I also found Doman to be impossible to follow, it was just too much for me. I have tried a combination of ideas to get it all in.

First, I tried a Day of the Week thing, such as:
Monday: Reading
Tuesday: Math
Wednesday: Music and Art
Thursday: Math
Friday: Reading
Saturday: Math
Sunday: Second Language
I tried the above idea for about 3 months, but I found DD wasn't learning enough of anything.

So, I tried a focused approach:
Math for 1 week,
Reading for 1 week,
Other stuff (music, art, second language) for 1 week.
I admit she loved this much better. This was easier for me to organize. And I would say that she learned to read this way, she learned more of Spanish this way, but the Math fell way behind.

Again, after a few months it just became a jumble of stuff and I couldn't keep up.  Also, about this time my daughter had 'cracked' the reading code and was reading simple books on her own.  She wanted all weeks to be reading, and never wanted the math.

For my Son, I would say I am even less organized, but I am able to mix it up more.  For me every lessons contains a combination of cards, so if I am flashing 5 cards, 2 might be words, 1 might be dots, 1 might be an EK, and 1 might be an equation. So, I have a mix of everything in every lessons.  Doman does say to keep things interesting, and to keep them guessing.  This way my son is very entertained, he has no idea what might be coming next.  Is this working?  I'm not sure, early learning is a long term process and sometimes I can't tell what my children know.  I have been doing this style with my son since almost birth (with some breaks), He is now 16 months, and I know he can read 2 words (Hi and Shoe).  I have no proof he can read anything else.  I have no proof he knows any Math.  He can sign and sing a little bit and can clap - but I'm not sure he learned this through the lessons.  How many lessons a day....Max of about 10 some days and other days only 1 (I have never made 30 lessons, or even 12 lessons)

I remind myself daily that Doman tells me that Learning is one game you win no matter how poorly you play it.  Thankfully I think this is true, and works with my chaotic life.

That is unfortunate.  Becoming a parent is a new life and if many of your friends do not have children they may have difficulties understanding your new life.  You are only recently pregnant, so give them awhile to adjust and they might come around.  In the mean time, try seeking some new friends that are also pregnant or Mom's.  Prenatal, breastfeeding, LLL, and Mom's group are worth exploring to see if you can find a few new friends.  I hope for you this too shall pass.

I don't wish to say I taught my daughter to swim - because I think she taught herself.  I gave her lots of opportunities in the tub and pools.  We watched the videos on www.uswim.com together - and then she would practice herself.  At 4 she can keep her head under water for about 15 seconds and do a really advance dog paddle/very poor front crawl the length of a pool.

I also used uswim with my newest baby.  He did amazing from 1 week to about 8 months.  He can sorta swim, but he has lots of more work to do.

Thanks and Karma.

Yes, but we need to combine our points to get the coupon we want.  So, one of us needs to donate the points to the other.

Can one member donate points to another member?  If so, how?

I think it use to be an option a few years ago, but now I can't seem to find it.  Thx for the help.

Entertaining, but I was guessing.

26 Test 91%.

I note that I started out poorly, after about 8-10 tests I was at about 60%.  I seemed to get better with time.

Daughter is age 4. Son is 16 months.  But my main focus would be for my daughter.

I have decided to try this product out: www.mathtacular.com, the complete package.  Does anyone have an opinion on it?  Does anyone have a coupon code?
Thanks.

If it isn't too much trouble, I would enjoy seeing a picture of the alphabet climbing wall - it sounds wonderful.

Just start.  Do it.  There is soooo much you could learn and read and do, you could spend years trying to figure it all out and another few years getting organized. 

Start simple, and add more as you get more comfortable, learn more, and see the reaction from your baby.

Pick one idea (reading or math or swimming or music or whatever interests your/your baby).  Next pick one or two activities (flashcards or LR or Music lessons or whatever) and do that activity every day, maybe 2 or 3 or 4 times a day.  Start with this tomorrow. 

I feel it is more important to start now with an imperfect system, then to start 6 months from now with a perfect (is that even possible?) system.

Remember Doman says something to the tune of " Learning is a game you will win no matter how poorly you play it"

Kerri, that is an amazing list of activities, thank you for sharing.  Would it be possible for you to list, with links if possible, your favourite 3-4 free (or almost free) math websites?

To answer the specific questions:
1) Did you have monkey bars built for your child? I purchased a set.
2) Were they the size recommended by Doman or smaller? Yes, the only exception is the entire unit is 8" taller than the Doman Specs.
3) How many times a day did they do it? At the beginning, 1 time per day, now, only 1 time per week.
4) What benefits did you see, which you believe came from brachiation itself? None.

I bought a used Brachiation ladder that was made almost exactly to the Doman specs.  I paid $200 Canadian for it.  It was a little taller than I expected and won't fit inside my house, so it is my heated garage (that is attached to my house).  I have owned it for about 8 months, I acquired it when my daughter was 3.5 and my son was about 7 months.  And... the results are not pretty.

My daughter will sort of play around on it, sometimes, but is basically uninterested.  I keep trying a variety of activities but they have all failed.  I will keep trying, but I have stopped holding my breath.

My son is even less interested than my daughter.  He will hang on a piece of dowel if I am holding the dowel, but he cries and refuses to use the brachiation ladder.

I have tried to brachiate on it myself, but there are a few difficulties:  Doman's ladders are not really long enough for an adult to get a good swing/momentum going before you run out of ladder.  I don't find the Doman ladder that sturdy, it needs more bracing. It is very difficult to spot another adult.  My ladder is adjustable, but it takes some effort and is a 2 person job, so it isn't that easy for me to brachiate, and then lower it for my daughter to brachiate.

Have I given up?  No, I still try at the beginning of every week to somehow convince some kid.  Do I think it was worth it?   Sorry, no.  I wish it was.  I wish it had worked out the way Doman said, but my reality was very different.  Of course, I still hold hope that one day soon it will all come together, if only I keep trying

Just for a reference point, I did teach my daughter to read, she could read at age 2, and now at age 4 is reading at an grade 3 level.  I did teach my daughter to swim, at 4 years old she can do a basic front and back crawl.  I am currently teaching my son to read, and at 15 months he shows signs of understanding about 10 words.  So, my failure at the brachiation ladder isn't for my lack of ability or trying.  If I had to choose between a teaching a kid brachiation or teaching a kid swimming - I think the swimming is cheaper and easier. 

Have you considered the ASICs crawling track?  http://www.gentlerevolution.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=G&Category_Code=NYSBtrack

I used from birth until about 4-5 months with my son.  It isn't very long, so once they start crawling quickly, it isn't long enough.  Waterdreamer - I am storing it in my basement closet right now.  My sister is due in November, but it isn't being used between now and then.  Wonder what shipping between Kindersley and Winnipeg is?

For a big space have you just considered letting your kid draw on the wall?  I gave up one wall in my house.  My daughter has been drawing and colouring and scribbling on this wall since she was about 8 months old.  Somehow giving up one wall has meant that she has avoided colouring on any other wall.  A wall is a huge creative space.  And it can always be repainted.