Here are some ideas:
For daily activities I have listed:
- Outside play- It is easy to avoid the outdoors in Utah, because the weather is so extreme. It is either too hot or too cold. Well, we all know the current issues around sedentary lifestyles and obesity in children. According to the Center for Disease Control, in 2008, 19.8% of children ages 6-11 are obese. Children are naturally energetic and playful, but this energy has been stifled by TV, computers, and video games. Not only is outdoor play good for exercise, it is stimulating. There are so many new sounds and sights and kids might feel they have more freedom and room to play. Unless it is a blizzard or something, my goal is to let my daughter play outside or go on a walk for at least 15 minutes a day.
- Art- One reason I am choosing to homeschool is because art and music are really limited in most public schools. I am hoping that with homeschooling my daughter will have more time for these things with out having too hectic of a schedule. Right now I have finger paints, modeling clay, watercolors, and crayons and markers. I plan on alternating these activities each day and letting my daughter have as much time as she wants to create something.
- Brain Quest- You may have seen these sets at your local bookstore. I used to have them as a child. For older children, the booklets usually comprise of many trivia questions. I just found they have them for toddlers. I bought them just to try them out and my daughter really likes them. They basically just provide you with images of Max the Monkey in different scenarios. You let your child lead the conversation by talking about what she sees (ex. Shoes, car, bed). I then point out the words she doesn't know and before I know it I have just improved her vocabulary. Just today she learned the words clock and bus. So, I really like the set it kind of provides good bonding time, too. But, you could easily do this with any book or with any experience (ex. grocery shopping, the library, etc.).
- Reading- Last, but not least, I read to Eleanor every night before bed. I have been doing this since she was born. She is starting to resist it now, so I try not to force it. Sometimes I will continue reading while she does her own thing or I will just put her to bed without a book. Funny thing is, she loves looking at books on her own. She will literally study illustrations and words for a couple of minutes at a time (which is a long time for a toddler).
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