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Sincerely,
Russell Keppner
TJEd.org Administrator
I have an 8yo daughter, the oldest of 4, whose interests lie heavily in the arts, for which I have very limited knowledge. I have hooked her up with a theatre group that fulfills her interest for part of the year. But even with that, I struggle to find something to interest her during our schooltime. My other kids delve right into their workbooks or coloring, but she waits. I give her a solid kidschool lesson in various disciplines, and she happily does what I have presented her with, but nothing more. She likes to follow whatever I am doing, but rarely goes out on her own in anything. I feel like I am struggling to spark her because I don't sing, dance, act, etc. Should I relax or should I force myself to pursue more arts for her benefit?
Best,
Sarah
Oldest child (8yo girl) mostly interested in arts
Usborne books has some awesome books on art: painting, dance, music, etc. even inventors and things like that. http://www.myubam.com/ecommerce/results.asp?sid=E0699&gid=91139953 Check out the link.
(I don't sell this, so I am not trying to get business, but a great way to get books cheap and to help your friends get books at a good price is to host a party. Time consuming though...)
I think there is one called the History of Art, or something. Maybe you can study different artists (for instance, study DaVinci - and while you are at it, study his country, his time period, his inventions - which will lead to science and math - and things like that. You can also get into his methods - and try them out yourself, the stories behind his paintings, etc. There is even a fun Magic Treehouse book, and companion non fiction book, that might get her reading if she is hesitant in that area.) Then do Shakespeare in a similar fashion. Then study Baryshnikov and check out some video's at the library and go to a local ballet. Then do Picasso. Then do...etc.
Maybe while the other kids are doing workbooks, you can have her doing a craft or art project nearby. Or doing a similar exercise as the rest are, but based on art like above.
I would have all kinds of art supplies around all the time, easels, paints, paintbrushes, etc. Lego's and clay are awesome things to get the mind creating.
I think the two keys that apply here are Inspire, not Require and You, not Them.
Prayer always helps...that reminds me...I need to get myself inspired and get to work as well...it always helps to answer someone elses questions!!! It makes me remember what i know. Thanks!
Good luck!
Mindy Hardy
When you said
When you said, "She waits," do you mean she doesn't do anything (sits and stares?), or do you mean she doesn't do anything that looks educational to you?
She's in Core to Love of Learning, probably. So she's gathering information and basic skills (how to wield a paintbrush so the paint goes where I want it to go, what ice feels like, how glass sounds when it breaks). You mentioned that her siblings color or do workbooks. I have had two out of seven children who cheerfully and for long periods of time would do workbook pages. I've had a couple more who would sit and read or draw for a while each day. But I've had three children who would not, would NOT sit still for long periods for any reason except in church (and church took years of patience and training). These children learn differently. There's nothing wrong with their minds; they just don't function well under the same conditions.
One of my sons can learn and remember best when he gets to explain it out loud to me, or when he hears it. He can sit still now, at age 15, but at 8 and under he was a little flea, constantly bouncing and talking.
One daughter has struggled with a short attention span, to the point that for years she could not sit all the way through a movie but had to get up and walk around, pacing really. Pacing or prancing or running around helps her process information.
One daughter cannot stand to sit on my lap for more than a couple minutes, and does not like to be read to aloud. She receives information better by seeing and doing than by hearing. She is five, and frequently misunderstands verbal instructions for workbook pages, though she loves to have her own book like her big sister has. She is, however, learning sight words by sight.
I've had to change my mental picture of learning, to fit their ways of taking in and using information. Sometimes what they're doing doesn't look educational to me at all. Sometimes encouraging my dear daughter to do workbook pages isn't teaching her anything new; it can become a waste of our time. So what is your daughter doing?