So what does that look like?

From my perspective, it looks like gentle homeschooling.

During the month of June, we will be spending a lot of time outdoors. Our garage is full of little bikes and push cars. Our water table is full and ready for splashing. Our swing set is ready to be a jungle gym. My husband and I are currently working on a mud kitchen to fill with pots and pans for pretend play.

But beyond that, we have three acres ready to be explored. Soon, our garden will be erupting with green. What will children find? How can we stretch their discoveries?

• We will be getting out our free play Grapat pieces. I have more coming in the mail and cannot wait to unbox them. Creativity will bloom with a simple, “what can we build today?”

• We will be making homemade play dough. Little hands will be manipulating the dough and building the hand strength needed for later handwriting skills.

• “Eeek a bee!” can turn into “What type of bee was that?” or “I wonder where bees come from?”

• Fingerplays and action songs can build upon language development, mathematics, motor skills, and help regulate little bodies.

• We will be learning about colors and working on fine motor skills through watercolor painting.

• We will preserving the flowers we pick in a flower press.

• We will be learning about seeds, soil, and planting by using our own hands to plant and harvest.

• We will be tasting honey, making honey tea cakes, and eating our garden produce for lunches & snacks.

As a former elementary school teacher turned stay at home mom, I can promise you- there is a happy medium between public school and homeschooling. . . It’s The Little Red Farm.