How to Homeschool Preschool (a Simple Program)
Preschool is such a fun stage. Join me here to learn how to homeschool young children in the best way so we don’t squash their delight in learning. I also want to show you what to teach your 2-5-year-olds.
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 to 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 in the preschool line with her younger siblings, even if I don’t have as much time for preschool anymore.
The most important things for preschoolers to learn and do.
Play
Preschoolers need lots and lots of playtime and play-based learning. It is a great way to 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 formal preschool work, hoping to get them “ahead.” In the long run, it might actually put them behind.
Your preschoolers should also get little to no screen time. Many studies have shown 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 it 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 to learn about life and nature. Going on field trips is a good way to learn at this age as well.
Beginning responsibility
Preschoolers should have some chores. Chores give them a sense of satisfaction, and of being needed. And learning these basic life skills will help them so much in the future.
They should also be learning cheerful obedience and other good habits such as cleaning up after themselves. 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 (it’s okay if they have a favorite book they want you to repeat every day!), and slowly go up in levels. By the time they are four, they will often enjoy chapter books. I try to read to my girls every day, though I don’t always quite manage it.
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, our greatest desire is that our children would grow up to love God. That is the most important thing, more important than any other learning.
Acknowledge Him in all you do so your children can 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 Home School Preschool Program
With all my saying that children don’t need preschool books, many children of preschool age enjoy if they get to do a bit of schoolwork, especially if they see their older siblings getting homeschooled. We do a bit of preschool simply because we love to do it.
After three daughters and several years of homeschooling preschoolers, I have found that my system keeps evolving. The homeschool journey is one of changes!
Currently I have an easy study plan in place for my 2-5 year olds that I want to share with you. It is what we do when doing our official “school time” most days.
I try to fit in a few minutes in our daily schedule 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, and it’s at the top of the list for daily activities. 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 to 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, letter recognition, and other basic skills.
I often have two different levels of preschoolers, so when the older one learns something well we pass it on to the younger one. It’s a system that works for anyone as each child can go at their own pace.
Hands-on activities
I always like to add some hands-on activity, changing each week, to work on fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, etc.
This can include stringing beads, handclapping games, sorting shapes, picking up cotton balls with small tongs, simple hand games etc. These activities build a solid foundation for the time when they will need to be holding pencils.
Remember though that first our preschoolers should master gross motor skills and whole-body movement such as running, jumping, climbing, and all those things.
Preschool workbooks
Finally, while it is not necessary, my girls love preschool workbooks, 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 three.
For my two year olds I just have a notebook where I make these simple work pages when they want 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-olds.
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 without fine motor skills. I wouldn’t start them till your child is 4-5 years old.
Storybooks
I mentioned above about reading lots to your children. Since I am reading chapter books to my older children, I try to often read a short children’s picture book to my preschool children.
Sometimes 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 them 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.
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 of 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
I don’t have a best homeschool preschool curriculum, but here are some ideas for you to check out. Basically, I save the formal curriculums till first grade and just piece stuff together before that.
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. She gives so many ideas for preschool activities. 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. also 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 use it for things like music appreciation.
And when you are ready for first grade, be sure to check out my first grade curriculum choices.
Save it for later!
I hope you have been inspired to enjoy your preschool season and the early years of your child’s education 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!
Wow this post is jam packed with tips, ideas and links to resources! Thanks for sharing and putting it all together. A wonderful post full of inspiration for homeschooling parents and more.
I am so glad if it is helpful!
Great realistic tips on homeschooling little ones.
Thanks!
Love the comprehensive info on preschooling/homeschooling. Thanks for sharing this awesome post.
You are welcome!