There are lots of signs to observe in your family that tell you how well each member is doing, including yourself. Each of us is a whole person, and academic learning is only one part of the picture. Before I talk about what sort of items to have for learning (next post), here are some things to watch for, with the hope that you find it reassuring so see how much growth is happening each day.
Self-development (examples: perseverance, resilience, problem-solving, choosing challenges, pursuing excellence, self-modulation, self-care, independence, self-discipline, making decisions, bursts of creativity, expressions of joy)
Social development (examples: altruism, patience, graciousness, politely helping, taking care of the home, solving conflicts assertively, stepping up when needed, responsibility, teamwork, practicing how to be peaceful and calm)
Cognitive development (examples: developing knowledge and skills, applying knowledge and skills to the real world, noticing things and the finer distinctions between them, expression (spoken, written, artistic, engineering, experimenting), listening well (verbally and non-verbally), read or be read to and make inferences connections, and discernment, getting things/information organized, follow longer sequences, learning concepts and skills from activities and other people, spontaneously creating new activities and independent projects)
Physical development (large and small body coordination, stamina, skills, physical growth, management of the senses and their input, stillness, and a sense of thriving)
Concentration – The most authentic concentration comes when something captures our attention and we get into the flow with it. Those flow moments need protecting. The brain and body are making an exponential number of connections for learning, creativity, and memory. If you see someone concentrating, don’t comment, keep distractions away, and avoid interruptions.
Concentration cannot be forced, only nurtured and encouraged. We can help re-direct when someone becomes distracted, but the focus comes from within. Focus is a combination of applied attention and the continued interest in the activity. Often, noticing progress in one’s skill or knowledge can be motivation enough to keep coming back. Then, when it is right, a moment sparks, and the flow of concentration takes over.
Long-range parenting 