Afternoon Hours

Over the last while I have seen a lot of discussions on various forums and lists about how long learning disciplines take different families. I use the term “learning disciplines” because all of our children’s activities are learning. Some activities are learning through play, others through craft and others through reading. The discipline part is when your children are sitting at desks doing any discipline study in any recognized school subject.

The focus of this E-zine is Afternoon Hours because it is important in the Charlotte Mason homeschool, in fact in any homeschool, that children (of all ages) are given long afternoon hours to carry out great episodes and live in their books they have read, to put their hand to crafts and enjoy a varied entertainment.

Charlotte Mason

One of Charlotte Mason’s gifts that she has handed on to the next generation of homeschooling parents is the ability to lighten our loads. She does this by helping us to see the importance of training our children in good habits. She also shows us the importance of short lessons and the use of living books to teach, rather than textbooks and outlandish hands on projects.

Following her ways we truly realise that: “A child is a person in whom all possibilities are present - present now at this very moment - not to be educed after many years and efforts manifold on the part of the educator.”

When we embrace short lessons, training in habits and living books along with a widely varied curriculum, we open the way for afternoon hours that are free from learning disciplines, nagging mothers and weary children.

Family and Sibling Play

Following on from above...afternoon hours should be full of play for younger children, crafts and handwork (sewing or woodwork) for older children, nature study, listening to music, interacting with siblings, baking, board games and the list goes one. Ideas to occupy afternoon hours become endless as your children have done their chores well and quickly and completed formal learning disciplines.

About 2 years ago I typed up a list of productive activities for my children to fill their afternoon hours. On the odd occasion that one of them will come to me and say they have nothing to do, this list is immediately available - full of enticing fun ideas to fill their time. Our list is available in PDF form by clicking on this link. Hopefully it will inspire you to make one specific to your family for your children’s afternoon hours.

Organizational Tips

Making sure that you have the right things in your home for your children to enjoy art and craft in the afternoon is part of being organized. Not all my children enjoy arty things, but I find that as one brings out a creative endeavor, the others follow. I have two pages on my website for you that will help you get more organized in this area – organize your craft cupboard and art & craft ideas .

Romantic Ideas

Recently I read Debi Pearl’s Created to be His Help Meet. While I did not agree with some of her principles I went away appreciating the joy we can cultivate in our marriage. Often the fun and laughter gets left behind in favor of talking about accounts and education. I encourage you to find something each day to laugh about with your husband. If this is hard for you right now, then think back to the times when you did laugh together – those heady early days of your romance. Perhaps your joy is lying dormant? Pray and ask God to make these opportunities arise each day and before you know it, they will become a natural part of your relationship.

Quote

“Let me also urge parents to see that in a child's leisure hours change of work is encouraged. How often one sees a child straight from the schoolroom huddled up in an arm-chair reading a book. The brain is still working in very much the same direction as it has been during school hours. Games, needlework, wood-carving, etc - many other interests might be substituted which would rest the brain, and help to develop the child in an "all round" way.” AH, Parents Review

Living books

Mr Revere and I, Robert Lawson. Submitted by Jessica.

Being a horse lover, I love that this book was written from “the horse’s mouth”. This is the story of Paul Reveres horse, Sherry – or correctly named Scheherazade! Sherry slowly moves from being an honored horse in the army, to being a cart horse and badly treated. She is run down and uncared for. She is saved by a farrier who believes that with some proper care and feeding she will be good for many more years. She goes on to be the horse that carries Paul Revere in the ride of his lifetime to help the “Sons of Liberty” in their victory against the British. Fast paced and full of horse lover’s delights. Best for ages 9 and up. Be sure to read my other horse story book reviews!

Other updates to Homeschool Curriculum for Life

As I mentioned in my last E-zine, it has now been a year since I began this webpage. A few other moms have joined me on their website building adventure . It is their way of helping to contribute to the family income. Now that a year has passed I realize that the work needed is a little tweaking here and there. One section that has undergone immense tweaking, though, are the chore pages . Please take a look at them and sign up for the tips to help you with your children’s chores, download the many templates and use the helpful hints and tips to train your children with their chores.

My oldest daughter has taken advantage of my free computer and added some great horse quizzes and word searches to her pages. Your children will find them great to brush up on their horse vocabulary while having a bit of fun. Jessica is hoping to build her own website on horses one day and SBI is giving her great practice.

Take care until next time,
God’s richest blessings to you as you homeschool,
Wendy