My favorite early education resources and exploring homeschooling

I had a blast speaking to the parents at the Mommy and Me Babycakes meeting.

Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital

I promised to share some of my favorite resources for parents of young children.  In the early stages it is all about emotional bonding – giving children a safe, loving place to learn and people to learn from – and brain development – making the most out of the stages of learning.  The brain is growing fast and the more we can get the hemispheres of the brain talking to each other, the easier learning will be for the child later on.

Early resources

These two great resources were not around when my children were small, but Start Smart!: Building Brain Power in the Early Years is a wonderful resource that gives an explanation of the brain benefits of the games and fun activities it recommends.

The second fun resource Play & Learn Bundle: Over 300 Games and Learning Activities for Babies and Preschoolers – eBook, is chock full of activities that enhance baby’s brain development!

Reading for parents

I recommend that parents examining their educational options and considering homeschooling start by formulating their educational philosophy.  I would start by reading The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home (can be purchased here):

The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home, Revised and Updated Third Edition By Susan Wise Bauer & Jessie Wise / WW Norton .  You do not need to read this book cover to cover.  It gives an excellent synopsis of the revival of classical education and how to implement it in a practical way. If you like the idea of classical education, continue your research by reading the faith-based book Teaching the Trivium: Christian Homeschooling in a  Classical Style.  It is rich in detail and shares tips and insight from the Bluedorn’s extensive homeschool experience. Next I highly recommend taking a look at the Charlotte Mason method of education.  Karen Andreola has put together many of Charlotte Mason’s ideas into a handy read, A Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on The Gentle Art of Learning.  There are some other good reads about Charlotte Mason, like A Charlotte Mason Education: A Home Schooling How-To Manual New Edition.   You may even want to check out some books on other methods:Teaching Montessori In the Home – eBook, The Unschooling Handbook: How to Use the Whole World As Your Child’s Classroom or The Waldorf Homeschool Handbook.  I would caution parents away from embracing any one method completely, unless it seems well-balanced, but truth and helpful tips can be gained from almost any educational method.  Once you have some idea of how you are going to teach, tune in to this post for what to teach! Affiliate links for your convenience.