“In this time of extraordinary pressure, educational and social, perhaps a mother's first duty to her children is to secure for them a quiet and growing time, a full six years of passive receptive life, the waking part of it for the most part spent out in the fresh air.”
-Charlotte Mason
The quiet growing time is a time for our littles to learn and grow without a rigorous formal education but instead it offers opportunities for them to learn, discover, and explore freely as they grow.
The preschool years are a time to encourage outdoor exploration, work on small and large motor skills, and a gentle start to an introduction to learning.
As parents and home educators this is our opportunity to help our young children to develop a love of lifelong learning so that, in the years to come, they will anticipate this time together with joy and eagerness.
But it’s also a weary time, full of work and distraction. Here are some ideas for helping you savor it.
Simplify Meals
Have a rotation of five meals or meal types and use the crockpot or instant pot so you don’t have to use precious brainpower thinking up meals. We often do Monday-Burrito Bowls, Tuesday-Asian Stir Fry, Wednesday-Soup or Salad, Thursday-Meat Loaf or Pasta, Friday-Barbecue or Roast Meat, and Potatoes.
Simplify Toys
Fewer toys equals more engagement and enjoyment of the toys they have and a lot less fuss over clean-up. Box up excess toys and give them away or simply put them in a closet for toy rotation.
Simplify Chores
Grab our Chore and Routine Pack to give young children a visual reminder of their daily habits, and start teaching them one habit at a time consistently.
Get Enough Sleep
It can be tempting to try and get more stuff done while the baby naps or during early bedtime, but if you aren’t well-rested you won’t have the patience you need to respond kindly when children are fussy. Take naps, go to bed when your kids go to bed, and take a bedtime multivitamin so you can savor this season.
Get Help
When I had my fourth and fifth babies I had a homeschool teen come stay with us for a week so that I could focus on the baby, while she helped out with the house.
It was a huge gift to me and my newborn to have this time of bonding, especially because my husband was self-employed and couldn’t be there for a nice long paternity leave. I also hired a housekeeper every two weeks just so that I could rely on clean bathrooms at least some of the time. I didn’t always have the resources for help when I was raising my young children, but it was a huge sanity saver when I did.
Activities for Preschool
Here at the Peaceful Press, our desire is to come alongside you and your littles in the early years with The Peaceful Preschool
We offer daily lesson plans in the Peaceful Preschool and Peaceful Preschool Volume 2 that can help you bond with your children, teach them valuable practical skills, and nurture good habits in these precious early years.
We also offer supplements that can help you nurture learning in a playful, developmentally appropriate way.
Would you love monthly mentoring from Peaceful Press founder Jennifer Pepito and a community of wise and intentional mamas to grow with?
The Restoration Home Community will help with quick and easy lessons for your young children, weekly virtue practices, monthly book clubs, a yearly retreat and more to nurture peaceful homes.