Math Before Bed

Listening to my husband and two older boys do math facts while he's tucking them into bed. His voice is low, almost a whisper. Their little voices are some of the most peaceful sounds. I think "how could you not grow up loving math, and understanding it and wanting to explore it, when you have the opportunity to learn it with the person who loves you the most?"

This is why I love the way we educate. It is wild and organic. Our children love "school" and they often don't even know they are in "school".

Talking about math anytime a child asks about it has caused them to learn math facts in a structured, comfortable and loving environment which I believe causes the brain to remember things better.

There are studies showing that childhood trauma cause a childhood dementia, which I have seen first hand. So wouldn't the opposite be verasity? We actually stimulate learning and remembering by educating in the most nurturing environment as possible?

Yes, we sit down and hit the books almost everyday. However, all the time we learn through our interests in the kitchen, building with Legos, doing word searches as we wait for our lunch at the restaurant, spending time with Dad in a tractor, dinking around in the shop, reading story books, singing songs and listening to our favorite tunes, discussing geography at the dinner table, watching videos on healing the body, journaling our random thoughts, listening to psychologists businessmen, and political commentators on podcast and audio books.

I am, of course a big promoter of home education, but above that I promote intentional parenting. Be intentional in being interested in what your children are interested in. Get to know your children. They're interests will change over their lifetime, just like yours have. Don't project your interests onto them, that will only cause a conflict within them. Our children want to please us because they love us and often time they will say and do things just because they think that's what we want to hear. So be aware. Having open conversations with my kids at anytime of day, has helped me know them better and has given me many opportunities to teach them things about the world and about this life.

When you hug, kiss and cuddle them take that time to ask them questions about their dreams and goals; and be prepared to spend a lofty amount of time just talking. Bask in the love you share with your child, but know that those moments are creating core memories and are helping them remember. They are remembering facts, and they are remembering their childhood, and they are remembering you.

Do math before bed!

-Goodnight