How naturally children learn… We spend so much time trying to impart knowledge and they hold it all already. They just don’t have the words for concepts and things, but they know they are there, they know they exist. And they know this in the most organic way.
My daughter has been learning about the shortening of days through observation and Wendy Pfeffer’s The Shortest Day: Celebrating The Winter Solstice. We’ve started noticing, now that we’ve turned back the clocks, how dark it is even before we sit down for dinner. She’s also started noticing that she wakes up longer and longer before the sunrise, being able to watch it with me, naming the colors and observing the clouds that paint a different canvas every morning.
But, although Little Man is around us as we learn, in my mind, 15 months is a bit early to start explaining the tilting of the Earth on its axis. Or so I thought…
We went walking yesterday. The wind had a bit of a bite to it, but the sun was so warm! It was around 1 pm when we hit the soccer field and the magic started. Close to the time where his shadow would be elongating, he noticed and started playing. Turning, running, waving his arms… Climbing, laughing, pointed at his Peter Pan looking self on the ground, the bleachers and eventually the trees as we took to the woods on the way home, Little Man was learning about the shortening of days.
I’m always amazed at how little credit the world gives children. We over schedule, over educate, fill their little brains with so much stuff, we forget how amazing teachers, to themselves and others, they really are.
I’m so grateful for a chance to experience it fully this time around. I wasn’t able to be home with my daughter at this age, so this is truly a gift. Everyone keeps telling me how amazing this is for my children… what they often fail to mention is how much more of a gift this is for me!
Family, Faith, Food and Fabric 
They are incredible, aren’t they? Naturally such amazing explorers and scientists and experimenters, then we send them to school and they teach it all out of them!
LikeLike
I think it depends… I never got it knocked out of me… I was a spit fire about learning when I was a child and never lost the appetite for it. I haven’t 100% made up my mind about public school vs. home school yet. I’m gonna play it by ear! See how my ideals an the school system links up, make up my mind then. It will be interesting to see starting next year for sure! 🙂
LikeLike
So cute
LikeLike
It was truly an inspiring moment. I just sat there for over an hour, watched him play in the light and snapped pictures… 🙂 My favorite moments have always been the quiet ones. Love seeing the little gears in action. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh goodness, just adorable. I remember vividly when my little man first found his shadow, so much fun for all of us.
I am with you, such a wonderful gift not only for my little man, but for me, to be able to spend my days with him.
LikeLike
I thank the heavens everyday for my new life. I wouldn’t change it for the world! Thank you again for helping me to get inspired. xo
LikeLike
What perfect and peaceful moments to learn from the environment and the world around him.
Love these photos and the natural learning taking place.
Thanks for sharing.
Wishing you a lovely week.
xoxo
LikeLike
It’s such an amazing time. An being home now and having this be my focus just makes it that much more special. It,s a wonderful time for all of us. 🙂
Thank you for stopping by!
LikeLike
Ah and ah. Says this mom sitting here and laughing with you! Such precious moments when, instead of teaching, you are learning and learning about them. Such precious little people.
LikeLike
They truly are… It was nice to just sit back. It was one of the first times. he is very much a “come with me mom” kind of boy. So watching him go at it alone and loving it was a huge step. 🙂
LikeLike
I just heard a great talk by an MD that was talking about how we tend to think that children are like buckets–the faster we fill them up with information the better off they’ll be life. He went on to say that children are just learning to digest their experiences and the more we put onto them of the adult world (he was talking specifically about too much media, but extended it to all experiences), the more we are putting them in the stressful situation of digesting before they actually have learned to digest. Akin to feeding your child a 12″ Subway sandwich and then wondering why they are not thriving! His conclusion was to allow them more time to just be, to explore, to move, to “play with shadows!” because they often know the exact experiences they need.
I love your photos. You can just see his joy in life. Proof that we just have to let them be children!
LikeLike
I totally didn’t see your comment, so sorry it took a while to write back!
Such a wonderful comment. Made my husband read it. I whole heartily agree. They have so little time to just be kids. I see kindergarten approaching and I find myself worried. I get worried at the pace of life today. I remember when I started school and it seems like centuries ago instead or decades. I thin it,s why we’ve opted for a simpler life. I’ve said it before, after many MANY conversations, homeschooling is not for our family right now, but I’m still torn sometimes.
Thank you for taking the time to share your insight. xo
LikeLike
Pingback: Finding new ways to connect | Family, Faith, Food and Fabric
Ahhh that toothy smile. He’s so sweet. I love natural learning. Exposing children to a variety of experiences is what makes them well rounded individuals so much more than what they learn in a book while sitting in a closed room.
LikeLike
I 100% agree… there’s some to be said for traditional education, but too many parents rely on school and don’t take responsibility. I like to think that learning happens 24/7… it,s our job to make it happen, seamlessly!
LikeLike