Homeschooling and the Urban Forest

After feeling like I didn't know what to do with Sam during the day, I started researching homeschooling for preschool. I have found so much wonderful information and it has all been so inspiring to me. I no longer look at our day as empty time I need to fill. I look at everything we do as an opportunity for Sam to learn about living. So today we read books, and squished playdough through our garlic press, we folded laundry and packed a suitcase, we played with water in the sink and we made some peanut butter playdough, played with it and ate it!

We also went on a walk to the canal and then along the canal. We got about 2 inches of snow last night and it warmed up to 50 degrees today so everything was melting and wet and muddy...what fun for Sam. As we walked along the street I watched Sam walk in and out of yards, through flower gardens and bush gardens. He stopped to touch and feel everything! He watched every trickle of water flow and was fascinated by the sun and the shadows it cast. I realized that for Sam our walks in the neighborhood are for him walks in an urban forest! Things are so large to him and even the little bushes and rocks are big! We had a great time, but as he is just getting over a cold, we didn't stay out long.

I am having a terrible time getting Sam to sleep at naptime or bedtime. He tosses and turns and sings and plays. I have resorted to telling him I will leave of he doesn't calm down, then leaving when he doesn't, letting him cry for a few minutes and going back and trying again. It was working for me, but in the last few nights, I end up letting him cry twice and then Matt goes in and gets him to sleep! What am I going to do on this trip? I feel at such a loss and hate letting him cry, but sometimes I feel like it is the only thing that will get him to realize it is time to sleep. We've tried earlier bedtimes, and later bedtimes, we have a routine, I've read all the books! He sleeps fine once he's asleep...how do I get him to go to sleep? Argh!