Educator Charlotte Mason once stated the education is "an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life." As parents, we are the first educators of our children. No matter the schooling your child is involved in, their life at home comprises a large piece of their education.
How can we participate in this formation in simple and impactful ways?
Education is an Atmosphere
What is the atmosphere of your home?
How does it feel on a daily basis?
Consider writing down 3 adjectives you would use to describe the heart of your home (or what you would like it to be).
There's no need for big houses or Pinterest boards to do this in your home. The formation of the child's affections toward beauty and purpose can be done whatever your circumstances.
Here are a few simple ways to help cultivate and educational atmosphere:
Hang beautiful art
Giving children beauty to contemplate anew each day has lasting effects on their emotional, mental, and spiritual formation. They learn what beauty really is (and what it is not) while living your home. We have a wonderful (and easy) opportunity to expose them to incredible pieces of art!
(If you have one of our picture studies, you can simple display those art prints! You don't have to be actively using the studies to take advantage of the stunning and affordable art they contain.)
Let books be accessible
Keep picture books where children can reach them! They are much more likely to flip through them—and you're more likely to read them—when they are easy to access.
Keep a stack of picture books by the child's bed, the couch, or anywhere you're inclined to cozy up and read throughout the day.
Listen to worthy music
Let your home be filled with lovely music! No matter your favorites genres, truly beautiful music will be the soundtrack of their upbringing.
We list some of our favorite Catholic hymns here.
Move with the seasons
You don't have to have an additional budget line in order to decorate your home in rhythm with the natural seasons.
Place colorful leaves or acorns on your table or bookshelf in autumn. Forage wild flowers in the spring. Even sticks in winter make a great centerpiece that brings the natural world inside.
Be a lover of learning
If you set the atmosphere of your home, then be interested in educating yourself! Stay in the arena of learning for your whole life. Keep reading, researching, and talking with your spouse and friends about compelling topics and ideas.
When our children see us invest in our own learning and hobbies, they understand that this kind of growth is not reserved only for school.
Let your creativity overflow
Finally, let you overflow into your home! You are the best mother for your children. You are the ideal homemaker for your family. So lean into who you are! Allow your own interested, strengths, and creativity drive the atmosphere of your family. It will be unique, authentic, and full of love.
Education is a Discipline
The root meaning of "discipline" is "to learn," so it naturally follows that discipline is a necessary element of any and all education. (It shares this root with the word "disciple," too, so take that to your prayer time!)
What, then, are we learning in education? Our answer to this question sets the foundation and casts the vision for our approach to everything from schedules to curriculum.
The Church has affirmed time and again that the purpose of education is the growth in virtue.
Virtue is the habitual disposition to the good, which requires:
- practice, and
- discipline.
So the very act of being committed to and consistent with our children's education is helping both us and them grow in the ultimate purpose of education: virtue.
Here are a few ways to foster education as a discipline:
Focus on consistency over "perfection."
We can become so easily caught up in thoughts about where our children "should" be in their education or what our curriculum lineups involves that we miss a fantastic, well-rounded education in the pursuit of perfection.
Consistency wins every single time.
Let it be simple, rich, and meaningful.
Keep the aim of education at the forefront.
When we keep the purpose of education at the forefront, it shifts our approach to educational goals.
Even if our end goal doesn't change, our reason for it and our attitude toward it may shift into a better place (and that will bless our children!).
Encourage a posture of intellectual humility.
To be disciplined in education means to be a lifelong learner. We must always be willing to learn. Intellectual pride has no place in authentic education.
We can encourage this in our children by never expecting them to have all the answers or to obtain mastery on first attempt.
Education is a Life
When we look at the lives of the Saints, we see that they never stopped learning.
Education—in the fullest sense of the word—was a lifelong process for them.
Because they were fully living in their humanity, redeemed by Christ Jesus, they were always open to the "more" He had for them.
And lifelong learning is a beautiful aspect of being human.
Here are a few ideas for helping develop a desire for lifelong learning in the hearts of your children:
Pursue learning outside of "school time."
Allow learning to be part of the "soup recipe" of your home. Continually explore together as a family. Watch documentaries. Talk about what you're each learning in school. Share fun facts.
Let learning permeate your pursuits.
Research together.
You don't have to be an expert or have all the answers to cultivate a posture of learning in your home. In fact, not having all the answers creates opportunities for your and your children to find them together.
Teach them how to research, how to weigh opinions and sources, and how to think well to form their conclusions.
Retain your childlike curiosity.
Finally, retain or reclaim your own childlike curiosity. Don't obsess over having all the answers or doing all the "right" things. Be content with changing your mind on amoral matters as you learn more. Sit in wonder of God's creation. Cultivate your own intellectual life.
I hope this inspires you as we embark upon a new school year!
Ready to dive deeper?
Here are 4 ways to fill your nets...
1. Memorize Bible verses with your children easily with our FREE guide: Stocking the Storehouses
2. Make your dreams of family prayer a reality with The Daily Feast framework, making it possible in just a few minutes a day. This free guide shows you how.
3. Want to steward your own prayer life? Check out this Scripture prayer journal we made just for you.
4. Looking to level-up in your family faith formation? Join over 10,000 families that use our resources. We make open-and-go, family-style resources to make your role as primary catechist easy AND delightful. Click here to browse!
