The Wolfe Academy

I once read an advice column in which someone asked, “What do you DO all day with a baby?”



That was a question on my mind entering this summer. I hadn’t really been alone all day with Eamon since he was seven weeks old, and once I finished summer school, it was going to be days and days of Eamon and me at home together. We don’t have a ton of money, and anyway, he’s only 7 months old, so there aren’t that many places we could go together anyway.

Nevertheless, we’ve found ourselves quite a comfortable routine for the days. I have therefore written up the curriculum for The Wolfe Academy for 6-8 month olds:

6:00AM: Wake-up time (change diaper, put on new outfit for the day, eat a hearty breakfast of formula)

6:00-8:00ish: Enrichment Activities, choose from:
· Fitness Regimen (walking around the block)
· Zoological Investigation (playing with dog outside)
· Musical Education (pounding on the piano/drum)
· Environmental Studies (playing on his rainforest play mat)
· Artistic Expression (Mommy takes myriad photos of baby)



8:00-9:00ish: Rest

9:00-9:30: Nourishment (bananas and oatmeal, formula)

9:30-11:00: Educational Activities, choose from:
· Noun Exploratorium (sitting in the kitchen, playing with pots, pans, wooden spoons, measuring cups, etc.)
· Mobility Training (practice crawling on the floor; eating leaves Nesta has dragged in from outside)
· Language Arts (Baby Signs videos, Sesame Street ABC videos)
· Mathematics Lessons (Sesame Street Counting Videos)

11:00-12:30ish: Rest

12:30-1:00: Nourishment (turkey and veg; choose from sweet potatoes, peas, or carrots)

1:00-3:00: Field Trip
· Agricultural Research (grocery shopping)
· Business & Consumerism (Target)
· High Fashion & Society (mall)
· Family Bonding (grandparents’ house)

3:00-4:00ish: Rest

4:00-4:30: Nourishment (formula, plain and simple)

4:30-6:30: Free Choice
· choose from any of earlier activities; whatever keeps Eamon occupied and happy at this point

6:30-7:00: Bedtime Procedures
· Cleanliness Rituals (bath, every 2nd or 3rd day to prevent skin drying)
· Literary Appreciation (board books)
· Nourishment (formula)
· Musical Theater (Mommy sings lullabies)

7:00: BEDTIME

Special Events:

• Swim Lessons / Pool
• Guest Relations
• Attending Meetings (with Mommy at school)
• Father/Son Bonding! (hooray! Daddy! Daddy = whimsy and spontaneity! Mommy = routine).

So that’s it. Our day in a nutshell. The times are approximate, however, and sometimes there are no field trips, so Eamon and I just make do as best we can.


Overall, however, I have a feeling that both Eamon and I are going to have a rude awakening come the end of August. I’ve really enjoyed having this time with him. He’s a special and neat little guy and I’m already looking forward to next summer.