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1001 Arabian Nights - the newest translations in 4 books

Minimum Age - at least 12 and I might recommend older. These books are an amazing adult read, impressive vocab, incredible sentence structure, and the stories are an impressive array of ideas. These books will challenge you and keep you very entertained. However, be warned they are very very graphic, gruesome, and sexual. For the most part, the original translations are NOT kid stories. I also would not suggest reading them aloud to a child, there are just way too many words and ideas which need to be changed and skimmed over, that it makes the difficult for a child to follow along (I tried, but I just couldn't do it!).

If your child is requesting to read these, make sure you find a child's version, and even then be careful. I found an older Children's Companion Arabain Nights, and it still included the words fornication, behead, and sodomy within the first few pages.

Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

Minimum age, would be a great story to read aloud starting a birth, the death can be glossed over until a child is ready.
Max age, adult, I enjoyed it.
My daughter read a few abridged versions starting at age 4, which I think helped make the full text easier for her to grasp and read a year later.
Basic story of 4 girls growing up. One death, but it isn't graphic, and isn't dwelled upon.
Excellent vocab and sentence structure. Has some historical content. Follows a little bit of the fairy tale idea of girl grows up, meets boy, lives happily ever after, but still has lots of other ideas to make it worth the read.

When struggling to find age appropriate content - that is find a book that is challenging for a 6 year old to read that has age appropriate content - Little Women is a very reasonable choice.

Have you considered connecting your laptop/computer to the T.V.? That way the lessons from LR/LM are bigger, easier to see, and the distractions from the computer can be put away.

Have you considered showing them the lessons while they are eating? That way there hands are busy with food and might be less likely to touch the computer?

Or do both of those ideas together, lessons on big T.V. while eating?

Or give them toys while doing lessons?  I use to give my son Math manipulatives while doing LM and some basic instruments (drum, tambourine, recorder) while wathcing LMs. The toys somewhat distracted him from the mouse.

Another idea would be to use the Ipad and put the lessons on a device that is designed for interaction?  That way they can interact more with the lessons?

Just keep trying, if one idea doesn't work, try another, eventually they will understand or outgrow the phase or learn to read

Australia! I could wish for your warm weather, us Canadians are more likely to die from freezing to death 

Your parents use Hydrogen Peroxide....could I have a few more details please. How much do they use? How often? How soft is the water?

Yes, warming the water increased the algae. Not warming the water means we are swimming in 60 degrees water, which maybe my kids will stand in, but I won't go anywhere near it. I'm the wimp, but if I'm going to be cold, I would at least prefer to be wearing a parka and a toque, not a bikini

Thanks for the reply though, I'm just looking for a little motivation to keep going on the backyard pool. So far, it is has been an insane amount of work, for very little actually swimming time. Need someone else to remind me why I'm working so hard on this pool, when I think I could just take it down, wait for the snow to fly, and flood a backyard rink and skate instead. A backyard rink is by far and away easier than a backyard pool.

Anyone had any luck using a backyard Pool to teach a kid to swim?

I admit the geographical location of Canada (Saskatchewan to be specific) makes a backyard pool difficult. I acquired an above ground 13X7, 4 feet deep soft walled pool. I need to heat it, but can't find a reasonable heat source within the budget. So, right now it seems to cold to swim. What temp do you keep your pool?

I worry about chemicals and my kids swimming in chlorine. How do you keep your pool clean/safe? I wanted to use a UV cleaner with food grade hydrogen peroxide. However, I can't find a UV cleaner that is within the water hardness of the area. And the Hydrogen Peroxide on its own, is not keeping the algae at bay.

It seems like a huge amount of effort. How important is it really that kids swim? Why does Doman recommend swimming so much?

I'm from SK. I'll head over and check out your blog, Jen.

I like the idea of do more of what is available. We have winter 6 months a year, I taught both my kids to skate at age 2. I take the kids downhill skiing, we started at age 3. We have done some cross county skiing. We do lots of winter wonderland walks and sledding. We play on the playgrounds in the winter - takes extra balance with the ice and snow. Even though Doman doesn't list any of those, I think they are all valid in terms of movement and strength. Given that most of this stuff occurs in the backyard, we could do it everyday.

I have struggled with swimming, because we have to drive. Gymnastics isn't even an option. Although I have done some simple stuff around the house, there is no option for more formal training.

And doing stuff in your own backyard means you don't have to have it all together. You can hang laundry while the kids 'exercise'. You can BBQ while the kids learn. Having instant access makes it easier.

Anyone else read this book to your child? Which translation? How old was your child? Thoughts?

I recently read an abridged version of Arabian Nights to my 6 and 3 year old. It was a kids version, and although slightly violent, I was O.K. My kids loved it, especially the 6 year old.

The 6 year old asked for me to read a longer version of the book. So I found a much longer version and am reading it. It is 2010 translation by Malcolm Lyons. As a book, I believe it to be an excellent translation. However, as a book to read to a child....I have some reservations. Night 1 has me saying the word black slave, lover, fornication and beheaded. The kids version thankfully smoothed over most of that, however, it also lacked the wonderful imagery and vocabulary. My daughter doesn't seem to be concerned about these words or ideas, but I am. She keeps asking for me to read the book to her and I am not sure.

On the positive side, it is something she will let me read to her. Since she has learned to read chapter books herself, she has not wished me to read to her. If I start to read to her, she will just pick up another book and ignore me. This was a book she was finally interested in ME reading. I miss reading to her, I missed the bonding and downtime. On the negative side, this translation might be 'too adult' to read to her???

Your thoughts are appreciated. Thanks.

Yes. A very long break....and I feel guilty, but I'm not sure how to fix it.

A few background details.

My First Daughter, I discovered Doman when she was 1 year. I followed Doman and a few other reading methods. I also worked on math, physical program, swimming, and a few bits in between. I only had 1 kid, and I did LOTS. She is now 6, can read about a grade 6 reading level, just passed her 3rd swim lesson (with 8-9 year olds), and has an impressive memory. Math didn't turn out so well, I would just label her average - but hey, we can't have it all. To sum it up, I feel this daughter could almost be a poster child for Doman or LR. I'm not bragging, I'm just really proud of her (and me and the whole process). But, I'm just not sure what/how to continue with her. I feel we have been at a stand still for about a year. She is reading of course, but other than that, I'm not doing anything for her. I'm not sure what I am suppose to be doing with her.

Second Child, a Son. I followed the program in Doman's How Smart is Your Child and I also followed the physical program. We did awesome for the first year, I provided lots of opportunity and did almost all the daily lessons and a few things in between.  At about 12 months, he stopped looking at the flashcards or dot cards or the computer screen, basically he wouldn't look at anything. This Son is now three, and for the last year we have done almost nothing. When he stopped looking at flashcards we took a small break and then I would try again. Between his 1st and 2nd birthday I would stop and start and try lots of new and different stuff....all to no basically no avail. He just wanted to jump or run or roll or be active, he was (still is) uninterested in sitting still. Physically, this boy, is pretty good. He has reasonable stamina, dexterity, flexibility, but he won't listen long enough to really teach him. He can ice skate, bat a baseball, catch a baseball, kick a soccer ball, but not swim, and he refuses to brachiate. He can't read, and I can only get him to sit for 1 book. He can do some math, but again, I would say average 3 year old stuff.

With my first child, I could confidently say I was a Doman Mom, a Professional Mom. I liked that, it felt good, and my daughter was happy. She is still happy. With my second child, I feel like I can no longer say I am Doman Mom. Now, I'm just a Mom trying to balance 2 kids and all the home/chore stuff. Before I felt that maybe my kids could make a difference in the world, and now, I just feel my kids are average. Not that average is a bad thing, or being above average is all there is to life, but I preferred raising kids that were going to be able to start life standing on my shoulders. I don't feel that anymore.

Ideas on how to fix it? Nope, sorry. I tried so many times in the past 2 years to interest my son in EL stuff, and he just runs away. No matter how fun or connected or bonded we are, he still isn't interested.

Just today I tried to get him to run from one room to the other carrying a ball and a cup and look at the word on the wall (above a basket) to throw one item in - nope. Refused to look at the word. I'm rather discourage, but I am following this thread to see what ideas other parents have.

This Blog includes a link to some great evidence on sleep.
http://sweetmadeleine.ca/2013/10/14/here-are-some-lies-people-tell-you-about-infant-sleep/

Diaper Sprayer.

I did EC, but used cloth diapers during busy times. I finally attached a diaper sprayer to the toilet and this makes cleaning up much easier. The sprayer is great for cleaning diaper and potties and nearby bathtubs. I lived without this for my first child, but Why didn't I have this sooner!

I was wondering if the mom that writes the blog domanmom.com is on this forum? I think she is, but I don't know her handle. I just wanted to tell her that her Blog showed up today in a Candian newsletter for homeschoolers, I was suprised to see it, I just wished to share.

I agree. I'm doing some EL, but this forum always leaves me feeling I'm not doing enough. There is so much a parent could do.

Unless you have 2 dedicated parents, I think it is difficult to do it all. Pick one or 2 areas to focus.

1) In 5 years I have spent an average of about $200 u.s.$ a year. Most stuff I bought for first kid worked for the second.

2) I pick and choose, I try to find programs that fit with my child's current interest and level. Free is great and there are lots of free resources.

3) Nope. I would suggest trying all the Free resources first. That will help you see what style does or does not work for your child and might help you narrow down your choices. Also remember that sometimes to pay for more of the Free stuff will just bore your child. Did I mention there are lots of Free resources out there, and there is more every day!

Breastfeeding is the biological norm, it is what your body is designed to do, it is the food your baby expects.

Artificial feeding is just that, artificial, fake. Artificial feeding makes your baby sicker, fatter, and stupider. http://www.thealphaparent.com/2011/10/why-way-you-feed-your-baby-is-my.html

Have you compared the ingredients in breast milk to formula? http://www.bcbabyfriendly.ca/whatsinbreastmilkposter.pdf

I second then www.kellymom.com website for information, great resources there.

In the end, Breastfeeding doesn't hurt, formula does, I hope you get the information and support you need for Breastfeeding to be enjoyable.