I don't spend much on games, as I can just adjust the rules or objectives of games I already own, to make them suitable for DS. There's so much we can do with a pack of cards and a bag of scrabble tiles! I often invent math games also, or learn traditional games from various cultures, which can be played using improvised materials. I am looking out for snakes and ladders, and would like to get some dominoes, too. We still have many of the quality picture story books from my childhood, and DS receives a few more every birthday and Christmas. Using a kindle means I can afford to buy new read alouds whenever we need them, and I'll continue buying him hard copy readers as he progresses. We seem to have abundant books and games without spending much at all. :)

Aha! Yes! I have signed up for alcumus, and it looks great. Thank you both :)

I'd like to study mathematics again. I was taking the most advanced course available at my high school, accelerated by a year or two, along with accelerated physics and chemistry. I expected to study physics at university, but life had other plans for me, apparently! Which is the best mathematics course available now, that I could study on my own? I'm after something with depth, as I'd like to develop my mathematical creativity (memory work and formulae are not an issue - they just don't inspire me). Suggestions would be greatly appreciated. :)

A week of meal planning that actually goes to plan, and is delicious and nourishing every single night. Texts from friends who care. Gatherings at the park.

We are actually close to the 'radical unschooling' end of gentle parenting. I am a wheelchair user, and can't actually physically make DS do anything, so we talk things through a LOT, and we have a big focus on responsibility around health and safety. He is very proud to be trusted to make good choices for himself, and also trusts my counsel when I offer suggestions or background information. Oftentimes when I give him instructions, we have already talked this particular scenario over (and over and over), so it will look like I just give orders and he follows blindly. I have had many strangers comment on how "obedient" he is. *rollseyes* Ultimately, I try to be mindful of the power differential inherent in our relationship, in order to prioritise meaningful connection over any of the "virtues" you might find people aspiring to on behalf of our children. Eta: no crazy extremes here! I promise it's not as whacky as it sounds ;)

How difficult are the accompaniments? Could a musical adult with no keyboard experience pick them up quickly, or would one need tuition and much practice first?

Can anyone advise on which fairytales might be good reading before taking the kids to this, please? DS and I have read the David Walser translation of Sleeping Beauty, but alas, I can't find it as an ebook. I'm finding that the further back I search, the more gruesome the tale becomes! Which would be more relevant to the movie: Briar Rose; Sleeping Beauty; or The Sun, The Moon, and Talia?

Oops. Hit Reply too soon... Then I would be all like, "See?! Don't think about the numbers! Just follow the rules, and we'll be fine!"

This is where I would take a detour through the world of wacky maths (pi, e, surds in general, imaginary numbers, maybe some pre-calculus word problems that demonstrate limits, etc.), and freak my child out with all the numbers that we can't physically demonstrate, yet manipulate with ease when we understand how they behave. Then d

...when your 4.5yo has to spit out your nipple in order to interject and ask questions while you're reading to him.

Being Australian, I find dialogue in older US stories pretty challenging! The British novels I have no problem with, though.

We have enjoyed various picture books by Bob Graham, Maurice Sendak, Jenny Wagner, and Jeannie Baker. Other specific favourites have included: "Shine Moon Shine", by David Conway; "Owl Babies", by Martin Waddell; "The Flying Orchestra", by Clare McFadden; and "The Philharmonic Gets Dressed", by Karla Kuskin.

I think recorder is a great first instrument, especially where the interest is driven by a parent, rather than the child. You can get really lovely wooden recorders, relatively cheap, and they require a bit more care than the plastic variety, so that could be a good way to gauge whether the child is mature and motivated enough to care for an instrument.

Does she have hypermobile joints? Subluxations around the lumbar spine and sacroiliac joints can cause bladder symptoms with no infection, or cause recurrent infections due to incomplete voiding.

That's reminded me of the dolls I used to make from corn husks, sitting on the kitchen floor! They were fun. :)

In Australia, the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) publish a "technical workbook" for each instrument, which includes graded scales, arpeggios, and other technical exercises. You get scales, etc. for each grade, from preliminary to eighth grade, all in one book. The ABRSM examine internationally, and also publish repertoire and syllabuses, but I'm not sure whether you can purchase the technical work in print.

We love The Adventures of Pip, by Enid Blyton. They are very short, so great for the end of a big day, where neither of us have the energy for complex plots or characters, but we still get our cosy, bedtime reading in. I like that there are little nature lessons in each story, rather than the character lessons in many of Blyton's short stories for young children.

My 4.5yo helps himself to coloured paper, old magazines, scissors, gluesticks, felt tip pens, coloured penne pasta and string, coloured rice, and PVA glue. He has a special playmat where he does all his cutting, so the scraps aren't difficult to clean up. Sometimes I strew activities for him, or start something myself to inspire him, but most of his craft requires very little of my input. Glitter glue is a fun alternative to glitter. I share your feelings on that one! If we do crafty activities together, we might make props for the poems we recite, as they make poetry more fun, but generally I am not keen on squeezing academic educational value out of craft. It has its own value, IMO. We have also made cards and gifts for friends and family. Salt dough tends to last pretty well, and can be a project involving several stages: making the dough; forming your little creations, then baking them; painting.There are many lessons to be had in seasonal craft. We are collecting autumn leaves here, for various purposes, and they look quite lovely when we're done.

We do have access to our library, but it is not particularly well stocked past the picture book section. We do the vast majority of read alouds (a couple of hours a day) from my kindle, and I am starting to look out for a select few quality reference books for history and science content. DS will likely be reading for pleasure within the next year or so, and I expect that this material will be the most difficult to continue to provide for him. Though, I can't see that this would be any different from providing literature for a child in school. There are so many creative solutions to these questions, anyway.

My wee lad will sit for hours while I read to him, but can't focus on books read by anyone else, and if I'm honest with myself, I think I'm the same! We might try again in six months or so. Not exactly what you asked, but I saw that you were asking for audiobook with littles, and thought I'd share that we have actually not found them useful at all!

Fairy lights make me happy. I read to DS at night, until he is ready to snuggle down and close his eyes. I love it when we turn off the lamp, and I can watch him fall asleep beneath the glow of the little star-shaped lights over the bed.

Hello, I'm a single parent with an only child, who I am educating at home. My kid is four and a half, so we are at the really lovely stage where most learning is incidental to activities of daily living, outside play, hours of read alouds, and the poetry we share over tea parties. I am Classical-curious, and look forward to sharing in what appears to be a vast pool of knowledge here. Thanks for having me!