February 2023 News

Sleep

Weekly report by Janine Buser

This week we began studying how humans sleep and comparing our habits to the plethora of animal sleeping habits we've already learned. The trio of lessons fully embodied the four distinctives of a Redemptive Education: biblical, relational, integral, and experiential as we added a Bible verse, studied classical art, made beds for our stuffed critters, and listened to lullabies while snuggling ourselves among lavender- and rose-scented fallen leaves.

Tuesday began with adding a second sleep-focused Bible verse, Psalm 127:2b, "God provides for those He loves even while they sleep."  Your littles sweetly pondered how Our Lord cares for us even while we sleep.  They understand that He always protects us and designed our bodies to keep breathing and pumping blood so that we can rest.  That Bible verse prompted a second reading of God Knows Me, based on Psalm 139.

Bedtime! provided a review of sleep habits across cultures and eras, followed by an intriguing art study comparing Vincent Van Gogh's Bedroom at Arles with Andrew Wyeth's Master Bedroom.  There were the expected comparisons of use of color and content but I was delighted by their deeper observations when they were prompted with "Which bedroom would you want to sleep in?"  One lad, recalling Psalm 4:8, noted that he preferred Van Gogh's because the corner placement of the bed would make him feel safer.

Now is not too soon to start taking advantage of DC's free museums, especially with the lighter winter crowds.  Go for a short time, take along a sketch pad and colored pencils, and let them enjoy sitting in a gallery interpreting what they see.  Join them for maximum impact!  While you're there, consider letting them pick out some postcards or prints of favorite works of art.  We used to have a few easy-to-replace picture frames near the children's bedrooms and each week they'd swap out the prints and review the titles, artists' names, and make a few observations.  While it's amazing how quickly these artworks will become embedded in their memory, you may also have to endure visitors' questions of why Napoleon's portrait is outside the bunk room!
We closed Tuesday with our favorite bucket of hammers, golf tees and safety gear as we practiced eye-hand coordination in the woods, then nestled under some pine boughs to review our day.

Wednesday's beautiful sunshine was the backdrop for learning from How Do You Go to Sleep? and the Practical Tips pages of The Magic of Sleep.  We played charades to act out some of our own bedtime routines and I learned that there's a new-fangled invention that I wish was around when my children were young - the green/red alarm clock, "When it's red, I stay in bed."  Alas, for those of you who have kiddos who still crawl into your bed, I can assure you that they do one day go off to college - enjoy the snuggles!  We enjoyed reading from the practical tips list:  Time in nature? Check.  Exposure to sunshine? Check.  We passed around bottles of essential oil for some of the sleep-enhancing recommended scents, sprinkled some on the leaves, then listened to Brahms' Lullaby while laying down among the leaves.  No, they did not nap, but there were plenty of sleepover giggles!

That unseasonably warm day was a perfect opportunity to head to the creek.  A bucket of water toys provided an opportunity to strengthen executive function skills.  We first took inventory and made a checklist to ensure that we came out of the creek with everything.  There's a photo of our simple list that can be a prompt for their next suitcase-packing opportunity.  (Here's another opportunity to learn from the Buser experience - check behind to ensure that their definition of "dress shirt" is yours.) As we counted each object, I smiled as they initiated observations of which items would have to be shared.  As they used each item, I smiled as they found creative interpretations:  a pipette looks like a dental tool and water scoops allow one to become a "sand monster."  Parents of the child who went home with a pocket of rocks, I know that you are not surprised at your kiddo's thrill at using those water scoops to hunt for treasure!  A note on those water scoops - they are a perfect alternative tool to lock in scissor grip if your child is still learning.  

We also had a risk assessment lesson as we reviewed the reasons for our stick-play rules: sticks hit sticks, why a partner should have a similarly sized stick, and how to create a safety circle if playing alone.  No need for a classmate to be bonked on the head while you're fly fishing!

Jingle bells have helped us mark the syllables of Frère Jacques and today we introduced hand bells to our morning song.  We have a ways to go before a public concert but we started learning how to identify higher and lower pitches as we placed them in scale order.  

What joy to recognize an author name as we read Snug as a Bug!, written by our very own Amy Imbody!  This delightful book beautifully meshed together our last six weeks of lessons as a mom offers for her son to sleep like a variety of animals.  A second read provided a host of other learning opportunities:  Can we find the rhyming words?  How many sets of two are on a page?  Can we identify a rainbow of colors on another page?

At snack time, we practiced making good choices as we read What Should Danny Do? an interactive book with nine possible outcomes.  I'm happy to report that your children also have the "Good Choice Superpower," allowing Danny to have a delightful day.

After a round of Gaga ball for those wishing to enter the octagon of fast-paced action, we spent the last hour in the woods with multiple choices of activities.  Some chose to nature journal, some dug in the leaves with shovels, some explored with magnifying glasses and rulers, and a cadre of them were transfixed by a long length of narrow PVC pipe that could reach the creek below.  It was a ramp, it was a stirrer, it was an exploration stick, and for the last chap to take the turn, a giant straw with which to blow bubbles.