Computer, P.E., Music, and Love Piles with Reading
Often the older children took joy in helping the younger ones. Like learning to do Reader Rabbit, Math Rabbit, and spelling programs, etc. on our computer.
Occasionally, a child of mine would take lessons they wanted to take, such as swimming, ballet, gymnastics, Tai Kwan Do, etc. Our 14 foot trampoline, sunk into the ground so no one could fall off, and even children who could not walk, could crawl on, gave us all wonderful exercise. That was the single most intelligent "toy" I ever bought. It lasted eleven years, round the year, in a climate where it virtually never snowed, before the fabric broke. And I think it was used every single day without fail. My son Kyle could jump so high, he could peek into the upstairs windows!
But on rainy days, our family aerobics were enthusiastically done, to videos like Richard Simmons.
My children who were able, had years of piano lessons. I introduced all my children to music from many parts of the world, as well as some assorted classical music. They bathed to Mozart, because that was what I enjoyed listening to in the bathroom, sitting, guarding my children in our bunk tubs (one built over the other) with two children in each. We had a family rhythm band to music from Africa, and many other countries. I played music, or stories while we cleaned up after meals. They listened to soft tapes of children's hymns as they fell asleep.
We sang together often. Here I am with some of my older children. We had a piano which I often played, but they especially liked me to sit on the floor with them, and sing with them. It was more personal.
After school, we would often have what we called a "love pile". When the children were small, we played games like pretending we were on a boat, and as I rocked, we would pretend that the ocean was all around us. One child would pretend to see a whale. One would put his or her hand down, and squeal "the water is COLD!" Another would spot a dolphin. One would say "look, a storm is coming!" It was great fun. More often than not, I would read to them when they were toddlers, holding the book high over their heads, so they could all see. I also did this in my king size waterbed, bought so as many children as possible could cuddle in while I read to them. Two or three on each side, and little Michael rolling around at our feet, and running quietly in and out of the room. He was too little at first, to understand the stories, but he loved the closeness, and happy feeling. We did this nearly every day.
(c) 2004 Rosemary J. Gwaltney
