Hi everyone
Well, I have been avidly reading posts on every thread and I have learned so much from you guys. It is incredibly inspiring to read about the effort and success you and your children are experiencing. I am eager to join you in this EL adventure but I’m not sure where to start. Help please!
My daughter is 22 months old. Her language is quite well developed (although maybe not compared to the children on here!) I attribute this to using sign language with her from 3 months of age. She has shown an aptitude for learning other languages and she asked for me to read her “special books” (Irish, French, Italian & Spanish Usborn First 100 word books).
I have always tried to use lots of language in my interactions with her, using descriptive commenting as I go about my activities. I have also read to her every day since she was born and she adores books. So much so that her preschool teacher asked me if I was teaching her to read. Well, embarassingly, I was quite smart in my answer, lecturing her about reading readiness etc. However, the conversation piqued my interest and I decided to do some research. Well, all I can say is that I owe her teacher an apology! I had never even heard to children under 5 reading, not to mention reading in several languages.
I have since read the Doman Reading, Maths & EK books and I am both impressed and daunted in equal measure. My husband and I both work full-time, I am studying and I am also pregnant so I am trying to figure out what I can realistically fit into my short time with my daughter.
In order of priority, the areas I would like to target are:
Reading
Languages - English (mother tongue), Irish (we are Irish and I am hoping she will attend an Irish-speaking school), French (I spoke this in school), German (my husband spoke this in school), Italian & Spanish (neither my husband nor I have any experience with these languages)
Maths
Knowledge
Music
Swimming
I realise that this is a long list but I want to give her every opportunity as she has shown me that she can learn anything I take the time to teach her.
I have tried the LR and LM trials. My DD loves LM, but she gets bored during the multi-sensory lessons on LR. That said, she has been crying for “WORDS” and “Maffs” since my trial ran out so I think I will buy both.
I just received YBCR DVDs today, along with Baby Signing Time and Signing Time Volume 1. She LOVED Baby Signing Time and asked for it repeatedly after watching it for the first time. She was less interested in YBCR, although she did watch all of it. She adores music and we try to include some classical music in her listening - the current favourite is Beethoven’s Wig. I can read music and play piano, recorder and tin whistle and I would like to pass on a love of playing music to her.
For those of you who have read to the end of this long post, thank you! My questions are:
- Where should I begin with a child of 22 months?
- Is she too old to benefit from YBCR? From the other posts I have read, it seems to be geared towards younger children.
- Would I be better off concentrating on LR instead of spending 7 months completing YBCR?
- What should my daily schedule of EL activities with her look like?
- What would be the most useful resources for me to invest in? (I have a small amount of money that I can use for this purpose)
- Do any of you use Tangrams with your little ones?
I should also say that I am concerned about how much screen time she has as she does not watch TV at all, although she loves to look at Sesame Street songs on my husbands iphone.
I would greatly appreciate any hints, tips and advice you may have to offer. If I can be of any help in return, please let me know.