February 10, 2006 9:17 AM
Pegboards - and a few thoughts on homeschooling
Recently one reader wrote to thank me for turning her on to pegboards and another asked how to find a good one.
Okay, I know this doesn’t sound like rocket science, but it is!
At the same time, an older mother recently told me her two daughters-in-law, both college-educated SAHMs (stay at home moms) were feeling pressured to put their toddlers in preschool because everyone else is.
I have this to say: Why send your little one off to school to fall in love with his teacher and bond with her as she opens the way to all the things his heart is yearning to learn? Why not learn along with him and become the best teacher he’ll ever have?
You really are your children’s first teacher! I found that by delaying turning my kids over to government schools – I homeschooled exclusively for six years, then played each year by ear as I sent kids on their various ways – we built an indestructible bond: even though they eventually went off to other teachers and other schools, I remained number one in their hearts. If a teacher said something contrary to what I’d taught them, it was clear in their minds who to trust.
They were also more resistant to peer pressure, which meant their dad and I had an easier time with them – because of the time we invested in the early years.
So, that’s my plug for homeschooling. Please know I’m not one to judge any mother for the choices she makes. Lord knows, I was worried myself about being judged when I sent my kids to public school here in Loudoun County, Virginia – homeschool capitol of the world with Patrick Henry College just five miles down the road. God has different plans for different families and we all need to respect that.
However, since deciding to homeschool is going against the flow, I just want to point out that for centuries education took place in the home. Government schools are a fairly modern concept. And are they doing much better? Think Abe Lincoln. And for a real opener, read this article: A Real Test: Questions show what schools once accomplished – with a lot less money than today. http://www.worldmag.com/articles/11503
What I really don’t like is the idea that education of elementary age children is best left to “professionals.” You don’t need a degree in education to teach grades K-6. You simply gather the materials you need and teach. My own experience was that we could do “school” four days a week, four hours a day and surpass the curriculum requirements. Many of my kids skipped grades going into school later. One was a National Merit Finalist (Forgive me for repeating it, but it does affirm what I’m saying). What really knocked me out when some of my younger kids went to elementary school was that even with having them for six or seven hours, five days a week, the teachers sent home homework! Aaaaarrrrrgggghhhh!
Okay, so if you’ve hung in with me through this shameless plug for homeschool _ it’s really not hard to do and very empowering! – I will teach you all you need to know about pegboards.
If you have a teacher supply store near you, you might want to take a trip there and browse the early childhood section to see how different educational materials are from all the stuff stocking the shelves at Toys R Us and Target (nothing against either, but there are lots of good things teachers know about and mommies don’t.
Or you can simply visit Teachers’ Paradise to browse. I have set up an associates program similar to what I have with Amazon, so when you buy things there 3-5% of your purchase will go towards maintaining MommyLife.
While I cannot link directly to the products yet, what you can do is browse under Early Childhood for things I mention here.
Now on to pegboards (and I said I wouldn’t be blogging much – HA!):
The purpose of pegboards is to increase your child’s eye/hand coordination, perfecting pincer grasp (vital for writing skills), and to lay a foundation for left-to-right eye/hand movement (later writing and reading). They also can be used to teach stacking, sorting, sequencing, and counting. Most of all, they will help refine a child’s concentration and ability to stay on task.
Keep in mind that the child’s motor coordination moves from larger to more refined movement. Keep the pegboard and the pegs in a basket or plastic drawer or tray; the pegs should be in some kind of small container. The first time you take it out, carry it slowly and carefully to your child’s work table. Sit on her left. Show her the pegboard and say “This is a pegboard.” Then take out the container of pegs and place it on the child’s left.
Now, take a peg out slowly and look at its shape to see how it will fit into the pegboard, then place it. Do a few more, paying no attention to color sorting. Then: “Would you like to put some pegs in the pegboard?” (If this sounds scripted, that’s because I’m giving you the basic script – but you are a real, live, loving Mommy so you will sound like you!)
Encourage your child to fill all the holes. Then say, “Wow! That’s great! Do you want to do it again?” If so, place the container for the pegs on her right and have her remove the pegs and place them in the container. Then switch the container to the left to start again. Always encourage your child to repeat an activity until she signals that she’s had enough. This builds concentration, which is key in learning all your life.
What you are finished, have her put away the pegs in their container, the container and the pegboard in the basket and carry it carefully to a designated place – hopefully a shelf where her puzzles and other things are kept. Teaching a child to use things properly and then having them available for them to choose is a great way to reinforce their independence (the good kind).
The emphasis on the left to right is to exercise their eye/hand coordination in a way that will establish the foundation for later reading and writing. Whenever you set your child up for a task, keep this in mind.
You begin with a pegboard that is perfect for a toddler’s full-fisted grasp:
Look for this at Teachers' Paradise under Big Pegboard.
Observe your child carefully and when you think he is ready, try something requiring more refined movement:
This one is at amazon, and if you click on the name you will go there directly. I just found this brand new this morning, because it will be available 2/13 - and I really like the design and the fact that it can be used for a child with a shorter attention span. Just remember to go for repetition!
Remember I said you can also use the pegboards for color sorting (put all the same color in a row), sequencing (alternate two colors, then three), and stacking. Here is one that invites stacking, which boys would love (did you know that boys tend to build towers while girls tend to build enclosures - very interesting, doncha think?).
The Tall Stacker is available at amazon, so just click on the name aoveto go there.
Now, the ultimate in refined movement is when your child reaches the point where he can pick up small thins easily with thumb and forefinger - which he's been working on since Cheerios in the high chair (did you know that that is early preperation for writing?). Now you go to the pegboard with tapered pegs:
If you need an intermediary step before the tapered pegs, try these:
These are available at Teachers Paradise.
I hope this has unlocked the secrets of pegboarding for you and your little ones! There is more of this type of explanation - although condensed - in Barbara's Picks under Early Education. In the meantime, I'm in the discussion stages for writing a book which will help moms learn to become their children's best teacher - you already are the first and most important!
Posted in Homeschooling, Montessori, Mothering, Toddlers | Permalink
Comments
The timing on this post is amazing.
Elainah (19 months)and I just discovered big pegboards yesterday. I was surprised how much she enjoyed them, as it is often difficult to hold her attention.
Posted by: Rebecca P. | February 10, 2006 11:22 AM
I'm interested in what you have to say about the left-to-right orientation for eye/hand movement. I've never thought of that.
This may be way off the beaten path/outside your expertise, but I know a woman who will be raising her child bilingual English/Arabic - I believe Arabic is a right to left script. Would you suggest alternating the orientation during different play sessions, or simply picking the one the family wants to emphasize and sticking with that? Bilingual language acquisition can be done in a variety of fashions - I believe this family is going to do one parent exclusively English and the other parent exclusively Arabic - but I'd never thought about this sort of thing.
thanks for any thoughts you might have
Posted by: swissmiss | February 10, 2006 12:29 PM
OK, that does look fun and I know my 19mo would *love* them. But we don't have much money or space for toys right now. How much does it overlap with beads? (which she has already and wants to play with everyday.)
It might be fun sometime if you did a bare bones essential toys list of which ones are the most important for particular ages, and which ones are roughly equivalent as far as skill development for those who can only buy a few.
Posted by: Queen of Carrots | February 10, 2006 12:42 PM
Our two year-old, Sophia Grace, LOVES her pegboard (and her lacing beads) and I absolutely would NEVER have known to get either of them for her if I hadn't been reading your blog and your books, Barbara. Thanks again for your ministry!
(Oh, and as much as I love to support your site by my Amazon purchases, just in case some can't afford full-price, I found an entire LOT of lacing cards, beads & strings and a peg board and pegs on EBAY for under $10 plus $3 shipping.)
Posted by: Tara Barthel | February 10, 2006 2:57 PM
Thank you for posting this. When my eldest daughter, Olivia, was about 18 months she went through an early intervention progam in North Carolina. The 'therapist' brought a peg board but didn't tell me what she was trying to accomplish with it. She just said she was gong to play with Olivia and I was too young and easily intimidated to question professionals about their business. It makes much more sense now. We left NC not long after she started in that program so I doubt my daughter got much benefit from it. Especially since the 'therapist' was consistently late and left early.
And now I need to get one for my 2 year old.
Posted by: Spring | February 11, 2006 11:18 AM
Thanks also for your encouragement about NOT sending one's child to preschool. I'm feeling a lot of pressure myself to do it even though I plan to HS. It's amazing how opinionated folks are on the topic - and how much the term "socialization" has crept into the vocabularies of people who aren't even raising children anymore.
Posted by: Sal | February 11, 2006 1:00 PM
This struck a huge chord with me.
"I have this to say: Why send your little one off to school to fall in love with his teacher and bond with her as she opens the way to all the things his heart is yearning to learn? Why not learn along with him and become the best teacher he’ll ever have?"
"You really are your children’s first teacher! I found that by delaying turning my kids over to government schools – I homeschooled exclusively for six years, then played each year by ear as I sent kids on their various ways – we built an indestructible bond: even though they eventually went off to other teachers and other schools, I remained number one in their hearts. If a teacher said something contrary to what I’d taught them, it was clear in their minds who to trust."
We have 3 children who I knew I would never homeschool-don't laugh! My older 2 went to preschool at our church and at a wonderful private Christian school while I was busy being pregnant and having #3. When the time came we put #3 in preschool as well. When my older 2 were in 1st & 2nd grade we pulled them out and decided to homeschool.
I could go on for days but suffice to say it was exactly what God ordained for us and my children flourished. This year I was offered a preschool teachers job (another thing I never thought I would do) at the Christian school we love and my kiddos were ready to be back in school.
I completely agree with you about keeping them home in the early years. If you can't, please, teach them when they are home, be involved in their classes, and partner with their teachers.
Posted by: Lizanne | February 11, 2006 10:28 PM
