Laundry Time!

What could be more fun than helping Mommy (or to Anthony, Aunt Liz) sort laundry?

You get to do something useful, be part of what the adults are doing, and have fun throwing clothes in a bunch of different baskets! And then of course there's the cool big washers and dryers and getting to measure the detergent and help fold socks and shirts. And then of course there's learning about why we have to put different color clothes in separate loads and why some shirts don't go in the dryer and why some clothes need to be ironed and some need to be folded and all other interesting things that little kids are just dying to learn.

Sharing chores sure makes life a lot more fun and interesting.

"It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth."

Lamentations 3:27

Hunter is 3 years, 0 months old

Teaching a Toddler Addition

Our math program has been horribly inconsistent since we began back in December. But today Hunter took his first addition "test" (the candy game) and amazingly understood the concept just fine.

The Doman math program (How to Teach Your Baby Math) uses a very simple, straightforward way of teaching babies and toddlers the realities of numbers and equations. You simply show them the facts, and they discover the rules.

For teaching a toddler addition, this translates into gathering three cards and showing them: "One" (hold up a card with one dot on it) "plus two" (show the card with two dots on it) "equals three" (show the card with three dots on it).

No explanation, just show the facts. Since they can actually see the true number of dots, they understand what "plus" means because they can see what is happening. Therefore, tiny children who have been taught true quantity (see blogs under "Teach Your Child ... Math" to learn more) can learn what plus, minus, times, and divided by mean in the same way that they learn "mine" - which is, by seeing these words used in action.

Hunter has probably seen about fifty or so addition equations such as this at scattered times, and he understands. Today I "tested" him for the first time, placing a fourteen and a twelve card on the floor and asking, "Hunter, what is eight plus four?"

He knew.

Later I asked him two more problems. Bingo. Once again, he understood.

It is such an exciting thing to see that this program is really working. When I first read the book, I laughed, then stood in suspicious awe, then dove into the program in faith, thinking, "But what if it DOES work..." But, as I am here to tell the world, you really CAN teach babies and toddlers the reality of math. And it's fun. And easy. And a very noble thing to do.

"The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips."

Proverbs 16:23

Hunter is 3 years, 0 months old

Aquarium with Grandma

Today Hunter and I went on Hunter's first "Grandma date". Growing up my Grandma would always take us somewhere for our birthdays instead of buying us a toy or something. We had a lot of good memories and now it's Hunter's turn with his great-grandma.

He had never been to the aquarium before, and it really made me want to study ocean life with him! There were so many interesting things and we caught a lot of it on video and a few pictures.

We got to hit most of the exhibits. One of his favorites was the King Komodo Dragon which was part of the special lizard exhibit they have going on. Although I must say he really was excited about meeting Baby Beluga whale from the Raffi song up close.

We got to see sharks, eels, sting-rays, anemone, tons and tons of fish, otters, snakes, frogs, penguins, and even some dolphins to name a few. We weren't able to see the dolphin show but maybe next time.

We left shortly after lunch and he was ready to crash from a fun day. I wish I could have written down all the names of all the fish they have there so I could teach them to Hunter so he would be really excited next time we go back. But even still, we had a great time and look forward to our next trip into the city.

"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?... Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas."

Psalm 8:4, 6-8

Hunter is 3 years, 0 months old