Last year I was able to review the ebook Circle Time from Preschoolers and Peace and we really enjoyed it. Amazingly enough, we are still doing circle time regularly. This year we had the opportunity to review Preschoolers and Peace: Homeschooling older kids with success while loving the little ones at your feet. Since I have a preschooler and a tot, I was hoping for some tips to make homeschooling easier.
Preschoolers and Peace
Preschoolers and Peace is a Kindle-only ebook by Kendra Fletcher, a blogger & speaker. She is the mother of 7 8 who has been homeschooling for over 15 years with a preschooler underfoot. This short book for homeschool parents covers 13 topics relating to homeschooling with preschoolers including preparation, planning, what to do with them, circle time, chores and more. It is currently only available as a Kindle book for $2.99.
Likes & Dislikes
I read Preschoolers and Peace several times during the review period and I put off writing this review as long as possible. I really have mixed feelings on this one and I’m having trouble pinpointing why.
I guess first, I don’t have 7 8 kids. So that she keeps babies in cribs or strapped to chairs until she is ready to deal with them isn’t something that works for me. I’m still a little too attachment parenting for that; I mean, I don’t even own a crib or a playpen. If/when I have 7 8, I may need to go there. But now I don’t have to (or want to) and so this repeated piece of advice is not helpful to me.
Also, this ebook felt to me like a memoir. As in, here is our life and here’s how our family works. I think I would have liked some things she’s tried that worked over the years and not just the final product 7 8 kids later. Because things change with each new addition, you know? I would have liked more lists of suggestions in different chapters because I had to work hard to pull things to try out of it. And I’m busy. And distracted by said preschoolers :).
I loved this quote of hers,
I’m not going to tell you that “the years when they’re little fly by, so just hang in there and enjoy them.” I really hate it when people have said that to me, because I’m earnestly trying to figure out how to make the best use of my time. It’s not about whether or not I’m enjoying those years; it’s about being productive and a blessing to others.
Yeah, that! We should take joy, but raising kids and just living in general is WORK and you aren’t always going to be happy merry sunshine farting rainbows. Motherhood is HARD. Training kids is HARD. Heck, training myself is hard :).
I liked the preschooling chapter. It’s taken me years to get that learning is play and a ton of it happens by listening to the older kids learn. The prayer binder and sample routine were good, too. The routine exercise really helped me to think about what everyone else was doing while I was with one child and making sure I was not “double booked.” The big toy list was useful and the picture of a 2 year old’s day was, too. Again, some don’t work for us (like a stroller ride with older sibling around property or room time). I also really liked the tips on accomplishing some of your wishes WITH your kids rather than in spite of them (her regrets). I think that may have been my favorite chapter.
Summary
After thinking out loud, if you will, I’m still feeling a little bit mixed on the book p&p. Some tips are coming from the necessity of survival in a house of 9 10 and I don’t feel the need to have that level of structure at this point. On the flip side, I have strategies to try if our family grows and some of her tips really helped & made a difference.
If you are struggling in homeschooling with preschoolers, I suggest you give it a try. At only $2.99, I think almost everyone could find at least one tip to make it a worthwhile purchase.
Go here to read all the reviews of Preschoolers & Peace from the Schoolhouse Review Crew.
Chey
2 October 2014 at 6:35 AM (10 years ago)I just to laugh when I read what you wrote about chairs and playpens! I’ve always beenn against them , but with number 8 my inlaws gave us a highchair …with a 1,2,and 3 year old I’m now grateful.
I’ve managed to hold firm on the playpen! It would be terribly useful but I feel it’s tool that could become a crutch. Better to just let them roam and keep things babyproof. Keeps us on our toes! 🙂
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jen Reply:
October 2nd, 2014 at 6:08 PM
I’m so glad you commented. I really struggled with writing this review and I’m glad I’m not the only person who feels that way about highchairs & playpens :). We do have a high chair/booster seat but I only use it for eating. Or drawing.
I’m also glad to hear that another large family has managed without such things. I always like to peek inside others homes for ideas I can steal :),
Thanks for commenting & reading!
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