Learning With Our Children

One of my most favorite things about homeschooling is not only being able to teach and watch the children learn, but learning right beside them. When Chelsea was in the 3 rd grade we did a Unit Study called The Prairie Primer which is based on The Little House series of books. It was a great study and I loved being able to read the books again as an adult. Chelsea was very interested in learning about the pioneers and Laura Ingalls Wilder. She read every book by her and about her and we even took a field trip to Mansfield, MO and toured Laura and Almanzo's Houses and Museum there. One of the things that Chelsea wanted to learn to do like the pioneers was sew. This scared me because I had never learned how. But, we read some books about sewing and tackled one of Laura's projects, a bear track pillow. Chelsea picked out the materials, we followed the directions in the book and she sewed it by hand. We really enjoyed doing this project together and have been working on some sewing projects ever since. We also bought a sewing machine and learned how to use it. I prefer the speed and convenience of the machine, but Chelsea still has kept the pioneer spirit and prefers to sew by hand.

Yesterday she found some material and asked if she could use it to make some nightgowns for her dolls. She measured the doll and with no pattern hand sewed a nightgown and apron for her American Girl Doll complete with elastic in the arms and lace on the apron. I am so glad we took the time to learn how to sew and that she is so creative and enjoys it so much.