Teach, DON'T instruct

So I follow Sarah's blog and when I came across a hula hoop at the thrift store I was inspired to try it, if at least just for the fun of it. I miraculously developed a hooping skill over night, because I am able to keep it going for quite some time (and I was never any good at it when I was a kid). The girls like playing with the thing, and Yahaira is getting much better at it.

 Here is an outfit I put together from our thrift store finds. The entire outfit cost $1.25!

 I finally put the swing up in the entry way to the living/playroom. The girls and I walked down to the hardware store and found some hooks to hold it up, since I left our hooks in the old house:( It's up and they enjoy:)

 I found this rack at the thrift store yesterday. It was $1 and well worth it. It contains a lot of the girls' craft stuff, and NOW it's EASILY ACCESSIBLE to them!

This is what happens when you put craft supplies within little girls' reaches:

 

 I have completely let my need for a clean house go. Who wants a clean house and imaginative-starved children? I will gladly take kids who are messy and learning over kids who are clean and bored (though I  know they would be dying to get into stuff on the inside). I'm so thankful that God has helped me to see the need for kids to just be kids and explore this world of His. Why does our society impose such "rules" on kids [sit here, no talking, don't touch, be quite, do this, don't do that, don't ask questions (or if you do don't ask ones not in line with what is the "norm"), don't make a mess, etc] all when they should be doing exactly what the school system and society say they shouldn't. Why make a 6 year old sit quietly in a class with a bunch of other 6 year olds and make them all listen while a teacher instructs them on what to do, all for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week?! That's not teaching. That's dumbing down! Let the kids explore. Let them talk. Let them make messes. Let them ask "dumb/weird" questions. Let them ask hard questions. Let them play. Let them move around. Let them find stuff and create stuff with it. You can always clean up later. You can always instruct later (though you'll find that while a kid is exploring, creating and playing there are plenty of opportunities to TEACH). Therein lies the difference between instructing and teaching. Instructing is being separated from the child and telling her what to do. Teaching is being alongside the child and helping her to understand the world around her and how it works.

Praise God I learned this sooner than later!