Can you remember a time when you learned something new or when doing or seeing something sparked an interest that excited you? Perhaps it was painting, or planting a garden, building a piece of furniture, or learning to play the guitar. When you realized how much this particular thing resonated with you, what did you do? Did you decide to pursue the interest further?
If you did, you probably learned so much in the process, not just about your area of interest, but about yourself too.
Children are no different. There are probably a myriad of things with which they (and all of us) could potentially fall in love. When they are genuinely interested in something they are learning, there is the potential for the depth and breadth of their knowledge to be great. So, they need the time, materials and guidance to develop these interests.
Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith and trust that it’s okay to take the time to create the kind of nurturing environment that honors your child’s interests, and a slower, more natural pace to learning.
Your homeschool does not have to look like school at home. Sometimes we get so caught up in trying to accomplish everything on OUR agenda, that we become the home version of 40 minute school-style classes. All that’s missing is the bell going off as we power through our to-do list of subjects.
But there’s a different way. I think slow and intentional wins this race.
