My little Gordon is already well on his way to training HIMSELF in the habit of accuracy. Here you see him engaged in his new favorite outdoor pastime:  pretending to hunt for hidden treasure. First he digs a shallow hole in the dirt, hides a treasure (a lego or a wrapped piece of candy), and buries it with some loose dirt.  Then he draws his treasure map, walks to another corner of the yard and begins his treasure hunt. It isn't as easy as you might think for a 3 1/2 year old to find such a treasure again; but he isn't fully trained in the habit of accuracy yet, so while he may remember the general area in which he hid his treasure, he can't yet pinpoint exactly where to dig.  He is teaching himself things like looking for ground that is soft rather than hard, looking for "landmarks", and estimating distance.  Kids really do teach themselves!

I probably would not have to do much to teach him accuracy.  Exposing him to such toys as shovels, dirt or sand, paper and pens. . . would provide opportunity for all the self-teaching he would need.  However, as Ms. Mason encourages training in the habit of accuracy, I am making this one of our goals for the months of September and October.  I clicked my way around the internet and came up with a nice list of accuracy training activities and disciplines.

1. Mommy gets in the habit of correcting improper pronunciation and word usage.  This will teach Gordon accuracy in speech and communication.
2. Mommy makes sure that numbers are counted off in the correct order with no omissions.  This will lay a foundation for accuracy in math work which will lay the foundation for accuracy in, say, budgeting.
3. Mommy has Gordon repeat spoken words and phrases correctly (like in a whisper down the lane type style).  This teaches Gordon accuracy in relaying information and will help Gordon when he is old enough to begin oral narration (CM method).
4. Mommy has Gordon begin to copy written line and shape patterns on paper.  This will lay the foundation for good penmenship and copywork (CM method).
5. Mommy has Gordon repeat clapped or stomped rhythms, encouraging an ear for the beats in music.
6. Mommy encourages Gordon describe the detail of such nature finds as leaves, flowers, trees, birds. . .  This will lay the foundation for nature journaling and properly identifying birds, trees, and flowers.  This eye for detail will one day make for work done properly with few, if any, mistakes.

All these little exercises are so easy to incorporate into the daily routine.  I don't have to schedule any of it on a daily planner.  I simply look for and seize the opportunities as they present themselves -- while catching a glimpse of a bird on the tree outside, playing in the leaves this fall, reading books during the day, coloring and drawing together, cuddling on the sofa after nap time, or listening to music together.  All I have to do is use my time wisely and provide just a few more opportunities for Gordon to teach himself the habit of accuracy.