heartofdakota.com

I am going with HOD next year and I am really wanting to stick with it for the long haul. I was looking ahead at what ages my kids will be and what guides I would be running together.

My DD places in Preparing. My DS5 fits into LHFHG right now with first grade Thinking Skills. My next DS just turned 3.

My worries are about DS5. Looking ahead he will be in Preparing at age 8 if we go full speed the next few years. He very well may be ok with Preparing at age 8, but I feel he probably wont be. It looks really full for my DD9 who is advanced. I really wanted to combine my boys at one point, but my DS5 is a solid 2 years older than DS3 and if I go full speed ahead with DS5, they wont ever line up.

I was mainly wondering would I be better off to go half speed with LHFHG, or just go full speed until he needs to be at half speed? Like, is it better to go half speed sooner rather than later? I'd really rather half speed something and possibly supplement than repeat a guide. And should I even go ahead with LHFHG or do LHTH (even though this would be pretty easy for him) and then do half speed LHFHG and then maybe be able to combine them?

TIA, Erin

I understand. I had a similar issue with my dd when she was 5. I chose to just do LHFHG at a slower pace. We just added more books, more walks, more games, more coloring, etc. Basically just REALLY enjoying life and learning. She is now 6 and finishing LHFHG. We did the first half last year and the rest this year. (After a short stint with Beyond after having second thoughts, but after a couple units in Beyond I knew I had made the right decision the first time. ) So next year she will be 7 doing Beyond. My 10yo is doing Preparing now and while she is thriving with it at that age, I knew she wouldn't have at age 8, as my younger wouldn't either, so now she will be 9 when she starts Preparing and I think that will be a much better fit.

So my advice is to slow down at this precious younger age and just enjoy them. Do more puzzles, more play doh, more imaginative play, more book reading, etc. It is much harder to slow down when they are older.

Erin,

Steph is doing a great job of talking through your options with you. One thing that I'll share that will make a big difference on what you do, is how ready your child seems to do LHFHG? If your son seems ready for it, I would begin LHFHG at half-speed for a couple of weeks. Then, if he seems ready for more, I would bump up to full speed. If, instead, he doesn't seem ready for more, I would stay at half-speed for as long as it is a good fit. Once you're feeling the need to add to make his day more full that is usually a sign that he's ready to go full-speed. So, take your cues from your child. Set aside your long-term plan for now, and go with what suits him best. I wouldn't specifically stretch LHFHG now, if he is ready to go forward. You can always slow down later if needed, as the upper guides get very full and slowing down can work well at that stage too.

Blessings,
Carrie

Carrie wrote:Erin,

Steph is doing a great job of talking through your options with you. One thing that I'll share that will make a big difference on what you do, is how ready your child seems to do LHFHG? If your son seems ready for it, I would begin LHFHG at half-speed for a couple of weeks. Then, if he seems ready for more, I would bump up to full speed. If, instead, he doesn't seem ready for more, I would stay at half-speed for as long as it is a good fit. Once you're feeling the need to add to make his day more full that is usually a sign that he's ready to go full-speed. So, take your cues from your child. Set aside your long-term plan for now, and go with what suits him best. I wouldn't specifically stretch LHFHG now, if he is ready to go forward. You can always slow down later if needed, as the upper guides get very full and slowing down can work well at that stage too.

Blessings,
Carrie

Thank you Carrie! I feel DS is ready to go full speed, but I will totally do what you suggested and start half spped and go with the flow. I know I need to not look so far ahead, but its hard not to because I am so excoted to find this program and I really want something that can take us through.

Erin

Erin,

If you're thinking that your son is ready for full speed, then I would start that way! I was thinking you weren't wanting to start at full-speed. Sorry!

Blessings,
Carrie

Carrie wrote:Erin,

If you're thinking that your son is ready for full speed, then I would start that way! I was thinking you weren't wanting to start at full-speed. Sorry!

Blessings,
Carrie

Now I am being confusing. At some point I have to go half speed so I was wondering if I should do now or later. Your advice totally makes sense to try half speed and see how it goes, then if he is ready for full I'll go full until he needs to go back to half. Sounds good to me!