This morning my 3 year old was telling his 2year old sister Easter story:
Benjamin:When  Jesus died on the cross  the curtain in the temple ripped in half, and everybody could see that the Ark was gone(Benjamin paused)-so God told Noah to build an Ark.Ha!

Anybody else has some "cute kids"?

This is what I did with my kids before they started reading books but they could  read a lot of single words.I put together a set ,or Playlist on a topic  they really enjoy but I add all the "is ,look ,come,a,the,".For my 3 year old the key was to use reptilies--"look at the boa snake" ,.For my 2 year old it's daddy --"Daddy is in the car","Daddy come,see my picture"I would use ilustrations or reall photos and if they like it I start with books.With my 2 year old I use almost 90% of time Little Reader.It's a great program that alows you to do so much, and faster than with paper cards .When the baby is well rested I show only words but when she is not too happy we look at words with pictures.I think most kids have a phase when they want to just turn pages and " speed read" as I would call it but it doesn't last forever and it's good to teach them that books are for reading and toys are for playing.

My I feel really humbled,I'm just a mom that
wants best for her kids.
There is so many great parents on the forum with lots of experience.
To your question Ed I don't think your little one has a readding problem but probably more sistematic aproach even when it means less will do better.
About kids-- I homeschool them ,so they can't really compare themselves to the kids in public schools.WE can study topics as long as kids are challenged by them, they can carry on if something gets they attention and as soon as they can they learn to research on they own.We try to go out a lot and visit not only museums but also workshops weaving, clay etc. Older boys helped in local printing company where they were learning about design and working with photos.My six year old loves animals so we go to the farm were she can help feeding and caring for sick animals.Yes, there is so much to do and kids make it so exciting that I 'm enjoying every minute.Plus ,both me and my husband are full time missionaries which means more travel and more things to see and observe .
I do't say it's easy but I would not change it for anything.

Hi,Trinity Papa
you've asked me to write about my experiences while teaching.As you know my oldest son is12 years old and I used Doman metod when he was a baby. There was no special programs on the market and I had to make a lot of flash cards,picture facts and other aids on my own.At least mathdots I got from a friend .My son enjoyed it very much and by the time he was 2 could read.My 10 year old  was a very different story .He would not sit still so instead of giving up I did things with both boys together.As long as the older one didin't mind ,while the younger one played around us.I knew he was learning when on purpose I would ask -What's this- he would rush from wherever he was with almost always the right answer.Ha!My 9 year old girl loved singing (I always sang to my babies a lot) and she liked learning to read as long as I included a song every few words  she read by the time she was 2.5.My 6 year old girl didin't like words at all,and she didn't like math dots.So I told lots of stories and showed her tons of picture facts.Only later I learned that she is dyslexic and whole words didin't make sense to her.She did great by learning phonics with lots of repetition.I would cover the story with a paper and show her one letter a the time ,we would also make alphabet out of playdoh and until now she makes playdoh images that come to her when we get to a word she can't remember right.She is great at math and she learned to read when she was4.5.My 3 year old learned to read when he was 2.5 but he always had to have encyclopedic knowledge sets in between reading .Both him and his baby sister finished YBCR  ( I must say it made life alot easier for me).His sister now 2 started to read sentences quite well(Thanks to Brillkids )By the way all the kids did alot of swimming and gymnastics while still small and older boys still go for gymnastics classes. Older kids go for piano classes.And girls do Ballet.(boy it's almost Einsteins riddle,Sorry)Kids are also learning new langues .But I could not do it all at one time .I guess flexibility is the key.Do few things ,but do them well and as time passes add on according to your childs interests and your personal goals.And enjoy what you are doing with them and they will have fun and learn.

I used encyclopedic knowledge with my 12 year old son when he was a baby.I remember him recall different programs when we would study the subject later on during school time.But even more amazing was his ability to add on large amounts of new information and retaining it all with great ease.It meant we diddn't have to spend much time on topics that would be taking half of schoolyear to cover and absorb for average student.He has much more time to pursue his interests and stays ahead in scholastics, plus he loves learning.My 10 year old son would never sit ,always on the move, but he was reading by 2.5 so I knew he listened.And he does remember the things I showed him when he was small too.So I guess for me it was beneficial and I'm teaching encyclopedic knowledge to their younger brothers and sisters even with more determination.

I agree consistency is the key. It doesn't really matter how many languages you start as long as you not the only teacher .Especially with very small babies works great to have a language asigned to a person like Nikolle mentioned.My kids learned 3 languages at the same time and then I added more,but we still work on all of them.My brothers Grandkid learned 4 :mom speaks english,Dad portugese,Granddad afrikanse,Grandmom gujarati.All our kids spoke  early.

It sound like you are burning candle at both ends.I'm sure you are a wonderfull mother but you have to slow down.Have somebody help you with the baby .Or if there is no one around, do something different ones in a while-go to the Zoo or a park or anything else that's available in your place.It happens to all of us ,just find a way that you can relax and maybe change your daily schedule to allow more breathing space just for you.That will allow you to step back and see your situation in a different light.Maybe your babys sleeping can be adjusted to give you more rest.Whatever you do don't give up.

I agree that lots of knowledge and awareness will not bring wisdom on its own.As knowing about past wars didn't stop us from fighting new ones.Maybe beacouse the morals we pass on to our children are weaker and weaker.Educational system almost makes sure that the lines between right and wrong or good and evil are blured.But that's were we need to come in as parents to help our kids understand the world around them.
By the way for those interested:
Bibles definition of wisdom-Fear of God is the begining of Wisdom.

I use this books and kids like learning verses that way a lot.Especially now when I've put them in Little Reader with voice and maching songs I've even uploaded some but had second thots about copy rights.At the same links you'll find very nice kids Bible songs.

I guess for me the first choice of language was its practicality for our family so
No.1 is english as both me and my husband speak it ,and it's the languague we use in all the places we worked.
No.2 is polish it's my mother tounge .I speak to kids polish 60% none school related time.THey speak and read polish quite well.
No.3 is gujarati ,my husband teaches that one.Beacouse he can't spend as much time with them it took them a bit longer but they are
 progressing fast.
NO.4 Is russian as I can speak it too and we have alot of russian friends.I talk to them russian for 2 hours a day.Plus I use alot of word flash cards.
No.5 is spanish  which we are working on this year and I'm learning it too. we started off with flash cards,and then we will move to short sentences.
 I try to read to kids a lot in those languages, play games and with older ones we write poems for fun .

[At Christmas[/bA man is at his finest towards the finish of the year,He is almost what he should be when the Christmas season's here;Then he's thinking more of others than he's thought the months before,And the laughter of his children is a joy worth tolling for.He is less a selfish creature than at any other time;When the Christmas spirit rules him he becomes more sublime.When it's Christmas man is bigger and is better in his part;He is keener for the service that is prompted by the heart.All the petty thoughts and narrow seem to vanish for a while,And the true reward he's seeking is the glory of a smile.Then for others he is toiling and somehow it seems to meThat at Christmas he is almost what God wanted him to be.If I had to paint a picture of a man I think I'd wait Till he'd fought his selfish battles and had put aside his hateI'd not catch him at his labors when his thoughts are all of wealth,On the long days and the dreary, when he's striving for himself.I'd not take him when he's sneering, when he's scornful or depressed'But I'd look for him at Christmas when he's shining at his best.Man is ever in a struggle and he's oft misunderstood;There are days the worst that's in him is the master of the good.But at Christmas kindness rules him and he puts himself aside,And his petty hates are vanquished and his heart is opened wide.Oh, I don't know how to say it, but somehow it seems to meThat at Christmas man is almost what God sent him here to be. Edgar A. Guest Merry Christmas to all of you!!! Have a great time with your families and loved ones! And thank you for the great experience Brillkids has been for me and my kids. Aneta It's not what we give,but what we share, for the gift without giver is bare!]

 At Christmas
[/b
A man is at his finest towards the finish of the year,
He is almost what he should be when the Christmas season's here;
Then he's thinking more of others than he's thought the months before,
And the laughter of his children is a joy worth tolling for.
He is less a selfish creature than at any other time;
When the Christmas spirit rules him he becomes more sublime.

When it's Christmas man is bigger and is better in his part;
He is keener for the service that is prompted by the heart.
All the petty thoughts and narrow seem to vanish for a while,
And the true reward he's seeking is the glory of a smile.
Then for others he is toiling and somehow it seems to me
That at Christmas he is almost what God wanted him to be.

If I had to paint a picture of a man I think I'd wait
Till he'd fought his selfish battles and had put aside his hate
I'd not catch him at his labors when his thoughts are all of wealth,
On the long days and the dreary, when he's striving for himself.
I'd not take him when he's sneering, when he's scornful or depressed'
But I'd look for him at Christmas when he's shining at his best.

Man is ever in a struggle and he's oft misunderstood;
There are days the worst that's in him is the master of the good.
But at Christmas kindness rules him and he puts himself aside,
And his petty hates are vanquished and his heart is opened wide.
Oh, I don't know how to say it, but somehow it seems to me
That at Christmas man is almost what God sent him here to be.


                                                       Edgar A. Guest

      Merry Christmas to all of you!!!
     Have a great time with your families and loved ones!

     And thank you  for the great experience Brillkids has been for me and my kids.
                                                                                                   Aneta

    It's not what we give,but what we share, for the gift without giver is bare!

I agree that it's a very personal decision.And it will depend on many many factors,your believes, finances,medical care etc.From my personal experience as to how I managed with more than 2 I would say it was much harder when second child came along than third or fourth .When I think about it every new addition to your family requiers a lot of addjusting ,learning and growing together as a family.By the way ,I have more time for my own needs now than with number 1.But it's not for every one,and I wish you all the best with decision making

I'm from Poland but live in Botswana last 12 years.

Christmas Carols while the kids are naping.

It's so hot where I live that I had to give up most of my traditional childhood cakes from Poland ,So we have Black forest birthday cake for Jesus and very cold cheese cake with mango or strawberries.