Growing Home LLC

06/13/2025

Lena loves the outdoors for both the real life observational experiences and the imaginary ones. I introduce you to your Forest Fairy Queen..

10/13/2023

Fall is a great time to create inspired art!

09/28/2023

During the 5-week Growing Home class, "The Changing Season" our smallest children, Acorns (0-3) and Seedlings (3-5) will take to the woods for an hour and become immersed in a full sensory experience. Join us as we walk with and carry our children along the forested trails of Littleton. We'll make observations by noticing, touching, listening and smelling the wonders of autumn. We will engage in art, song, and story. We will also be here to answer your questions about how to continue nature exploration and place-based learning at home. For more information and to book your spot, check out our website. See link in bio.

09/28/2023

A recent reorganization of our homeschool space has yielded wonderful results. Over the past year we added a drop ceiling, improved the lighting, put in a Murphy bed for guests and put up a curtain to separate the rotation items in the closet.

This was followed by a new shelf made by my dad and some clever thinking about how to tuck smaller work desks under other furniture when not in use.

Ultimately we now have a space that can be independently accessed by both my children ages 3.10 and 7.7. All of our basic learning materials are out and available for math, reading, grammar, geometry, geography, history and sensorial experiences.

For the first time perhaps ever my oldest actually returned to shelf work last week and both children seem to excuse calm when working in this space.

*Our science materials and most of our art/project materials live upstairs in a space without carpet and close to sinks.

What do you love about your spaces? What is something you wish you could change?

03/18/2023

Whole-child education means offering a range of experiences that meet children where they are at. It means looking at the world as fully integrated, each experience leading to knowledge and skills that will be valuable as children grow and explore their interests and passions and learn to lead full rich lives.

Our penguin lesson included vocabulary reading, picture to picture matching, figure to picture matching, geography, measurement in centimeters, yarn cutting, and comparison of lengths.

Then we took the rest of the morning to be outside, play, build, exercise and do our own thing.

Each child worked to make their own lunch, we read together over lunch, took an afternoon rest and finished the day with some practice for this weekend's 4-H demonstration at Grafton County Presents.

Not everyday is so full of lessons, some days are more focused on each subject separately, and others we simply take advantage of the good weather, but we try to make room for what brings us joy and harmony together.

03/04/2023

I try to remember this everyday. Tell me about the last time you spent in nature with your children.

Thanks, Nature Study.

10/13/2022

You may be thinking, sure, I saw that or maybe you only saw a trailer and then passed, but hear me out....it's important...have you considered who is really "the boss" at your house? My primary message is: it is time to take a step back and observe objectively about the day to day moments, routines,...

09/09/2022

What it looks like we're doing... Making muffins.

What we're actually doing...
L, 2y10m: counting, one to one correspondence, egg cracking, use of the microwave, dishwashing

F, 6y7mo: reading recipes, multiplying fractions, density of liquids, measuring, proper uses of kitchen tools, observing carefully when cleaning,

Both: patience, self-control, fine motor skills, listening to directions, collaborating with others, Knowing that we make mistakes and correcting them, finding the joy in preparing food for ourselves and others

It is easy to forget in our busy world how simple activities that have been done for centuries add value to our lives and the lives of our children. Whole child education allows us to provide experiences that bring joy to our children, harmony to our homes and communities, and peace to our world.

Now off to eat some muffins and maybe share some with our neighbors!

08/26/2022

Oh... So it isn't just me?

The shortest answer is no, it isn't. You are not the only one yelling, stomping, and crying. You are not the only one with a messy house and take it for dinner. You are not the only one with children that don't seem to listen and do what you have asked even though you may have initially asked nicely, kindly, respectfully.

Check out this week's blog to hear the rest of the story and pick up a few tips and resources while you're there...

Growinghometogether.org/post/oh-so-isn-t-just-me

08/25/2022

Exactly.

Thanks to KidsConnect Psychology ❤️

08/11/2022

I was so proud of this guy today. We were at the local co-op in the dairy aisle and there was a man using an electric shopping cart. From his seat he could not reach the cheese on the top shelf. We were getting yogurt nearby and he asked if I wouldn't mind reaching up to grab it for him. "Of course," I said, "happy to help." We may have both said something else, but then we went on our way.

As we rounded another aisle, F asked why he was in the cart and mentioned he had noticed the man had a cane. We talked about how it must be difficult to get around and imagined how hard it would be to use a cane and hold a grocery basket or push a cart. He told me he felt really happy that I had helped the man.

We finished our shopping, checked out and headed for the car. As we made our way across the parking lot, there was the same man. He had parked the electric cart and was using his cane to slowly walk to his car, small grocery bag in hand. F said, "do you think he needs help carrying his bag?" I told him, "no harm in asking" So off he trotted. The man graciously accepted the help and F happily carried the bag to the car, although a little awkward on arrival in trying to determine where to deposit the bag, it was a great experience overall. In the car F told me he wanted to help because he saw me helping.

Needless to say I am bursting with pride, as is he, but am also reminded how even our smallest gestures of goodwill toward others can make huge impacts on our children. We have the power to change our communities, one moment at a time.






Littleton Food Cooperative

Parent Coaching, Education Consulting, Portfolio Evaluation, Family Nature Programs

05/28/2022

Our afternoon lessons are short and child motivated.

After washing winter hats for the season we had an ear fall off of his favorite fox hat. I pulled the sewing box off the shelf planning to fix it myself, but when he noticed the work that needed doing he suggested we get it done during lesson time that day!

Sometimes all our children need is a non verbal suggestion to focus in on work that may be important to them.

Whole child education at it's best. Happy mending!