunities to learn AND, more importantly, have my full attention!

I have found that starting homeschool with Piper has been a huge learning curve for me and a bit overwhelming because there is SO much out there! So I haven't been quite organized enough yet to do Tot School with Tait every day but try for at least two or three days a week. Sunday nights, her and I are generally alone so I always do something then. The rest of the time Piper is usually involved but I try to focus most of my attention on Taitum for that chunk of time. Piper is far more demanding of my attention then Tait is so it has been a bit of a challenge but a good one, worth taking on! I would also say it has been a good lesson for Piper to learn to allow Tait to have my attention.

I have also found it difficult to simply follow Tait's lead. I set up an activity and try to show her what to do but more often than not my little girl's idea of fun is completely different! I force myself to go along with it despite so desparately wanting to do things the 'right' way. And in the end, you know what? I have FUN! My baby girl is a blast! The things she comes up with are cute and adorable and she loves it! And regardless of the fact that we've 'gone off track' I know she is still learning and taking so much in just by playing with me!

If you're interested, I encourage you to read more about it since Carisa at 1+1+1=1 explains it so much better (It was her idea in the first place!). Some helpful posts are: Where Do I Begin? and Tot School FAQs.

Besides an overall goal of trying new activities and experiences for Taitum on a regular basis, I also hope to soon implement the idea of Tot Trays. This will probably happen around the same time I get around to setting up Workboxes for Piper! But 1 step at a time (at least that's what I keep trying to remind myself!).

Finally, here is a glimpse of some Tot School moments over the past week and a half...

'Pouring' practice with some pom poms, plastic containers and measuring cups!

Finger painting (and taste testing?) after making an angel Christmas craft that you'll see in a later post!

I had hoped to teach her how to use the shape sorter correctly...Taitum had other plans which involved stuffing Eener bear into the container :) We played 'peek-a-boo' with him for a bit.