Educational value of everyday activities

[seven77]

Hi, my DS is nearly 4 and most of his friends are starting school in September. I'm getting increasingly worried about becoming 'known' to the LEA as DH works in a pub so everyone seems to think our business is their business. He had a run-in with a customer last week because they insisted we were breaking the law by not being registered.

Anyway, I've decided to start a HE diary just jotting down what we've been up to everyday. We are following a structured though not neccessarily curriculum based approach to maths and english but autonomous for everything else. I know children learn all of the time but how do you explain the educational value to others? Some things are obvious ie today we have read together and done some worksheets. He's also helped me to hoover, played cars, football, had some rough and tumble and we done a puzzle together, could any of that be classed as educational?

Thanks

I keep a similar daily record of what we do. To me, those things you've listed come under social and emotional development, but really you don't need to classify what you're doing together. And you don't need to justify to anyone else, either.

Just ignore .

Thanks, I'm not bothered about justifying our choices to busybodies people, I just thought it would make life a lot easier if I ever had to do a report to the LEA. Similarly keeping all worksheets etc. I know I don't need to legally show work or provide reports but I'm a worrier and like to be prepared.

"rough and tumble" - P.E.

"hoover" - home economics (especially if there was any conversation around it). Alternatively, P.E., depending on how vigorous the hoovering is.

"played cars" - imaginative play (important in reception curriculum)

"football" more P.E.!

"we done a puzzle together" that's maths - manipulation of objects to make them all fit together.

:)

Hi Seven77
I think the key with such things (ie record keeping) is to decide WHO are you keeping such records for and WHY.
Keeping a detailed record every day may work for some, may work for a while but seriously I know myself I havent got time (or inclination!) to detail each aspect of every day and definately wont want to wade through pages of such notes weeks later.
We are structured and unstructured depending on subject, time of day, day of the week, time of the month etc............. I dont keep daily records at all, I did at first but then thought "why am I doing this and who actually cares" (certainly not my LEA! - they have contacted me once in 2years)

I think it is better perhaps to have a weekly list of books you are reading/they have read (if they are older). Then a list of other activities done during the week/month - at home activities, outside the home stuff, then perhaps a few observations of fab stuff your kids did that week.
So for me that works out as a piece of paper with the books we are reading, and another piece with roughly what topics we are covering in each subject (but NOT actual activities unless its sooper dooper!) (I rarely actually get round to being that organised though!)
My kids are much older though - for a 4yo absolutely dont think in terms of different subjects (schools dont for that age anymore I dont think?)

Keep notes that will be useful to yourself. (not because the LEA might like them)
Dont worry about explaining the educational value of something to others (to be frank its none of their business!)

I think 95% of what they do each day is probably educational in some way - but lifes to short to keep a record of everything/write it all down.
I keep all work for a bit then have a massive clear out and get rid of all but the key stuff (after a few years it starts to mount up!)
If you discover lapbooks/file folders they can look really nice and can be a fab way to keep something your dc have done and can learn from once again as they look through it (and much nicer than keeping endless worksheets)

I hope that helps a bit :)

How about taking some photos of your activities? If you had been able to photograph all your activities together today that would show the variety of things you and your child do together, should you need to. It will also be a lovely record for you in years to come.

There's a link here to lapbooks you can make. Four is a bit young, I would think, but you could always include drawings, early 'mark-making' and photographs.