Homeschool Preschool: All You Need To Know

Preschool is such a fun stage. Join me here to learn how to homeschool preschool and what to teach in preschool for your 2-5 year old’s.

I have always loved teaching my little ones new things. Before my oldest had turned two she could point out many of her body parts, knew her colors, numbers till ten, and many of her letter sounds. She learned easily, which isn’t always the case with her siblings. But it is fun to see them all learn new things.

When she turned two we got her a simple coloring book. Most days I would take a bit of time to color with her and work on “school.” Before she was 3 we started on the simplest of preschool books. She loved it. Ever since then we usually have some book to work on. I also have tried to keep up doing something preschoolish with her younger siblings, even if I don’t have as much time for preschool anymore.

Most important things for a preschooler to learn and do.

Play

Preschoolers need lots and lots of play time. They learn so much while building and making things. They figure out the laws of life as they imagine and play. It is a mistake to make them sit through a bunch of preschool, hoping to get them “ahead.” On the long run it might actually put them behind.

Your preschoolers should also get little to no screen time. Many studies have showed that screens hurt their young brains. I do sometimes use a video for my girls to learn something or to give me a little time, but I am trying to make it a rare thing.

They should also be outside as much as possible. The fresh air and nature are very good teachers. I love when my girls bring me bugs and caterpillars, or tell me of other things they observe. I have tried to teach them the skill of observing.

Beginning responsibility

Preschoolers should have some chores. Chores give them a sense of satisfaction, and of being needed.

They should also be learning cheerful obedience. It will make them happier, and motherhood easier for you, if you make sure they have learned obedience.

Love of reading

Begin instilling the love of reading in your preschooler. Even if they can’t read, they can learn to love books, and expand their vocabulary and horizons, when you read to them. Start with picture books, and slowly go up in levels. By the time they are four they will often enjoy chapter books. I try to read every day to my girls, though I don’t quite manage it always.

Love of learning

Give your children the love of learning. Let them see you learning and growing and observing. If you can instill in them the love of learning, they will be able to learn anything they desire, and will seek to learn beyond their school books.

Love for God

As Christians we greatest desire that our children would grow up to love God. That is more important than any other learning. Acknowledge Him in all you do so your children an see your heart for God. Teach your children to pray, and work on memory verses and songs with them.

Children see and know if their parents truly love God. We can’t be hypocrites, or we will turn them away. They need a happy, secure home to draw them to the Father. We have such a responsibility!

A homeschool preschool study plan

With all my saying that children don’t need preschool books, many preschoolers enjoy if they get to do a bit of schoolwork, especially if they see their siblings getting homeschooled. We do a bit of preschool simply because we love to do it.

After three daughters and several years homeschooling preschoolers, I have found that my system keeps evolving. But currently I have an easy study plan in place for my 2-5 year old’s that I want to share with you. It is what we do when doing our official “school time” most days.

Most days I take about 10 to 20 minutes with each one. Here is the study plan that I follow.

Memory verses and songs

This is the first thing I work on with my preschoolers. At the stage we are in now we all do it together in Circle Time. But if not, I would use the same system individually.

Flashcards

The next thing I work on is flashcards. I have some premade ones, and make my own on index cards to write down things we want work on. We use the same system as we do for Circle Time. We always have one or two new ones we work on, and rotate through the learned ones. Our flashcards include all the basic skills like colors, shapes, numbers, letters, and other basic skills.

Currently my two and four year old both have of these flashcards, and there are still a few I am working on with all three girls in circle time. They are on different levels of learning. Once I know my oldest has learned something well, and easily remembers it when we review it, I move it in to my four year old’s pencil bag, and once she has mastered it, the card goes for my two year old. Their cards are in the back of their zipper bag.

When the youngest has mastered something well, we will save it till my son is old enough. I love this system because each one can learn at their own pace, but they are learning and growing.

Hands-on activities

I always like to add some hands on activity, changing each week, to work on fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination, etc. This can include stringing beads, handclapping games, sorting shapes, picking up cotton balls with small tongs, simple hand games etc.

Preschool workbooks

Finally, while it is not necessary, my girls love preschool work books, so we try to do a page or two every day. Here is a list of several we have used, in the order from simplest to more difficult. None of the girls have used them all so just pick what seems the best for your child.

I wouldn’t start the first ones till your child is at least almost three. For my two year old I just have a notebook where I make these simple work pages since she wants to do school. This idea was inspired by Jady A’s video on a preschool interactive notebook.

ABC workbooks from CLE are perfect for many 3-4 year old’s.

Easy Peasy Preschool has a free printable workbook with very easy pages to learn the alphabet and some other skills. The teacher plans are online, but you can just do your own ideas, or use theirs and the videos they have linked for each lesson.

These books from the ABC Readiness Series from CLE are a bit more work, especially for someone with out fine motor skills. I wouldn’t start them till your child is 4-5 years old. My four year old is doing them, though we bought the Spanish version here in Costa Rica.

Story books

I mentioned above about reading lots to your children. Since I am reading chapter books to my older girls, I try to most days read a short children’s book to my two year old. I try to repeat the same one every day for a week before changing to a new one. And of course if I can squeeze in more time to read to her outside of school time, I do.

Individuality

Each child is different and so their preschool time gets adjusted to their interests. They have never been forced to sit through preschool. I have only taught my girls yet, so who knows if my son will be a completely different story.

Two of my daughters loved to color at two already. Another one showed no interest and disliked coloring till she was 4 1/2. Two on them knew their color names by two. Another one that was extra smart for other things, could not remember any color names at 2 1/2 yet. That is okay. We keep practicing a tiny bit every day.

Other Homeschool Preschool Resources

Jady A. has a bunch of videos on preschool that I really enjoy, and take inspiration from even if I don’t follow them exactly. I would also love to use her learning binders, but haven’t felt they were necessary enough to spend the time or money on. You can do the same with my ideas!

Jady A. sells some really simple preschool workbooks. I haven’t used them so do your research, but from her videos I see that they are very simple and perfect for beginners. You can find a link to the workbooks on my shop page.

I have never used TGATB Preschool, but it also looks very good, cute, and fun.

Brightly Beaming Resources has some nice free lesson plans too that I have sometimes loosely used.

Underthehome.org also has a complete, free kindergarten course, though it is online. I might use it in the future for things like music appreciation.

I hope you have been inspired to enjoy your preschool season and not stress about it. This is a special time, and we can use it as a fun way to take a bit of intentional time for our preschoolers. Happy Homeschooling Preschool!

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