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About Me
Blog
- Parenting
- Reading Notes
Subscribe

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LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter
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About Me
Blog
- Parenting
- Reading Notes
Subscribe

@philip.mott

“Curiosity is the curriculum.” That’s what my wife and I often say at home. Our oldest, age 5, has been given a play clock to use. And boy does he use it! He’s been talking a lot about time and asking many questions.
Just yesterday he told us that he needed to keep the two clocks together so he could adjust the time on the play clock to match the time on the real clock.
So he’s basically telling time.
To the minute.
At 5. (The picture below didn’t match because I snagged it while he was eating lunch)

It begs the question. Is there any limit to what a child can learn when driven by curiosity?

Does it make you wonder what you own children could be grasping if you allowed them to follow their curiosity? (Apart from just talking a lot about time and answering his questions, he’s received no formal instruction on reading a clock.) These things encourage us to keep on our self-directed path. I keep inviting others to join too.

“Love the process.” You’ve heard or seen the phrase before. If you’ve found yourself giving up on something it’s often because you didn’t love the process.
Here’s what it looks like to me. Finding joy in trying. Our youngest has been practicing rolling over and she often has a smile on her face when she’s doing it.
She’s just totally owning it.
Learning to love her process of learning now will serve her throughout her life...and I hope she’ll let me be a part of those moments too!

Kids won’t listen without a little extra “umph,” right? We would be doing them a disservice if we didn’t provide rewards for good behavior and punishments for bad behavior, right?
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That hasn’t been my experience. There are some ways to provide the follow through needed to establish rules. .

Remain calm: If we want our children to remain calm in the face of frustration then we need to model that first.
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Remind them of the rules and consequences: How does their behavior affect you, them, and others? Consequences are not the same as punishments.
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Physically stop the behavior: If the rule is that important then get in their way or move them to a different place.
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Provide a safe or acceptable alternative: Most behaviors have a time and place. Remind them of when and where they can choose to do that thing. For example: hitting a person is allowed but hitting a pillow is acceptable and healthy.
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At least that’s how we do it and I really love the way things are going! 🤜💥🤛

I sat and stared at my little girl after her bottle. I kissed her gently on the forehead and said, “I’m going to take good care of you. I’ll work to give you everything you need until you learn how to get everything you need for yourself.” .

I can’t even be sure I know exactly how I’ll do it. .

I know I’ll pay close attention to her interests and be present with her when she needs me. .

I don’t wish moments like this could last forever, but I sure hope I can remember them forever. 🙏🏼🤜💥🤛✌🏼

I’m creating some new content based on the things I’ve learned as a teacher and a parent.
I’m not a guru.
I’m not perfect.
Hope you find it valuable. Let me know if one of these piques your interest.

I think all relationships need their “campfire.” The place where things are quiet enough to talk and learn about each other. .
For me and Noah it’s one of our best places to talk. .
May you find more and more campfires in 2019 with the people you ❤️

What’s the most challenging chore for your family?
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There’s too much to write on this topic but again and again I see it: patience. Our children thrive when we maintain patience. .
Picking up toys is no different. .
It’s not her room or his toys or my house; it’s OUR living space. We want them to value order, not just trade compliance for a prize or do it so we don’t withhold something from them. It takes patience. Because valuing the rules of a household is a journey. .
Today was a milestone on that journey. Our two preschoolers were outside playing and I said, “I’d like you to put the toys away before you come in.” .
No threats for disobedience.
No prizes for compliance.
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They either see the value or they don’t. .
I just want them to care about it and I don’t see a lot of evidence that becoming overbearing inspires care.

According to statista.com, “read more” is the fifth most common new year’s resolution. .
Who has the time?
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I do...well, I make the time...but how could that possibly help you?!
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What if I just sent you my reading notes every day from whatever I’m reading? If you’re interested in that book you can read my notes or you could just delete them!
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Why should you do this? I don’t know. Maybe for fun?
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This is not an email campaign. It’s not a subscription list. I’m literally just typing people’s names into the BCC section and hitting send. .
DM me your email address if you want to be added! Then just ask to be removed when you’re done! Or I guess you could block my email too!

Parents understand that developing drawing skills takes a lot of time through trial and error.
This week, as I watched my 5 and 3 year old argue and scream over some dominoes I realized that conflict resolution is quite similar.
If we can accept that conflict resolution is an art, it’s not difficult to conclude that children will need a lot of practice with it.
This practice may involve some guidance but it also must involve quite a bit of mistakes and times for reflection.
Let your children practice arguing with you, with siblings, with friends. Stay close. Be there to support as needed but don’t get involved too quickly. They really need this practice don’t you think?

@philipmott1

Philip MottFollow

Philip Mott @PhilipMott1·

“Today is a day for dancing!” Anna, 3 years old

May we always recognize what each day is for and do it with all that is within us!

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My Family

We have spent the last few days inside due to arctic temperatures, roughly -38 degree F windchills. So it has been a great time to put together some new LEGO sets. N (5) spent the entire day construction, deconstructing, and reconstructing all of the dinosaurs in this 3-in-1 Creator set. We even searched online and found a fourth “secret model” of an apatosaurus which he promptly built. • I also want to use this post to let everyone know that I’ll be taking a break from Instagram for all of February. I want to take a step back, evaluate what does and does not need to be shared, and continue examining the flow and routine of our self-directed homeschool. Thank you for your continued support and engagement with this account, I’m grateful for the home education community here! 📚❤️ #themottschool #selfdirectedhomeeducation #simplehomeschool #curiosityisourcurriculum #lego #legocreator #legocreator3in1 #365homeschool #homeschool365 #learningallthetime #themagicofchildhood #dinosaurs #dinosaur #insideduetoweather #instagrambreak

This photo just fills my heart. It is grainy, taken from a monitor screen, but this is A (3) holding her baby doll just as she sees us caring for her baby sister. She has spent much energy in the last week caring for this doll—changing diapers, feeding bottles and purées, dressing, putting down for naps and putting the doll in its safe playspace (an empty bin) with toys. I am still amazed daily by how much our children watch, how they analyze our behavior and actions, and how they imitate what they interpret. I am still learning that I am my children’s example, whether I intend to be or not. I must choose my words and actions wisely. 👶🍼❤️ #themottschool #selfdirectedhomeeducation #curiosityisourcurriculum #letthembelittle #homeschoolkids #themagicofchildhood #piecesofchildhood #betheexample #raisingcaringkids #homeschoolfamily #homeschoolfamilylife #leadbyexample #mindfulmotherhood #intentionalparenting #letthechildrenplay #siblinglove #littleeyesarewatching

If you look closely, you can see him jumping through slush and puddles. In the last two weeks we’ve had two snowstorms, sub-zero temperatures, then yesterday it was above freezing and rained all night. We seem to get it all. But he wants to be outside whatever the weather may be. 🌨❄️💧 #themottschool #selfdirectedhomeeducation #simplehomeschool #curiosityisourcurriculum #getoutside #puddlejumping #homeschoolkids #letthembelittle #playoutside #themagicofchildhood #piecesofchildhood #mindfulmotherhood #150hoursoutside #fortheloveofhomeschooling_ditl

Thank you to Jessica @thewaldockway for featuring our little homeschool on her blog. In this feature I share a little about our journey to self-directed home education and what’s included in our typical day. And I’d love to answer any questions about what we do! ❤️ #themottschool #selfdirectedhomeeducation #simplehomeschool #curiosityisourcurriculum #homeschoolkids #homeschoolfamily #learningallthetime #freetolearn #homeschool

Here is a glimpse of a day in our homeschool life. I call our style “self-directed home education,” because it is essentially all self-directed. We have routines and times for meals and quiet times and the baby’s naps and bedtimes. But within that structure there is freedom. Freedom to choose, freedom to learn, freedom to play and experience life. We spend time coloring, building, writing, creating, listening to music, calculating, and lots of playing outside. Even in our quiet days there is so much happening within our home and within their minds. 🏠❄️🖍✏️📚🎶 #themottschool #selfdirectedhomeeducation #fortheloveofhomeschooling_ditl #adayinthelife #homeschoolfamily #selfdirectedlearning #curiosityisourcurriculum #learningallthetime #learningallthethings #freetolearn @fortheloveofhomeschooling

Stay tuned for a few day in the (homeschool) life posts coming up! #themottschool #selfdirectedhomeeducation #curiosityisourcurriculum #fortheloveofhomeschooling_ditl #dayinthelife #selfdirectededucation #selfdirectedlearning #interestledlearning #lifeschool #homeschool

It’s been six years to the day that I found this guy. Odie was just a tiny kitten, cold and alone and hiding in a corner of my barn. I found him, cared for him, and he became fast friends with our resident cat Bandit. He now has his own children’s picture book series about his adventures. He and Bandit have survived a move and three tiny humans being added to the family. 🐈 Link in my bio to check out his picture book series on Amazon! ❤️ #theodieseries #childrenspicturebooks #kidlit #childrensbooks #picturebooks #booksaboutcats #indieauthor #emergentreader #earlyreader #independentauthor #cats #catsofinstagram #homeschoolfamily

“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.” -Sir Ranulph Fiennes ❄️ I try to always talk about the weather positively with my kids. I don’t want them to feel like they just have to get through the bad weather days and can only enjoy the good weather days. Even bitter cold can be enjoyed with proper clothing exploring the snow, gloom and rain can be enjoyed in puddles, and heat can be enjoyed with the hose in the backyard. ☃️☔️☀️ #themottschool #selfdirectedhomeeducation #365homeschool #homeschool365 #homeschoolsnowday #playinthesnow #snow #enjoytheweather #getoutside #playoutside #homeschoolkids #letthembelittle #themagicofchildhood #piecesofchildhood #150hoursoutside

This season of life is magical. But it is also very, very difficult. I homeschool our three children, age five and under. Often I feel that I am just not enough. Between infant naps, preparing meals, providing a secure and supportive environment, and making sure there is enough present and independent playtime for all, there is often not enough time for me to recharge. I realize how important this is for us as parents, and often I don’t make it a priority. I tend to stay more focused on the importance of these early years for the children. There is a balance somewhere, and I’m pretty sure I haven’t found it yet. But here’s to the exhaustive season of naps and diapers, of magic and wonder, may we always remember that it too will pass and a new and different season will be waiting. 👦👧👶 #themottschool #selfdirectedhomeeducation #365homeschool #preschoolathome #homeschoolfamily #themagicofchildhood #letthembelittle #exhaustedmommy #homeeducator #worthit #mottpartyoffive

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Description

Unschooling, Self-Directed Learning, and Entrepreneurship. I’m inspired by pioneers like Magda Gerber, John Holt, William Glasser, W. E. Deming, and Maria Montessori. I’m working to promote their ideas in my community, Central Indiana

Copyright © 2018. Created by John Garland