Today’s post is a guest post from Sarah at Little Bins for Little Hands. She is sharing from her heart and I know it will be a blessing to many! Enjoy!

When I first agreed to write a guest post, I asked Heather if she wanted anything special based on what we do over here for learning through play. I still remember her comment as I sit here and write, as it really meant something to me and got me thinking about some of the difficulties we have been having around turning play into an adverse activity. Heather said, something to the effect of, write down whatever HE lies on your heart. This feeling about creating an aversion to play has been weighing heavily on our hearts these days in our home.

I could write a post on the coolest sensory bin we have done, numerous fun ways to learn the alphabet, a cute book and craft project or even the unstructured play time we have, but this time I am going to write from the heart. Certainly the sensory bins, alphabet play, art projects, and free play sort of happen everyday, but they often happen with struggles, frustration, and sadness. We struggle because he has very little interest in toys of any shape or size unless it is novel. We become frustrated by his insistence that he won’t play and we feel sad that we can not find many ways to truly enjoy playing together, let alone build independent play. This is when I fear that we are creating an aversion to play!

It is a fine line I walk between helping him discover play and building play skills but to also have him stay with a chosen activity for more than two minutes. If I try to choose a play idea, he often refuses but if we wait for him to choose, he might not. He is an excellent waiter-outer. Constantly waiting for something to happen, like rough housing, a friend to come over or a playground to go to, but that is it. I understand he is almost four, but he is almost four with Aspergers Syndrome. He is sweet, articulate, silly, lovable, persistent and much more, and we love him dearly. However, a great sadness has been layed upon our hearts that we can not share what we hoped we would share with this little boy . Together we are learning to accept and understand this and work from it to create a happy child. A heft mission has all been layed as well.

So now I write about acceptance. I am learning to accept that toys and average toddler/preschooler activities that would be fun are not fun. I am accepting that he will walk around a beautiful pond only half interested, but he is accepting that I am going to make him see things too! Like two beautiful ducks sitting peacefully next to each other on the ponds edge. I accept that play will be a challenge but we will find unique ways to try to play, which is why I started making sensory bins to get his whole body involved. I accept that legos, blocks, playmobil, trucks/cars, and whatever else just aren’t all that fun and we aren’t going to force the fun as we had in the past hoping to make things right.

Making things right. I remember a big red barn that we had with fences and farm animals and it was pretty cool! At first it was novel, then we tried to show him what we could do with it and tried to get him to stay with it (under a therapist’s direction) and then he wouldn’t touch it anymore and almost appeared anxious when we talked about it. So the barn left the house for good. Over a year later I got another smaller barn for a farm unit we were going to do and I just left it out, I didn’t suggest appropriate play but let him enjoy it instead (and he did although not especially in appropriate ways). I felt like at that moment, play with a barn was OK, his way!

Therefore, I lay out activities for our school time in a way that is best for him. I give him lots of space to decide when the right time is to begin. I set up different work stations, different play areas, I rotate and rearrange to spark curiosity and interest. Will I be able to do this forever, well not forever but as long as he needs it and it does not cause conflict in other areas of life. Will we home school for sure in the future, we will need to see, but regardless we will always have cool activities to do together because that is just the type of person I am. Regardless of schooling choices, I do not want to create an aversion to learning, so whatever works is what it will be. Now he can enjoy sensory play and most of my activities (school work) and board games and as of latest, drawing pictures with us. In many ways the homeschooling ideas I use he enjoys more than toys because they are novel to him. Often he asks me to make an activity for us to do together.

I am understanding his unique learning style and seeing beyond what I hoped we would be doing. I am learning a whole new approach to what works for him and not just for me but still maintaining a healthy family dynamic. My husband and I stand united in the constant adjustment of our approach. Less of this more of that. Some of this none of that. I give him the opportunity to experiment with the work before we start. Finally, I understand I may need to step out of my comfort zone and try new things and if those new things don’t work, to try more new things. I understand that I will never give up finding what works and I won’t settle for less.

I believe every parent is faced with this at some point, not just special needs parents. Often what we have originally had in mind we would do with our children may just not be the right approach for that individual child. As parents we want to do the best possible by our children. We want them to be happy, amazing people and that often means changing our approach, not changing the child. I know in many ways my son needs to be taught specific things that others might not. I have finally been able to (well almost able to) give up wanting to change parts of him that I can not, but I will not create an aversion to learning or play!

At the end of the day what has truly been layed upon my heart, our hearts, is a healthy, happy and loving family and each night I pray that I wake up and be the kind of mother my son needs that day. I let me husband read this when I had finished and he agreed whole heartedly with my words, so I feel confident passing it on to you as our story.

My biggest wish for my son is to be happy and it is super important to me that I find an approach that makes us all happy. It is a work in progress!

How have you had to accept and change your approach with your children? I appreciate your comments and look forward to you joining our adventures!

You’re looking at us. I am Sarah and this is my almost 4-year-old son Liam. I had always planned to be a stay at home mom for this little guy. I didn’t know exactly what to expect and I never would have imagined I would have a child on the spectrum. I have no formal teacher training but love being creative, spontaneous, and adventurous. I live each day for him and for my husband. I love my family deeply. I hope you will follow along with our unique learning style, special needs parents or not. We have a lot of love and compassion to offer!

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Have you heard of DenSchool?

DenSchool is a huge help to homeschooling moms. If you haven’t checked out all they have to offer, I highly suggest you do!

Some of their awesome features include:

• Homeschool Recordkeeping: they provide fast, free, online tools to help meet all of your state’s homeschool recordkeeping requirements.
• Online {downloadable and live} classes: in addition to many free, self-paced online courses, DenSchool is also offering dozens of self-paced, teacher supported summer school classes starting at just $29. Register now, classes start 6/17!
• Lesson Planning: FREE tools to make homeschool lesson planning a breeze!

You know what else would be a huge help in your homeschool? An iPad mini! You know what would make it even better? If it was FREE!!

Here’s your chance to score a FREE iPad mini for your homeschool. Click the following link to enter: {Giveaway ends 6/30/13}
iPad Mini Giveaway from DenSchool

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We all know that education isn’t confined to sitting at a desk. In fact, homeschooling doesn’t even have to happen at home.

Revolutionary ideas here, right?

I know you’re laughing at me right now, but seriously when we first started homeschooling I was convinced that if my daughters were not sitting at their desks, pencils in hand, with me standing in front of the white board teaching from a book that they were not learning.

I was completely missing one of the best aspects of homeschooling. The fact that the entire world is our classroom. Our awesome Father in Heaven has given us the perfect setting for the most incredible learning experiences.

We just have to open our eyes and truly see what He has laid before us.

Sometimes these opportunities come in the most unexpected places.

Last week, my family went on vacation to Myrtle Beach, SC.

The last evening of our trip we went to Wild Wing Cafe for dinner. We chose an outdoor table on the deck that was overlooking a marsh.

There were many turtles swimming in the water and the girls were so excited to watch them. We noticed one turtle was moving out of the water and venturing further up into the grass near the deck. Finally the turtle stopped and started digging a hole with its hind legs. We figured she must be preparing to lay eggs, but had no idea that we would get a front row seat to this awesome event.

Within a period of about 20 minutes, she finished digging her hole and laid a total of 8 eggs. Shaylie and Nevaeh were cheering her on with each egg. They were this turtle’s own labor and delivery coach, which makes this L&D obsessed mama very proud! However, I’m quite sure the turtle would’ve preferred peace and quiet to the squeals of little girls.

After all the eggs were laid, we watched the turtle cover them up and make her way back into water.

Then the questions started. When will the eggs hatch? Will the mama turtle come back for her babies?

Thank God for smartphones and Google! We had a lesson on turtles while eating dinner. We learned that it would take between 50 and 70 days for the eggs to hatch and after a female turtle lays her eggs, her parenting days are over.

It was such an awesome experience. We never could’ve gotten that out of a book!

That my friends is what life is all about. Opening our eyes and standing in awe of this miraculous world God has given us.

I want to teach my children to never take one moment for granted. To live and breathe in the splendor of their surroundings.

Have you had any impromptu homeschool lessons in unexpected places lately? What is your favorite sporadic homeschooling memory? Please join us for the Real Life Homeschooling link up! Simply submit your link using the form below.

“If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light.” Matthew 5:32 MSG

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Apologia has so generously offered to give away a planning pack!

This incredible pack includes:

• The Ultimate Homeschool Planner {for Mom}
  
• Your choice of The Ultimate Daily Planner for Students OR The Ultimate Daily Planner for Teens
• The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling Teens by Debra Bell

The winner of this pack will be blessed!! Are you ready to enter? Simply fill out the Rafflecopter below. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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If so, don’t miss this awesome giveaway from ShatterPoint Entertainment.

Jericho: The Promise Fulfilled was created by a homeschooling family and has become wildly popular in the homeschooling scene.

Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter to win a copy for your family!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Big Birthday Bash giveaways are listed here!

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Melanie Wilson is giving away one paperback copy of her book, So You’re Not Wonder Woman.

This book sounds like something many moms can relate to. From the Amazon.com description: If you were Wonder Woman, you could stop overeating and get fit, finally get organized, enjoy Super friendships, live happily ever after with your Superman, and raise Incredible Kids. With the Super Power, you can! Psychologist, Dr. Melanie Wilson, shares the story of her own transformation from wayward to wonderful. She offers humor, help, and hope to all Wonder Woman wannabes.

Would you like to win your own copy? If so, use the Rafflecopter below to enter to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enter to win all of the BIG birthday bash giveaways from Upside Down Homeschooling by clicking here.

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Upside Down Homeschooling is officially one year old and we are having a party!

No birthday party is complete without gifts, but this time, the gifts are for YOU, the wonderful readers of Upside Down Homeschooling.

The success of this blog would not have been possible if I didn’t have the faithful support of my readers, and to say thank you, we are going to celebrate in a BIG way.

We have 25 separate giveaways with over 30 prizes valuing over $900!!!

Below you’ll find the list of giveaways. Each giveaway contains a link to it’s own blog post. There you’ll find more information on the giveaway and a Rafflecopter entry form.

All giveaways will be open through 11:59pm EST Thursday 6/13 and winners will be announced on Friday, 6/14.

Once again, I just want to say thank you to my readers and to the wonderful sponsors who made this giveaway possible. You guys are all such a blessing to me.

Now, let’s party!!

Click on the links below to enter and good luck!!!

• Compass Classroom is giving away one set of their Modern Parables DVD set.
• Five in a Row is giving away a set of 4 Nature Studies.
• Heidi St. John is giving away an eBook copy of The Busy Homeschool Mom’s Guide to Daylight.
• Amanda Pelser is giving away two copies of her eBook Finding Joy in Depression.
• Richele McFarlin is giving away one Young Living Essential Oils Lavender Oil.
• Richele McFarlin is also giving away one copy of her eBook Bible Study: Princess Training for the King’s Glory.
• World for Learning is giving away one copy of their Generation to Generation Family Study.
• World for Learning is also giving away one literature guide download to accompany The Secret Garden.
• Melanie Wilson is giving away one paperback copy of her book, So You’re Not Wonder Woman.
• Enchanted Homeschooling Mom is giving away a lifetime membership to her Member’s Only Site.
• Jill from Enchanted Homeschooling Mom is also giving away one copy of her new eBook, How to Succeed as an Educational Printables Business.
• Bright Ideas Press is giving away one copy of WonderMaps.
• Creation Museum is giving away a 4-pack of admission tickets.
• Teach Them Diligently is giving away a family registration to one of their marketplace events.
• Teach Them Diligently is also giving away a fabulous travel mug.
• Grapevine Studies is giving away a student and teacher eBook.
• Home Educating Family is giving away three subscriptions to the Home Educating Family Magazine.
• A+TutorSoft is giving away a 3 month online subscription to the grade level of your choice.
• Doorposts is giving away a $30 gift certificate.
• A Journey Through Learning is giving away a free instant download of one of their lapbooks.
• Home Art Studio is giving away one DVD to the grade level of your choice.
• Educents is giving away a $25 gift card.
• Scripture Stickies is giving away one free Scripture pack of your choice.
• ShatterPoint Entertainment is giving away one copy of Jericho: The Promise Fulfilled DVD.
• Apologia is giving away an Ultimate Homeschool Planning Pack from Debra Bell.

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Teach Them Diligently is giving away a family registration to the Marketplace location of your choice to one lucky Upside Down Homeschooling reader.

For more information about the marketplaces and to see if they’re coming to a city near you, visit their website.

Are you feeling lucky? Use the Rafflecopter below to enter to win a registration for your family.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enter all of the Upside Down Homeschooling BIG birthday bash giveaways by clicking here.

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This awesome set of four nature studies includes one study for each season. Each study includes: tips for nature walks, outdoor activities, artwork, poetry, suggested reading, and printable journaling pages.

Each nature study retails for $16, but now is your chance to get all four nature studies for FREE! Simply fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Click here to enter to win the other fabulous giveaways in Upside Down Homeschooling’s birthday bash!

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If you’ve read my blog often, you know that I love Educents! They are a company of homeschoolers who are committed to making homeschooling affordable. You can read more about all of the reasons I love Educents here.

I’m so excited to announce that Educents is going to be giving a $25 gift card to an Upside Down Homeschooling reader!

Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below and you’ll be entered to win! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The party is just getting started! View all of the BIG birthday bash giveaways here.

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