Busy, Busy, Busy... as a Three Year Old

Megan, my three year old, is a very busy girl.  She doesn't sit still for long.  She has a few loves.  She loves to "pretend" she is reading, she loves to color(preferably with markers), she loves her blocks, and she enjoys watching some television.  I made it a point this year to not do a lot of structured preschool with Megan.  I think, at three, she should just enjoy being three.

While I want to read aloud to her more, I think we push our children too often to grow up and do more and more.  I want her playing outside (when it's not too cold) and using her imagination playing with her dishes and tea set.  I want her to laugh and spend time in nature and playing with her sisters.

However, she will turn four in just a few months.  I told myself at four I would begin working more intently with her on skills.  At four we would begin letters and numbers (most of which she already knows).  At four we would have a little more structure.  I tried to structure a program for her earlier, but I could tell she wasn't ready.  She didn't want to do it.  I will not force her to "do school" and form a resistant and negative attitude toward learning that developed quickly in her sisters in public school.

My approach is going to be gentle.  She likes to pretend she is reading, so I'm going to introduce letters one at a time with some fun activities... not workbook pages.  Coloring pages, yes, but I have no intention of delving into the workbook madness as I have done often with Laura.

We'll play in the garden.  We'll color pictures.  We'll make letters with beads or cotton balls glued onto pages.  We'll write them in shaving cream.  We'll find things that begin with that letter.  We'll read, read, read... about everything.  We'll make Jesus the center of our days and trust Him to help guide us to the best education.


Children are naturally curious, and Megan is curious about everything.  She is full of questions!  She wants to know about everything.  That curiosity is natural, and I don't want to kill it by doing traditional "school" with her.  I believe there are some things that children need to know that isn't always fun to learn.  However, most of the time learning is not a chore to a young child.  I've watched the joy of learning get sucked out of my older children.  I've struggled to re-ignite that passion for learning in my ten year old, and feel like I've only had mediocre success.  For my youngest, I want different experiences.  I want her to see her life as a gift, and that includes her mind.