An Atmosphere

I've been doing so much reading lately about learning.  I have read article after article, and even some books, on how children learn and what works best.  Why?  I don't want to ever quit learning myself.  As a homeschooling mother, I want to give my children the most God-honoring, best education that I can give them.  I have seen my children soar in some areas, and then struggle in other areas, making me wonder what I can do to fix things... or if I am just putting too much pressure on them and myself.

Should my beautiful preschooler, that is energetic and very busy, be pushed into academics.  She loves to learn... as long as I keep her from wanting to place her attention on the television.  We are in the process of learning letters in a formal program.  She is having a good time, so I don't feel I am pressuring her. But it isn't exactly the complete, learning environment that I want her to have.

Charlotte Mason talks about learning being an atmosphere.  The image I have in my mind of what a learning atmosphere entails is different than reality.  Yet, on the other hand, it isn't a classroom.  My daughter is in a warm, loving environment.  She is loved.  She is prayed with and prayed for.  She gets to play and use her imagination.  She gets to be read to and color and play with blocks.  I read and read, researching how children learn, and I realize that I am giving my beautiful daughter something that no preschool could ever give her.