Playing as Learning, Learning as Play

One of the most special rewards I receive as a homeschooling mother is a front-row seat to watch the learning process unfold in each of my children.

I have the privilege of being there to witness the "lightbulb" moment when my child recalls a multiplication fact all on her own, after weeks (and let's be honest, months) of math drills.

I am often the first to hear my child string together a series of words to form a confidently read-aloud sentence from a book.

I get to be excitedly called over by my little one, to see a bluebird she has noticed, diligently making her nest in the bluebird house, just outside our den window.

But for all of these precious moments, I will say that the most fascinating thing I get to witness is when my children turn what they are learning about during our school-time into a focus of their play-time.

A few years ago, I chuckled when I realized that my kids were play-acting the Underground Railroad outside: running laps around our house, stopping at selected bushes, which were deemed "safe houses" along the trail, and awaiting the return of Harriet Tubman (played by all, at some point or another during the course of the afternoon) so they could make the rest of their journey northward without being captured by the landowners.

This week, it has been all things Lewis and Clark Expedition in our home.  I smile when I see my three kids venture out the back door, donning their rain boots, to explore the woods outside our house.  An hour or more later, they come back in breathless, sporting pink noses and cold hands (and oftentimes soggy pants), to tell me how Sacagawea (played by the youngest) helped them to navigate the fallen tree bridges over "rivers" and "lakes."  Then, after a quick break, they go back out the front, to gather mounds of pine cones and underbrush, preparing meals of "grizzly bear" and "beaver tail" they have hunted along the trail during their expedition.

Yesterday, my oldest built a fascinating scene out of Legos and gave me a brief tour.  She showed me a Lego Sacagawea, complete with her little one, named Pomp on her back, cooking a dinner with Lewis, complete with his nature journal, and Clark, who had recently mapped out the next bit of the wilderness trail.  The little one chimes in that they used the Lego horses to carry their supplies over the tall mountains along their way (pictures posted with their permission)...

Lego Sacagawea

Baby Pomp in the papoose

Clark with his map and compass

After enjoying this audiobook about Sacagawea at bedtime these last few weeks, my littlest one has recently announced that she wants to plan a Sacagawea birthday party next month.  We spent a few minutes yesterday morning checking out party ideas on Pinterest, pinning pictures of little teepee invitations, feather banners, and fabric papooses for babydolls, a craft she is considering teaching her friends at the party.

Earlier this week, we sat around the den, laughing and making up silly Native American names for each other based on funny life experiences with each other: Wakes at Night, Bird Woman, Animal Lover, and Intelligent Fire Ant.  We are still thinking up one for Daddy.

We also talk about how we Americans were often unkind and manipulative, violent, and greedy in our dealings with the native people, and yet, the Native Americans could be ruthlessly violent, as well.  This leads us to talk about sin...and how we are all in desperate need of a Savior.

So this homeschooling life is a strange one, at times!  One in which playing becomes learning, learning becomes playing, discovery leads to discussion...along the lines of traditional school subjects, as well as along lines of faith.

It is beautiful.  It is different.  It is hard at times, and it often looks different than how I ever could have imagined it, and yet, it leaves me in awe of how my children (and I!) learn and grow.

Have you ever considered the path of homeschooling for you and your family?  If so, feel free to check out this and this post to learn more about why we homeschool, and to answer some questions you might have as you start out.  I trust the Lord will be faithful to lead and to guide you, as He has done with us, on this journey of learning and play!