The days are just packed

Recently, I had lunch with a former coworker (and current friend). As a working parent, she was quite curious about what the boys and I do at home now that I am unemployed. I don’t think I gave her a very good answer, and have been pondering this topic since. And I’ve realized that I really have quite an extensive infant and early-childhood enrichment program going here. Listed below are just a few samples of my intensive curriculum.

Weekly Nature Appreciation: Once a week , the local horticultural society offers free admission to county residents. During our trips there, we look at trees and flowers (“Wow! Those sure do look like big red pineapples!”), throw pennies in a variety of fountains, and sit on a variety of benches.

Sports and Recreation, Indoor: When Action Hero is napping, Boy Wonder and I play Candyland.

Sports and Recreation, Outdoor: Pretty darned infrequent these days. However, if Action Hero takes a long nap and the temperature is above 30 degrees, Boy Wonder and I visit our backyard, where we kick and throw balls, fling snow in various directions, and dig holes in previously mentioned snow.

Art (and Art Appreciation): As Action Hero observes from his high chair, Boy Wonder explores artistic methods and materials, including Play-Doh, watercolors, poster paints, and finger paints. Note: as of January 2007, the poster-painting portion of the class has been placed on hiatus (“Mommy? There’s something cold in my mouth!” “Uh, yeah, that would be THE PAINTBRUSH FULL OF GREEN PAINT. You are done painting for the day.”)

Classic Animated Series Viewing and Critique: Boy Wonder watches Scooby-Doo DVDs, and I note that there seem to be two different theme songs. He prefers some episodes over others, and explains his reasoning (“The Tar Monster is not really scary. Neither is the vampire one. But the scary snake one is scary today.”).

Library Science (cross-referenced with Appropriate Public Behavior): We visit the library, and peruse a variety of educational books and movies. All while listening to Mommy, not running, not shouting, and waiting for Mommy before we get on the elevator. (Boy Wonder learned that last one the hard way.)

Health: Frequent tips on health, fitness, and proper nutrition, repeated often at high volume. (“Get your finger out of your nose! Wash your hands after using the bathroom! No, wash your hands NOW! I meant that about the finger! Cheese curls are not for breakfast! You just had a huge bowl of popcorn; you do not need a snack!”)

Foraging (cross-referenced with Adult Reflex Development): Action Hero finds Cheerios and bits of crackers in various nooks and crannies of the living room and kitchen. I try to stop him from putting them in his mouth, and make notes to vacuum more frequently.

Culinary Arts, Beginning Through Advanced: Beginner Culinary Arts involves showing Boy Wonder the proper method of placing two toaster waffles in the toaster and then pressing the lever. Intermediate focuses on pouring macaroni noodles into boiling water, and Advanced teaches the techniques of applying sauce, pepperoni, and cheese to premade pizza crusts. I am currently researching more Advanced topics, as Boy Wonder sure likes to make pizza.

Consumer Science: Now that I am home nearly every day, we can go grocery shopping on Double Coupon Day, which falls midweek here. Sometimes, we go to the DVD rental store and get half-price rentals.

New course suggestions are always welcomed, although I do hope that by the end of Spring 2007, my curriculum will be once more confined to evenings and weekends.