Comments on: The Curious Question of When to Write and . . . Making Sand Letters http://www.daysofyouandme.com/2009/08/12/the-curious-question-of-when-to-write-and-making-sand-letters/ Written and photographed by Jessica Monte Sat, 19 May 2012 14:59:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: sunnymama http://www.daysofyouandme.com/2009/08/12/the-curious-question-of-when-to-write-and-making-sand-letters/comment-page-1/#comment-2949 sunnymama Sat, 29 Aug 2009 23:03:15 +0000 http://www.greenmamma.org/blog/?p=2907#comment-2949 I would second Shelly's recommendation of John Holt's books. I think you would like this one, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Learning-All-Time-John-Holt/dp/0201550911/ref=pd_sim_b_7" rel="nofollow">Learning All The Time</a>. I've also read a little about Montessori and love the idea of the sand letters. It looks like you are very aware of Annabelle's interests and following her lead perfectly :) I would second Shelly’s recommendation of John Holt’s books. I think you would like this one, Learning All The Time. I’ve also read a little about Montessori and love the idea of the sand letters. It looks like you are very aware of Annabelle’s interests and following her lead perfectly :)

]]> By: Gypsy http://www.daysofyouandme.com/2009/08/12/the-curious-question-of-when-to-write-and-making-sand-letters/comment-page-1/#comment-2817 Gypsy Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:21:03 +0000 http://www.greenmamma.org/blog/?p=2907#comment-2817 Oooh, I need to give this some serious reading ... I really like the Montessori approach here, providing rich materials but leaving it to the childs pace. Great links! Oooh, I need to give this some serious reading … I really like the Montessori approach here, providing rich materials but leaving it to the childs pace. Great links!

]]> By: Amber {Rainbow mama} http://www.daysofyouandme.com/2009/08/12/the-curious-question-of-when-to-write-and-making-sand-letters/comment-page-1/#comment-2813 Amber {Rainbow mama} Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:19:05 +0000 http://www.greenmamma.org/blog/?p=2907#comment-2813 I look forward to looking at the links you have suggested Green Mama. I have 2 boys - my eldest (Hug who is almost 6) went been to a Montessori preschool & is now in Kindergarten at a Waldorf school. My husband is a children's author & we are really big on books in our home & my son learnt all of his letters early (Montessori preschool) - but he's still not very interested in writing. I am learning to appreciate the gift of verbal story-telling (he creates elaborate puppet-shows for us to watch) & the other ways he chooses to articulate his thoughts. My youngest son is 3 1/2 & I have made sandpaper letters for him to start learning his letters at home even though he also attends a Waldorf preschool program. I think that if you offer them the materials & the knowledge then they will utilise them when it is right for them. If your daughter is curious about letters then I think you are doing something wonderful by introducing them in a playful way :) I look forward to looking at the links you have suggested Green Mama. I have 2 boys – my eldest (Hug who is almost 6) went been to a Montessori preschool & is now in Kindergarten at a Waldorf school. My husband is a children’s author & we are really big on books in our home & my son learnt all of his letters early (Montessori preschool) – but he’s still not very interested in writing.

I am learning to appreciate the gift of verbal story-telling (he creates elaborate puppet-shows for us to watch) & the other ways he chooses to articulate his thoughts. My youngest son is 3 1/2 & I have made sandpaper letters for him to start learning his letters at home even though he also attends a Waldorf preschool program. I think that if you offer them the materials & the knowledge then they will utilise them when it is right for them. If your daughter is curious about letters then I think you are doing something wonderful by introducing them in a playful way :)

]]> By: Shelly http://www.daysofyouandme.com/2009/08/12/the-curious-question-of-when-to-write-and-making-sand-letters/comment-page-1/#comment-2786 Shelly Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:03:49 +0000 http://www.greenmamma.org/blog/?p=2907#comment-2786 With the path you seem to be on, I completely recommend books by John Holt. He gives an amazingly different look at children. I understood the ones I've read to say to follow your child's lead. Provide the opportunities and let them choose and get out of it what they will on their own. Keeping thing light and fun without teaching or requiring anything is what is best. Also, with your love of arts, I wasn't sure if you've seen this sight: http://artfulparent.wordpress.com/ It is full of interesting projects and ideas. With the path you seem to be on, I completely recommend books by John Holt. He gives an amazingly different look at children. I understood the ones I’ve read to say to follow your child’s lead. Provide the opportunities and let them choose and get out of it what they will on their own. Keeping thing light and fun without teaching or requiring anything is what is best.
Also, with your love of arts, I wasn’t sure if you’ve seen this sight: http://artfulparent.wordpress.com/ It is full of interesting projects and ideas.

]]> By: Everyday woman http://www.daysofyouandme.com/2009/08/12/the-curious-question-of-when-to-write-and-making-sand-letters/comment-page-1/#comment-2783 Everyday woman Sat, 15 Aug 2009 14:09:58 +0000 http://www.greenmamma.org/blog/?p=2907#comment-2783 After leaving my last comment, I went back to read Aisling's and Abbie's. I second everything they said!!! As parents, we try to do what we feel is best and that is usually what IS best for our children. Abbie's Dad did make Math so much fun for our kids with his stories and that's the kind of thing I encourage with my students' families. We don't need any more generations of --especially little girls-- to grow up Math-phobic. My younger students love Math because it feels like playtime with manipulatives, games, etc. Aisling---You will be such a WONDERFUL teacher when you've completed your training. Being a parent first makes SUCH A DIFFERENCE, I believe! I learned so much from my own children and then can really identify with the parent perspective! I just love hearing such positive comments and encouragement from all our bloggy friends! After leaving my last comment, I went back to read Aisling’s and Abbie’s. I second everything they said!!! As parents, we try to do what we feel is best and that is usually what IS best for our children.

Abbie’s Dad did make Math so much fun for our kids with his stories and that’s the kind of thing I encourage with my students’ families. We don’t need any more generations of –especially little girls– to grow up Math-phobic. My younger students love Math because it feels like playtime with manipulatives, games, etc.

Aisling—You will be such a WONDERFUL teacher when you’ve completed your training. Being a parent first makes SUCH A DIFFERENCE, I believe! I learned so much from my own children and then can really identify with the parent perspective!

I just love hearing such positive comments and encouragement from all our bloggy friends!

]]> By: Everyday woman http://www.daysofyouandme.com/2009/08/12/the-curious-question-of-when-to-write-and-making-sand-letters/comment-page-1/#comment-2782 Everyday woman Sat, 15 Aug 2009 14:03:42 +0000 http://www.greenmamma.org/blog/?p=2907#comment-2782 Jessica, You are doing ALL THE RIGHT things for your little girl. Tracing and forming letters in artwork is perfectly developmentally appropriate for her and FUN! As we know, each child is developmentally ready for different things at different times and I believe it's fine to introduce the names and sounds of letters at this time, all in fun. Not to stereotype, but little girls (with nice fine motor control) such as Annabelle, may be ready for forming and writing letters before boys. (I speak from experience here as a mother of one girl and two boys----vastly different, even though I was not willing to accept the stereotypes, but guess what---they did fit those stereotypes. Even though I offered Abbie trucks and backhoes and her two brothers dolls, etc., guess which they most enjoyed?) I can remember my kids singing the ABC song along with me (and their grandmother, "Mema,") before their second year and writing came soon after. I even consulted their baby books to find evidence of what age, but I guess I left that out. My first's is pretty complete, but I'm afraid I slacked off a bit for our 3rd . . . just warning you!) Just remember, everything you do as a parent is right as long as it feels right for you and your child. You are your children's first and most important teacher. As a teacher, I see so many students in grades K-4, who got the most important start because their parents read to them and played games to them. READING is oh-so-important and should be an enjoyable activity for all. The other stuff will come, naturally. I haven't "talked" to you in so long, as it's been an especially eventful summer. Please know that I'm wishing all the best---and praying for your family---as you get ready to welcome your new son very soon! Hugs and kisses, Ruth Jessica,

You are doing ALL THE RIGHT things for your little girl. Tracing and forming letters in artwork is perfectly developmentally appropriate for her and FUN!

As we know, each child is developmentally ready for different things at different times and I believe it’s fine to introduce the names and sounds of letters at this time, all in fun. Not to stereotype, but little girls (with nice fine motor control) such as Annabelle, may be ready for forming and writing letters before boys. (I speak from experience here as a mother of one girl and two boys—-vastly different, even though I was not willing to accept the stereotypes, but guess what—they did fit those stereotypes. Even though I offered Abbie trucks and backhoes and her two brothers dolls, etc., guess which they most enjoyed?)

I can remember my kids singing the ABC song along with me (and their grandmother, “Mema,”) before their second year and writing came soon after. I even consulted their baby books to find evidence of what age, but I guess I left that out. My first’s is pretty complete, but I’m afraid I slacked off a bit for our 3rd . . . just warning you!)

Just remember, everything you do as a parent is right as long as it feels right for you and your child. You are your children’s first and most important teacher. As a teacher, I see so many students in grades K-4, who got the most important start because their parents read to them and played games to them. READING is oh-so-important and should be an enjoyable activity for all. The other stuff will come, naturally.

I haven’t “talked” to you in so long, as it’s been an especially eventful summer. Please know that I’m wishing all the best—and praying for your family—as you get ready to welcome your new son very soon!

Hugs and kisses,
Ruth

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