Thank you very much, everyone! That was super helpful to get a broad range of answers (although there was a lot of overlap, which is also great). What is the deal with play, anyway? I hear that EVERYWHERE. I don't doubt it, but I just...it's hard to grasp why it's so important, somehow. Maybe it's something I'll only comprehend in retrospect. ?

I've heard a lot of replies on this topic from CM mamas, but I'm curious what folks from a more classical background might say-- or if they'd say just the same types of things. ? I know CM and classical are not necessarily divergent, but there seems to be a stronger focus on beauty and truth type values from CMers than I get from folks who define themselves as largely classical, and I'm curious if that variation in mentality would produce different answers. Or perhaps my perception of the differences is inaccurate in the first place. *shrug* So for you veteran homeschoolers (whose kids are, say, 12+)...what would you tell your younger self when you had preschoolers? What would you focus on? What would you change? What would you do more of? (This doesn't necessarily assume that official school is happening at these ages, but just what you would focus on in a preschool child's life, as a homeschool parent- academic or otherwise.) Thanks!

Does anyone have a well thought of annotated Shakespeare to recommend? This is for me, and I have no history in Shakespeare at all, but would like to get more comfortable with it. I was thinking an annotated version might be the way to go (I don't have a preference on what play...maybe a comedy to start with?) but if there's another way to start on it, feel free to bring up those ideas as well. Thanks!

I've watched this twice and bought the soundtrack...definitely something addictive about it. :laugh: Definitely agree that you have to suspend reality...I looked up the bare bones on Barnum afterwards and snorted a little at how far off the story was, but...whatcha gonna do. My favorite scene (not necessarily favorite song; I like them all quite a bit) was the ropes dance for "Rewrite the Stars". That was amazing! Did nobody like Hugh Jackman in Kate and Leopold? That was the first time I "met" him and...you know. Swoon. :-D

Thank you all very much! I've been looking into some of these and I think we'll be in good shape for awhile now. :-D (I think there's a good chance some of these will be more relevant in a couple years, but I actually think How It's Made will be a pretty good match even as young as they are.)

It's hard to describe what I'm looking for, but that also makes it hard to google for ideas! My two boys LOVE Blippi on youtube, which is a channel of practical education-- tractors, machines, working vehicles, etc. I really like how it's presented-- no cartoons, not really talking "down" to the kids but teaching them real life knowledge that isn't academic, since that's pretty easy to find. We've long since worked through all of Blippi's videos and I'm on a somewhat futile search to track down other similar resources. All I'm finding is animated machines, or counting tractors, that sort of thing. Bob the Builder is not a hit around here, for example. :-D I would love to find some videos on, say, construction (building something, not just construction vehicles) or working on a machine that needs fixed, or things of that ilk. I don't know how to describe it! It doesn't even have to be for children, but I assume that adult stuff wouldn't quite trip a kid's trigger even if topic matter did. Any ideas?

Haven't read the rest of your posts, but I KNOW!!! Mine are not particularly picky, but my 3yo has NEVER been interested in food, from day one, and so I literally have to feed him if I want him to eat more than three bites. He's not disobedient, and he'll eat if I tell him to, but he just has ZERO interest and I can leave him there for an HOUR and he will happily sit there...and not eat a single bite. My 2yo is a big fan of food, but he's still missing his molars, and struggles with pretty much any meat. So even though he's TWO I still find myself pulling out the baby food mill so he can get enough decent calories down. Neither of these is the end of the world, but it's both of them, hands on, every meal, and it's just wearying. (Where's that head banging the wall emoji when you need one?)

Thanks for the ideas! I definitely need to start remembering the table setting and laundry loading...we've done those but for some reason I completely forget about them until I'VE done them. :-D I'll have to start having them wipe down their chairs and spots, too. I've always had the hardest time with the whole concept of them tagging along doing what I do...that was always MY plan, but somehow my oldest just hasn't been in to that, so I've had to be a lot more purposeful about keeping him busy...he likes play to a certain extent, but he gets tired of too much free time and since he doesn't tag along of his own accord...I have to consciously think of it, and what he's capable of. :-)

Yes, we do that! I was just making a list so I could remember for when we have littles again someday. 😠Our two unload most of the dishwasher between them, wash the table (the 3yo), take dishes from table to sink, help pull around laundry baskets, juuust learning to fold washcloths! Ummm...oh, and they can use the dustvac to clean up small messes. Which they make a lot of. ðŸ˜

What chores can your 2 or 3yos do? I'm wondering what ideas I might be overlooking, and the more the better...we always seem to be running short of them around here, and both my kids are SO much happier when they break up their playing with some real WORK. Go figure. 😅😅

I'm not looking for Martha Stewart standard hospitality (one can dream)...but more of a down to earth, realistic hospitality within the reach of moms with littles and not much of a social inclination/skill set. Also (secondary topic)...books on self discipline. Sometimes just READING about something helps spur me on further on a given journey. 😆

I have looked through the available ones on the Apple app store but I don't know if I'm just app-stupid or what...I couldn't find any that looked like they had any value, and nearly all of them cost money, which is fine IF they are worth it. :-D Recommendations? I'd like one he can operate without parental help, because this will basically be a rare treat, when I have to focus on something else.

Well that was unanimous, so my path is clear. Thanks everyone. :-D

How exactly do Cuisenaire rods work? I've seen them, but they don't really have much of an explanation just on a purchase page. :-) I've contemplated getting the Montessori number rods and I'm wondering what things they might have in common, and why C-rods might be a good substitute- or not.

First time homeschooler here, so while I can see this isn't a big deal, I'm just unsure of what the best reaction is... My 3yo is doing a preschool curriculum that we really enjoy. I really don't feel that "doing" preschool is all that important, really, but we were kind of pulled into it by the kid himself, who seemed to need more challenge for his brain. He does enjoy it, and we've picked an all-in-one option that helps me not fret about missing some of the bases. :-D However. He just does not grasp numbers. I'm not worried about this developmentally, and to set against his math status he is fabulous about letter sounds and colors. But what I'm wondering is: should I continue kind of gently tugging him through what the curriculum presents on the premise that repeated exposure will eventually have an effect, or should I set aside the math for now and maybe pull out more number manipulatives and work on those with him?