Dear Mom,

Thank you for asking such a relevant question especially at this time when so many moms are praying to discern the correct option in situations that are similar to yours. When considering when to begin formal education with our children it is so important that we remember that young children have a thirst for discovery that often times can be jeopardized with too much rigidity or structure. Many teachers believe that the best experience for the very young learner is still an active childhood which incorporates plenty of time for play and instruction (as led by the child's questions and desire for information). In fact it is believed that play is the work of children. What an uninformed observer may see as merely stacking blocks is actually the mind of a future architect working to experiment and develop a love of building. Children are indeed learning machines and as such there is no such thing as a day in which nothing was learned.

I would suggest that you consider ordering the Kindergarten homeschool curriculum and use it according to your daughter's interests. The curriculum is filled with so many wonderful instructions and methods to teach that it will serve you well. What a cozy time of teaching the two of you can have as you decide the best way to use the materials. At CHC we believe that it is not just about the amount of tutorial a child receives but more importantly the way this tutorial is imparted. When moms feel relaxed and capable with the curriculum they are using then it is clearly evident in the mood of the homeschool.

You and your daughter have the unique opportunity to begin at the beginning. Think about each day in a country such a Italy as an adventure. Allow plenty of time for discovery and joy as you begin your formal instruction. Please keep a scrapbook of pictures and stories about your stay for your dear little girl to read when she is older and longs to recall this time.

Naps!!!! Your daughter has shown you a wonderful piece of wisdom. A nap in the middle of the day is one of the brain's best methods of recharging and refueling for more learning. I am certain that your little girl is a bright child filled with joy and a zeal for life that is mirrored in your very fine parenting and desire that she be happy and experience a comfort and security found within your home. This will serve her far greater than any formal schooling that she may or may not be exposed to along the way. Keep up the good work and keep up the good reading habits that she has already developed.

Let us pray this afternoon for those children that must struggle with hunger and the burden of poverty. These children were born with the promise of joy and laughter. Let us pray that their parents are empowered by the Holy Spirit to put their children's needs first and to guard them as much as they are able as they live in the shadow of this extreme challenge. Lord, we ask that You open doors for each of us to see areas where we may make a difference for these families. Amen.

Sending out a prayer,

Rita Munn