What Did Charlotte Mason Mean by Masterly Inactivity?




What is Masterly Inactivity?

Masterly inactivity is when a parent steps back and allows the child the freedom to play within boundaries. The concept is often difficult for a parent to understand or balance. A parent who is nervous or stressed throughout the school day will pass along those traits to her children. A parent who passively watches her child explore the world with no boundaries will pass this false idea of freedom to her children. The balance is where we meet masterly inactivity.

The cornerstone of masterly inactivity is the confident parent. A confident parent is one who has established a sense of authority over her children. She can allow for a day in the sun rather than a day studying math indoors as a gift and not a concession.

Consider what Charlotte Mason said, ““The mere blessed fact of the parental relationship and of that authority which belongs to it, by right and by nature, acts upon the children as do sunshine and shower on a seed in good soil. But the fussy parent, the anxious parent, the parent who explains overmuch, who commands overmuch, who excuses overmuch, who restrains overmuch, who interferes overmuch, even the parent who is with the children overmuch, does away with the dignity and simplicity of that relationship.””

Every parent has times when her confidence is shaky and makes mistakes. However, as the parental figure it is demanded that you forgive yourself of mistakes to allow one to move forward with grace. Living I the shadow of your mistakes will not only cause you to doubt yourself but your children to doubt you.

Masterly inactivity allows for the children to be hands on while the parent is hands off. When children are playing dollhouse, blocks, or outside, the parent keeps a watchful eye yet does not intercede unless redirection is needed. The parent exhibits a self restraint that allows a child the freedom to express her character and what she has learned. The parent is alert but not intrusive. The stage for masterly inactivity is set by the parent to show calmness and a time to simply play.

Masterly Inactivity is not…

Masterly inactivity is not characterized by a parent who is overly intrusive during playtime. The result will be a stressed environment that will not allow for the students to express creativity. Hands off is to be balanced with a discreet watchful eye so the child is not running rampant and caution is not thrown to the wind.

Masterly inactivity is not forced playtime or a day filled with busy activities and field trips. The child’s mind needs to be free and have time to process and use his imagination.   A trip to the park or playing with autumn leaves in the front yard is all that is required for this leisurely time.  It is called “inactivity” because this is not to be confused with forming an activity to plug your children into. 

Having a confidence as a parent and in your children is crucial. You should not sit over the child and caution her over every crack in the sidewalk or shaky tree branch while remaining alert. Achieving a balance is the key to the development of your child.

post signature

My Blog Spark: Dulce de Leche Cheerios


Cheerios just keeps getting better and better!  I just love all the new flavors they are coming out with.  The Dulce de Leche has a sweet caramel taste that is fun to eat in the morning and for recipes.  My kids snack on it with milk or right from the box.  Here is your chance to try it by winning an awesome Dulce de Leche Cheerios prize pack!

Recipes Using Dulce de Leche Cheerios

Your Dulce de Leche Cheerios prize pack will contain:
  • Box of Dulce de Leche Cheerios
  • Orange polka dot cereal bowl
  • Cereal spoon
  • Dulce de leche scented candle
Enter Here

UPrinting Giveaway: Booklets

booklets-shortrun



I am very excited to bring you another UPrinting giveaway!  The prize is fantastic!  This time the prize is 25 short-run booklets. What could you do with that?  Let me know for a mandatory entry.  You can count on UPrinting for professional quality products so if you ever thought of printing out booklets for your business, event, celebration or whatever you need this giveaway is for you!



Giveaway Prize

  • 25 pcs. Booklet Printing for One (1) Winner
  • 8.5" x 11"         
  • 100lb Paper Gloss (Paper and Cover Paper Type)
  • 8pp (Cover=4, Inside=4)
  • Saddle Stitched
  • Left Side Binding
  • 3 Business Days Turnaround
  • *Free shipping
  • Restriction: Limited to *US residents 18 years old and above only


Enter Here



Love Around the Block Facebook Party



 (Video by June Sass Fuentes from A Wise Woman Builds her Home)

Remember on my Facebook page when I mentioned I had some exciting news for this morning?  Well here it is!  Some of my favorite bloggers and I are hosting a Facebook party all about love on February 7th!  Please click on the image below to read all about the event, the giveaways, and more!





The Hostesses and Topics

A Wise Woman Builds Her Home - Love of Hospitality
Far Above Rubies - Loving Your Home
Under the Golden Apple Tree - Homeschool Love
The Modest Mom - Loving Your Children
Like a Bubbling Brook - Loving the Body of Christ
Raising Mighty Arrows - Loving Your Husband


My Sponsors

All About Learning Press
Doorposts

We Choose Virtues
Time Engineers


Visit the Love Around the Block Party page to find out all the details and get a peek at ALL the sponsors!

Join us for a fun filled night all about LOVE

If you are a company or business who would be interested in sponsoring this event please email me at richele@underthegoldenappletree.com.  This will be an amazing opportunity to introduce your business to potential customers. 


post signature

Going Semi-Unplugged for a Week


Next week I are banning television, internet and the video game system....almost entirely.  I say almost not because we are addicted but because I work online and my son does the bulk of his school online.  The thought just came to me so I did not plan ahead and will still have to work. I am also going to allow one school documentary a day.  I have been wanting to get those documentaries in anyway.

The only difficulty I see is for my 6 year old who loves to watch TV in the morning and after we get done with lessons and my son not knowing how to cope without playing a video game.  My 14 year old and my 3 year old will be perfectly fine. While my 14 year old has email accounts, a blog, a Facebook page, a Tumbler account, Twitter and a cell phone, she rarely uses any of it.  She is actually looking forward to a ban on these things.

Why am I doing this?

I have heard from those who unplugged how much more time they feel they have, how simpler life became, and the valuable lessons they learned.  My focus is on detoxing from the streams of incoming subtle messages that diverge from the values I want to instill.  Lately, I have noticed that I didn't notice how much  TV and video games are on in my home.  I also feel like I can't get a step ahead and many who have taken a break from TV and internet feel they can reclaim their schedules. 

Remember I said semi-unplugged.  You will still find me on Facebook for about five minutes every morning due only to a project and a fun little surprise some fellow bloggers and I have cooked up.  So, five Facebook minutes, work, and that's it!  I am considering getting ahead on work and going offline completely for a week but this time it wasn't planned out.  

Have a wonderful week!  You will see a fun post on Monday and Facebook update about that fun little surprise I mentioned.  I will report back with how the week went.


post signature

Kid Craft: Pasta Skeleton




Supplies

  • Different types of pasta such as shells, bow ties, ziti, etc. 
  • Construction paper
  • Glue (regular white school glue)
  • Template if needed.
Directions

Arrange pasta on a template or directly on your construction paper in the form of a skeleton and glue.

If you are using this as part of a lesson you may want to label the bones.



post signature

Juicing | Why It's Good For You & How To Do It


One of our goals for this year is to eat healthier; juicing raw fruits and vegetables makes that easier. We've found that the benefits of making our own juice outweigh the time it takes to pull out the machine and put it together. Truthfully, this was the reason I let our juicer sit in the back of our cupboard for much of last year. In reality, it's quite silly of me not to use it, especially when I compare the small amount of work it takes to clean it up to the incredible nutrition value it can provide for my family.


Let's take a look at some of the benefits of juicing:

  •  Juicing extracts from raw fruit and vegetables the vital nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants our bodies need function properly by building up the immune system, and promoting cell regeneration and growth.
  • There is no heat involved in juicing raw, fresh fruit and vegetables, so the live enzymes are preserved.
  • A quality juicer can extract vitamins and minerals from the parts we wouldn't normally consume - peelings, pits, and seeds.
  • Juicing is the most concentrated, digestible, form of food which makes it easy for our bodies to receive the maximum value from the food source. 
  • Making your own juice ensures you know exactly what's in it and allows for unique flavor combinations you can't find in the store!
  • Fruits and vegetables are full of antioxidants. Drinking a glass of them will help remove the toxins, fat, and chemicals left behind by processed foods.


In our house, my husband Brad is the master juicer. Here are his best using tips:

  • Follow the directions for juicing in your juicer manual. This may seem like a no-brainer, but some juicers will require you to chop up your food before beginning. Juicers can get expensive so it's important to follow the manufacturer's directions and get the most life out of your machine. 
  • Line the pulp collecting part of the juicer with a paper bag for easy clean up. When you're done, add simply toss the entire bag and it's contents into the compost pile. 
  • Drink your juice as soon as you can. Juice oxidizes quickly. When it starts to turn color, its nutrition level begins to fall.
  • Freeze fresh juice in an ice cube tray if you don't plan on drinking it right away. Pop the cubes into a blender for a cold slushie that has still retained its nutritional value.
  • Don't be afraid to experiment! The bigger variety of fruits and vegetables you combine, the better the nutritional content of your juice will be (Brad even drinks juice made with garlic and beets! *shudder*). Visit your library for a wide selection of juicing recipes. 

A common objection to juicing it that it's too expensive. It's true, buying fresh fruit and vegetables (especially off season) is much more expensive than buying bottled juice from the grocery store. Our hope it that the nutritional benefits we receive from making our own juice will cut down on health related costs and concerns.



Jacinda is a sinner saved by grace, the cherished wife to her husband of three years, Brad, and the blessed mama to two precious children so far - Charity (2), and Judah (7 months). She is a homeschool graduate with counseling certificates from CCEF, and passionate about serving the Lord as a "keeper at home." You can find her blogging about her adventures in homemaking at Growing Home, where she records the struggles and triumphs of crafting, gardening, homeschooling sticky-fingered toddlers, living a counter-cultural life, and cooking gluten-free. She is also the author of a newly released eBook, Blog Design On A Dime.