Full disclosure, I do not do a full Charlotte Mason education for my kids. However, I like a lot of her instincts and think she's pretty spot-on in general. If you're like me, and "need" the structure of more formal tools (i.e. workbooks) to keep things "on track", you still can glean the good stuff by adding it right into the mix! (You know this has a name, right? It's called "eclectic home schooling"--I actually googled it back when a friend used the term!)
For those who are interested in incorporating Charlotte Mason principles into their home school, but aren't sure where to start or how to proceed, I suggest: Go ahead and get your morning of "desk work" in. Then when both you and your kids are ready for a break, do this:
Throw a blanket on the grass. Put a magnifying glass on the blanket (keep your eyes out at Dollar Store type stores, these are often sold as cheepo toys and work fine for these purposes). Then toss on a pad of paper and some colored pencils. You get a lawn chair and a nice glass of iced tea. Tell the kids to find "nature", to study it with the magnifying glass, and to draw/label it (you might have to help spell "p-i-n-e-c-o-n-e" or "m-a-p-l-e l-e-a-f") in their "nature notebook".
You can scroll your phone at this point if you want, but I'd actually recommend just being present in the moment, trying to take in the beauty yourself. It's a great time to relax, but let's be honest, the kids are going to be coming to you constantly. Otherwise, I'd say bring out a nice book of spiritual reading. You can sure try!
Ok, done? Great. Now, is there some old bench or picnic table, porch step or log you can use? Tell the kids to line their stones and leaves up on the "nature table". I have seen nature tables recommended for the house, but I personally recommend leaving the moss and dirt outside.
If your kids are the imaginative type, have them build a "fairy house" with their findings. If you have objections to fairies, a) read more GK Chesterton and then b) call it a "frog", "mouse" or "bunny" house then if you must.
Even if you only do this once in a blue moon, it will get your kids used to really LOOKING at the nature around them. They'll notice a cool rock or beautiful flower. They'll want to save it for their special fairy house or nature table. They will learn to play outside with the stuff of nature. It's so healthy and so great for imagination. Bonus: the kids are out of the house, so easy on Mom! You can milk this time by bringing them popsicles or a snack. Good Mom, Smart Mom! The kids will think this is great fun.
Next step? Try to find some cool picture-heavy field guides of flowers and birds. Toss them on the blanket the next time you're out. Maybe make or set up a bird feeder. Tell them to find/identify/draw all the birds they can. Kids love this stuff. It's magical for them. And you didn't even have to buy a pet! You can YouTube bird calls and the kids can learn to identify those too.
Now, buy some binoculars and bird watch from that blanket the next time you're out. Why don't you take the PBJ's outside and call it a picnic? Your kids will officially think you're the best mom ever! And when they're done eating/watching, let them just go swing on the swing set or hit the sandbox. It's recess break! And you can be doing dishes or catching up on phone calls while your children are outside happily forming a beautiful moral imagination! I'm telling you, this is a great way to home school!
Do not fret: not everyone has rolling hills and acres of woodlands surrounding their home. It doesn't matter! You can develop a love of nature in your children no matter where you are! I'm a crazy indoor-plant lady, and I firmly believe that my children are benefiting from seeing all of the different leaves and blooms!
They see me water and re-pot with new dirt. It's great! My sister-in-law grows tomatoes in pots on the outdoor porch off the back of her second-story duplex. There's room for a small cafe table out there. We have sat there in the fresh air, had coffee, and watched the clouds roll by. It's lovely. And it's a great place for kids to put a pinecone rolled in peanut butter and bird seed to see what feathered friends they can lure in! They can play in the fresh air, even if it's simply a 4x6 space.
However, ONCE in a while, at least once a new season, I highly recommend really "getting out" and making a memory. Whether this is a day at a Nature Preserve, or a day at a beach, a day of hiking, vacationing at a National Forest, or camping, whatever fits your family is fine! But it's worth the effort to really get out into nature as a habitual way of recreation as a family. Think about the difference between kids who recreate exclusively by playing video games, watching movies, even playing organized sports and vacationing at Theme Parks and those who eat PBJs on their picnic table and go fishing on the weekends. We certainly love our sports around here, organized and otherwise, but the point is, there's something very healthy about living in closer contact with nature. In this day and age you really have to be intentional about doing that, or it might not come to you. But now you see it's not so hard to do! And then if you want to hit Disney Land as something on your bucket list, go for it! Your kids might just identify that bird eating fries off the ground at lunch!
That's it--from the micro to the macro: incorporating the natural world into your child's upbringing. Easy!
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