Yes. A very long break…and I feel guilty, but I’m not sure how to fix it.
A few background details.
My First Daughter, I discovered Doman when she was 1 year. I followed Doman and a few other reading methods. I also worked on math, physical program, swimming, and a few bits in between. I only had 1 kid, and I did LOTS. She is now 6, can read about a grade 6 reading level, just passed her 3rd swim lesson (with 8-9 year olds), and has an impressive memory. Math didn’t turn out so well, I would just label her average - but hey, we can’t have it all. To sum it up, I feel this daughter could almost be a poster child for Doman or LR. I’m not bragging, I’m just really proud of her (and me and the whole process). But, I’m just not sure what/how to continue with her. I feel we have been at a stand still for about a year. She is reading of course, but other than that, I’m not doing anything for her. I’m not sure what I am suppose to be doing with her.
Second Child, a Son. I followed the program in Doman’s How Smart is Your Child and I also followed the physical program. We did awesome for the first year, I provided lots of opportunity and did almost all the daily lessons and a few things in between. At about 12 months, he stopped looking at the flashcards or dot cards or the computer screen, basically he wouldn’t look at anything. This Son is now three, and for the last year we have done almost nothing. When he stopped looking at flashcards we took a small break and then I would try again. Between his 1st and 2nd birthday I would stop and start and try lots of new and different stuff…all to no basically no avail. He just wanted to jump or run or roll or be active, he was (still is) uninterested in sitting still. Physically, this boy, is pretty good. He has reasonable stamina, dexterity, flexibility, but he won’t listen long enough to really teach him. He can ice skate, bat a baseball, catch a baseball, kick a soccer ball, but not swim, and he refuses to brachiate. He can’t read, and I can only get him to sit for 1 book. He can do some math, but again, I would say average 3 year old stuff.
With my first child, I could confidently say I was a Doman Mom, a Professional Mom. I liked that, it felt good, and my daughter was happy. She is still happy. With my second child, I feel like I can no longer say I am Doman Mom. Now, I’m just a Mom trying to balance 2 kids and all the home/chore stuff. Before I felt that maybe my kids could make a difference in the world, and now, I just feel my kids are average. Not that average is a bad thing, or being above average is all there is to life, but I preferred raising kids that were going to be able to start life standing on my shoulders. I don’t feel that anymore.
Ideas on how to fix it? Nope, sorry. I tried so many times in the past 2 years to interest my son in EL stuff, and he just runs away. No matter how fun or connected or bonded we are, he still isn’t interested.
Just today I tried to get him to run from one room to the other carrying a ball and a cup and look at the word on the wall (above a basket) to throw one item in - nope. Refused to look at the word. I’m rather discourage, but I am following this thread to see what ideas other parents have.