#2 Classical music. Classical music statistically plays an important role in intellectual development. Our occupational therapist uses classical music for the treatment plan of our youngest son. I love to have classical music playing quietly in the background as we work through our school day. It's not something we do everyday but it definitely creates a peaceful climate in our home when we do it and I am aiming toward playing it more often this school year. Aside from classical music, I personally LOVE Chinese bamboo flute music playing in the background of our day. It is soothing and very grounding in my opinion.
#3 Exercise. Letting them work out their energy before sitting down to begin the school day helps facilitate a more peaceful environment in our home. (I always noticed when the kids were very young that exercise was the best thing to get them to wind down) These days the two younger kids are in Occupational Therapy for a variety of reasons and they have therapy homwork that involves specific exercises so I usually let that be their exercise requirement for the day. In the past we have done a variety of exercises from aerobics to walking outdoors to yoga. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins which are natural mood boosters as well as actually helping your body to release stress and relax. What a better way to improve the mood of the home and increase mental clarity than to begin your day with exercise.(P.S. Momma, get out there and do it with them! Improving mood and boosting mental clarity is beneficial to you just as much as the kids. I'm preaching to the choir on this lol)
#4 Laughter. This one is a no-brainer of course. We often use Friday as a day to look up interesting facts to discuss at the beginning of our day. We especially love funny laws and humorous stories in the news. Laughing together opens us up to a positive day. It's much better to begin the day with some funny jokes or crazy stories than fussing at them to hurry and get started on their work. I have found that if the mood in the home is light, I get more out of my kids than if I am fussing at them to get busy.
#5 Reading. This is our favorite way to begin our day. Usually we get most of our reading aloud together done in the winter when we have less places to go. On chilly, winter mornings you can find us snuggled on the couch together, hot cocoa in hand, as I read chapter books to them. We have discussed character's struggles and literary elements as well as laughed together over so many wonderful stories and the bond we are developing is worth putting us an hour behind on our school work. Read aloud to your kids even when they are old enough to read to themselves, it's priceless! These moments are fleeting way too fast lately and I want to enjoy them while they are mine to have.
Creating a peaceful environment in our homeschool is very important to the productivity of our day. Nothing compares to a well planned, peaceful and productive school day. "How much good inside a day? Depends on how you live them." ~Shel Silverstein