Is there anyone else out there.....

[boobaloo]

nothing structured here either, and my kids are very happy little monsters.
sometimes we'll do craft activities etc, but only whilst they're interested, i don't push anything onto them.
we spend a lot of time outside, i'm the mum who takes her kids out to see floods, play in the rain and mud, go walking through riverbeds etc. to me those things are the free, natural things that sparks their desire to learn more about the environment that we live in, but mostly just to have a $hiteload of fun, get dirty etc.
we read lots of books, sing lots of songs, and have heaps of fun.
sometimes i wonder if i should be doing more to extend their learning, but hey, you're a kid for such a short time, i want my kids to enjoy it.

[Mad Scientist]

sometimes i wonder if i should be doing more to extend their learning, but hey, you're a kid for such a short time, i want my kids to enjoy it.

exactly what I think boobaloo, but then sometimes some people make me feel like I'm disadvantaging my girls by taking this road.....

[boobaloo]

, but then sometimes some people make me feel like I'm disadvantaging my girls by taking this road.....

everyone is always going to have an opinion on how you should properly raise a child, but as long as i know that my children are happy, healthy and know that they are the most important people in my world, then i know that i will produce happy, well balanced adults. you have a lifetime to act like you have a rod up your ass, right now, i want them to be free and natural.

[Mad Scientist]

Love it boobaloo. Exactly how I feel. Thanks x

[boobaloo]

Love it boobaloo. Exactly how I feel. Thanks x

anytime darl, you want bummy-mummy advice, you know where to come

[feeb]

everyone is always going to have an opinion on how you should properly raise a child, but as long as i know that my children are happy, healthy and know that they are the most important people in my world, then i know that i will produce happy, well balanced adults. you have a lifetime to act like you have a rod up your ass, right now, i want them to be free and natural.

Hehe so true

[Olive]

i think there comes a time when they want to do more structured learning, but at 15 months and 2.5 i dont think it neccessary unless they are wanting. my 3.8 yr old just today came out and wrote her name all by herself, then spent another 30 mins or so writing etc.. for fun. we ve also introduced some basic maths, but again its fun and during playtime, its not structured

[ashie]

im the same i have tried sitting boy oldest down to do things but is happy to go off and do as he feels! we tried to teach him words, well he speaks alot and has learnt to sing and count to 12 and his abc from his tv channel nick jr, i was amazed at how we been trying to teach him, and yet he sits down watches a show repeats what they say! i try to take them to places of interest like last trip was the zoo they had a ball, next trip is to the aquarium. i read bedtime stories and get him to help me around the house like pick up washing and put in basket, i make alot of little games out of household chores lol. DS2 he's just over 1 no way is he ready for certain things and i dont push him he has taken great steps recently and he just like to do things aswell in his own time. kids grow up too quickly and i dont want to take their fun away they have a ball each and every day their never bored!

[AliBaby]

We definitely have no structured play and I do not believe stuctured play is appropriate at this young age. Play should be developmentally approrpriate for the age but defiitely not structured below the age of 4.

I expose DD to things like drawing (actually more like scribbling and she holds her crayon with a fist grip but you know what, I dont care! She is 16mths and is not going to write like this when she is older).I let her play with chalk (which she tends to put in her mouth and prefers to eat it). We sing songs (even if they are Beyonce and not the usual nursery rhymes although we do sing nursery rhymes when mummy can remember them). We dance like noboy's watching (because hey, nobody is watching). We watch tv (sometimes Play School, sometimes Bold and the Beautiful). We (DD) unpacks cupboards and drawers and then we pack them back up afterwards. We play with friends and run around at the park. We cuddle and play with the dogs.

None of it is structured but DD is learning all the time. I am a teacher and I know that the best thing for my 16mth old to do is to play and have freedom to explore cause and affect (with supervision of course).

Let them be children. They have 13 years of formal schooling ahead of them where they will have PLENTY of structure!.

By the way I do want to add that I think it is important to begin to develop structured activities in the year before starting school but in small ways so as to prepare the for a very structured environment.

[Junglemum]

No structure here either, mostly we play, i make playdough, we paint, make cubby houses, dress up, swing in the hammock, jump on the tramp, walk to the pool or the market, or sit on the couch and watch the TV! (When DD1 draws, which she loves to do, i do show her how to hold the pencil. ) We do read a lot of books, but only becasue they love it, it's not like i tie them down and make them. It's great to read there are others out there just letting their kids play. We are very isolated and don't have access to structured activities like dancing, swimming or whatever. I sometimes wonder if i am giving them the best start by not having access to those kinds of things and it is reassuring to know other kids are doing just the same as us.