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The easiest way to start strewing is to begin at home, but where in the house should you strew? Everywhere!
Part of your job as an unschooling parent is to become observant and find not only what to strew, but in what places as well.
Join me in my series on The Art of Strewing.
Strewing Around The House
Leaving wipe-off crayons and a mat out to discover
I have an exercise for you to do the next time you want to discover some key places to strew. Take a walk around your home and think about the places that you and your children spend most of your time.
Where are your children most active? Where do they go to wind down? Are there any particularly busy spots in the house?
Next, think about some spots in those areas where you can leave interesting things for them to discover.
These are the perfect places to strew!
In our home, my children spend a lot of time at our table – coloring, drawing, eating, and even playing underneath. I focus a lot of my strewing there. But there are other areas in our home that are great for strewing.
Living Areas
Living rooms, family rooms, dens, offices, and dining areas are great places to strew because so much activity goes on in these main areas of the house.
As a homeschool mama, my mantra is that “living rooms are for living” and usually my house shows it! Kids don’t notice things that are neatly put away.
That doesn’t mean there has to be chaos, only that strategically placing a few items out on a coffee table or on the floor can lead to great interest that would not emerge if it were put away in a drawer somewhere.
Posters on the wall are great conversations starters, as are craft kits, puzzles, interesting objects, etc.
The Bathroom
Strew in the bathroom? Absolutely!
What else is there to do when you gotta go attend to business?
Don’t just think books either – although a well placed bookshelf or magazine rack is a great idea.
Think:
- A Periodic Table of the Elements shower curtain
- Toilet paper that is a measuring tape
- A set of mustache bandages
- Or some apple pi soap
The Kitchen
Leaving ingredients and a recipe out to entice the kids to bake with me
Think about all the surface area (strewing area) there is in a kitchen! Our kitchen is in the pathway through the house.
We leave a calendar on our fridge and I write in events and fun things going on in our community so that my kids can decide what would be fun to do.
Sometimes I will leave a recipe sitting on the counter, or even the ingredients to make something. This usually entices one or more children to come cook with me!
Outdoors
Strewing outside is more than just getting kids out in nature.
You can strew building projects, tools, games, and much more.
Strewing pretties in the garden
Just in my garden I can place fascinating plants, decorations, and patterns that cause my girls delight. Gaius loves to pick me a marigold each time we walk to the car.
In our back yard, I like to keep on hand:
- A large tub for water play
- Rope and tools for the girls to build things with
- Balls, bikes, scooters, and jumping ropes
- A magnifying glass
Strewing is also about taking notice of things and pointing them out. So when I see that the squirrels have started to run along our fence line, or there is an interesting bug or plant I share that with the kids. That is strewing also.
Other Places To Strew
You can strew anywhere in your house where you think would work. Sometimes the smallest things spark the most curiosity – even a piece of junk mail.
I don’t strew in all these places at the same time. Not all of them will be feasible or functional for you family. This list is simply to give you an idea of where you might strew, not where you have to.
Next I want to discuss What To Strew!
This post is part of the iHomeschool Network Hopscotch – go check out some of the other series that are being featured (and check out the giveaways that are being hosted there)!
Here are the lovely ladies that are participating in the Autumn 2012 Hopscotch:
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