should I start her or not.... that is the question...

[Tansy]

So my little one is now 6 she had a birthday.
I was going to school my dd(8) though the summer 3 days a week to catch her up since we missed so much due to the adoption.

I was planning on just letting dd6 play this summer and learn english, do crafts ect.. Nothing formal.

My problem is My chinese daughter keeps bringing me "uncle wiggly" books to read even tho she can't understand them.. then copying the words out of those books, and bringing the copy to me to read to her. I have gotten her lots of one picture one word on a page books, from the library. She like them, but prefers the harder books.. She also writes 1-10 on paper and draws up a storm. mainly JingJing the olympic panda.

So should I give DD 6, her own school work as I school my DD (8), And start her on little hand. Simple math ect. She seems so enthusiastic about learning? I would not want her to lose that love of learning. She was in a formal school setting in China she can write her own name and some simple characters.

She is very smart she is picking up sign language very quickly and her newest word is No :lol: Which she is beginning to test my limits with.

So what do you ladies think?
Should I school?? if So how much??
should I not school her...

[inHistiming]

Tansy,

I'm so glad your DD is finally home with you...I know you waited so long to be together! Congrats!

I think it would be fine to try doing school, slowly, with her. Especially if she's showing interest in numbers and reading. As she picks up the language it would be easier to add more if needed. Just my opinion...I'm sure others will chime in soon.

[netpea]

I would agree that you could start and just go at her pace. If she struggles, just slow down. You'll know if she's happy with the pace or not.

[Samuel'sMommy]

I agree. Go ahead and start her but go at her pace. We are doing LHTH right now and it is very fun and gentle. The fingerplays and stories might also help her learn the language quicker. Good luck!

[water2wine]

My problem is My chinese daughter keeps bringing me "uncle wiggly" books to read even tho she can't understand them.. then copying the words out of those books, and bringing the copy to me to read to her. I have gotten her lots of one picture one word on a page books, from the library. She like them, but prefers the harder books.. She also writes 1-10 on paper and draws up a storm. mainly JingJing the olympic panda.

Well I think the copy work is great. My dd got her reading going that way. She just pulled out books and copied. It's amazing how that works.

On the other I will answer I guess more of an adoptive mom of toddlers. I would focus on any activity that helps her to bond. She's new to the country, new to your family and if copying words and having you read books is what she wants I would give her as much as you have to give of it. If you need to school your other daughter then I would make a "program" of bonding type activities and learning the language activities her program until she can understand you. If you want to include in that learning to read and Math then great. I think Bible stories are great to read to them when they are trying to learn the language as well. But I think I would hold off on formal program with her until Summer is over and she is understanding and more solidly bonded.

Not sure is I am answering your question but hope it helps.

[Tansy]

Ladies thanks for the encouragement!!

W2W
On the bonding issue.. I'm all hers, she is a "pleasing child" I'm sure its is to gain attention, etc... Not "negative child" the big sister has that department all wrapped up... I won't go there..

Yuan was very well prepared, and really really wanted to get adopted. We nap together and she found a old baby bottle and just about every day she brings it to me (I cut the tip so it flows) and I cuddle her and sing to her, while she drinks water out of it.. lasts about 10-15 minutes before she hops off to play.

She always wants "up" so I got out my sling. I put her in it and she thinks it the bees knees. So she spends part of every day on my back or hip. She is really light so it's not to bad.

She acts and feels like she has been in our family from day one. The only crying we had in China was when she found out we were not leaving for America the moment we met. (she has been sad and some crying since we got home, but not to much grief yet...)

She is the daughter I never thought I would have. I have more chinese than Daddy or big sister, and I'm very careful to look up words I need. We haven' had many misunderstandings and I can usually communicate what daddy or big sis mean to her. She spoke manderin then was fostered in a cantonese family.. so her pantomime is excellent.

Yuan is displaying stranger danger, comes to me or her father for comfort, but prefers me. Lets me feed her and some things like dressing, that she can do herself, she seeks out my help on. All very good signs for bonding. She was fostered and had a Mom for the first 4 years so she is extremely different from my 2 years in a orphanage child.

[Mommamo]

I have never adopted so I am completely unfamiliar with everything that goes along with it (although I did babysit for a family of 6 children who was in the process of their adoption being final, but that was local and a completely different situation), but what if you did LHTH this summer (I don't know what you were planning to use later) and maybe the ABC series from Rod and Staff? I think that'd be a great introduction for her. Those little workbooks are so sweet and gentle and I've looked at LHTH yet, but I agree with a previous poster that the rhymes and stuff would probably be great for her language developement and would be really fun time for the two of you. Then when you got to LHFHG you could do the 1st grade workbook instead of the Rod and Staff ones.

Congratulations on your new family by the way!