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Homeschool Preschool: Tips for Busy Moms You Can’t Miss!
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Do you really need to homeschool preschool? The short answer is no. Now you can stop reading and be on your merry way.
But if you want to homeschool preschool, then do it. And keep reading as I share all my tips on homeschool preschool.
Homeschool preschool has been a saga for us. I have bought the expensive curriculum for the first 5 kids, and then promptly kicked myself because I spent so much money on something that was frustrating for everyone. You would think that I would learn my lesson. I finally did for number 6, and I didn’t buy any curriculum. I did review Sonlight’s preschool curriculum, and I thought it was the best homeschool preschool curriculum we’ve used.
Mom, if you want to lay the foundation for lifelong learning, get ready for homeschool kindergarten, create a flexible schedule for homeschool preschool, and enjoy your homeschool, then keep reading.
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Do you really need to homeschool preschool? The short answer is no. Now you can stop reading and be on your merry way.
But if you want to homeschool preschool, then do it. And keep reading as I share all my tips on homeschool preschool.
Homeschool preschool has been a saga for us. I have bought the expensive curriculum for the first 5 kids, and then promptly kicked myself because I spent so much money on something that was frustrating for everyone. You would think that I would learn my lesson. I finally did for number 6, and I didn’t buy any curriculum. I did review Sonlight’s preschool curriculum, and I thought it was the best homeschool preschool curriculum https://lifeunboxed.blog/homeschool-preschool-curriculum/ we’ve used.
But even with a homeschool preschool curriculum that we all loved, we still didn’t go through all of it. Yes, we did use it, and it was perfect and enjoyable. But life creeps in and things take over, and homeschool preschool gets set aside. And that’s ok.
Mom, I know you’re excited to start homeschooling, and you want to start with doing everything just right. So you want to make sure you get homeschool preschool done just right. Then when it doesn’t happen, you feel like you failed your kids, and your homeschool hopes and dreams come crashing down.
I know dramatic, but we are moms sometimes that is exactly how it happens…in our heads anyway.
Mom, if you want to lay the foundation for lifelong learning, get ready for homeschool kindergarten, https://lifeunboxed.blog/homeschool-curriculum-for-kindergarten/ create a flexible schedule for homeschool preschool, and enjoy your homeschool, then keep reading.
What to Teach for Homeschool Preschool
The most important thing you can do for yourself and your kids is not to put pressure on your homeschool preschool. I know, as moms, we want to do all the right things for our kids. And that usually equals adding more to your homeschool. Or doing more.
These are the years to step back and take a relaxed approach to your homeschool. The three most important things you can do in your homeschool preschool is encourage free play, read books, and have fun.
Let kids use their imagination to explore the world around them. Yes, my daughter has two imaginary friends—Sally and Emma—and they have some exciting adventures. Sally and Emma can do anything.
Books are a great way to connect with your kids. I confess, I am not a read aloud kind of mom. I’ve just never liked it. So I may not read with my kids every day, but we do get in a few days per week. And it turns into a snuggle time.
The most important thing you can do is enjoy your kids. Have fun with school, and this will influence their attitudes as they get older.
At this age kids are typically learning to recognize and/or write their names, colors, shapes, letter recognition, and counting. All of these things can be done through play and reading books together. It becomes a more natural way of learning, instead of sitting at a desk to do formal learning.
My preschooler does have a desk because she wants to be like the big kids. She also has workbooks that she can do when she wants, and I created name pages for her. I found a dashed font, typed her name, printed them, and then laminated them. She uses a dry erase marked to practice her name. And she loves it.
There isn’t any forced time. If she wants to read or do schoolwork, then she will ask me and we will do it.
Homeschool preschool should be a relaxed time for you and your child. If you are feeling frustrated or forcing it, then then best thing you can do is stop and re-evaluate it. It is completely normal for kids to not be interested in formal school at this time.
Their lack of interest isn’t a judgement on your ability to teach your kids.
How Much Time Should You Spend on Homeschool Preschool
At this age, homeschooling is more about play based learning and exploration rather than formal instruction. You should spend as much time as you can on playing, reading, and exploring. And zero time on formal instruction.
I understand that you want structure, and you want to make sure you are covering everything. I get it. For the first 5 kids I didn't take my own advice, and I wish I had. Despite this, I did learn something about number 5 through formal curriculum. I noticed that he was a hands-on learner.
While you don't need formal instruction, this is a great time to observe your child's learning style. https://lifeunboxed.blog/learning-styles/ For number 5, I watched him do the workbooks, and I noticed that he wasn't interested. So I wanted to make things more interesting for him, so I hand him manipulatives. It was like a lightbulb came on for him.
He understood what he was learning when he could associate it with something he could touch.
Curriculum Options for Homeschool Preschool
I know what you're thinking. "This sounds great. I would like to do this, but I need structure. I need something that I can follow." I am the same way, that's why I wasted so much money on preschool curriculum. https://lifeunboxed.blog/homeschool-preschool-curriculum/
If you need the structure, then I recommend Sonlight's preschool homeschool curriculum . https://lifeunboxed.blog/homeschool-preschool-curriculum/ It is a 3-day week, so it isn't overwhelming, and the focus is reading books.
If you don't want to do a formal curriculum, focus on reading, kids learning to write their names, and add some manipulatives like: pattern blocks, https://www.kqzyfj.com/click-100522748-15496421?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.christianbook.com%2Fpattern-blocks-price-buster%2Fpd%2F482649&cjsku=482649 beads and pattern set, https://www.kqzyfj.com/click-100522748-15496421?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.christianbook.com%2Fbeads-and-pattern-card%2Fpd%2F7350139&cjsku=7350139 magnetic alphaboard https://www.dpbolvw.net/click-100522748-15496421?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.christianbook.com%2Fmagnetic-alphaboard%2Fpd%2F01782&cjsku=01782
Here are some homeschool preschool books that we've enjoyed:
Last Stop on Market Street by Christian Robinson https://www.kqzyfj.com/click-100522748-15496421?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.christianbook.com%2Flast-stop-on-market-street%2Fmatt-de-la-pena%2F9780399257742%2Fpd%2F257742&cjsku=257742
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-100522748-15496421?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.christianbook.com%2Fthe-snowy-day-softcover%2Fezra-keats%2F9780140501827%2Fpd%2F501827&cjsku=501827
George and Martha: The Complete Stories of Two Best Friends by James Marshall https://www.dpbolvw.net/click-100522748-15496421?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.christianbook.com%2Fmartha-complete-stories-friends-collectors-edition%2Fjames-marshall%2F9780618891955%2Fpd%2F891955&cjsku=891955
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-100522748-15496421?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.christianbook.com%2Fblueberries-for-sal-robert-mccloskey%2F9780140501698%2Fpd%2F0169X&cjsku=0169X
Chika Chika Boom Boom https://www.kqzyfj.com/click-100522748-15496421?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.christianbook.com%2Fchicka-boom-bill-martin%2F9780689835681%2Fpd%2F835681&cjsku=835681
The Mitten by Jan Brett https://www.kqzyfj.com/click-100522748-15496421?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.christianbook.com%2Fthe-mitten-jan-brett%2F9780399231094%2Fpd%2F231094&cjsku=231094
Corduroy by Don Freeman https://www.dpbolvw.net/click-100522748-15496421?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.christianbook.com%2Fcorduroy-don-freeman%2F9780140501735%2Fpd%2F501738&cjsku=501738
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson https://www.tkqlhce.com/click-100522748-15496421?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.christianbook.com%2Fharold-and-the-purple-crayon%2Fcrockett-johnson%2F9780060229351%2Fpd%2F29357&cjsku=29357
A Baby Sister for Frances by Russel Hoban https://www.dpbolvw.net/click-100522748-15496421?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.christianbook.com%2Fa-baby-sister-for-frances%2Frussell-hoban%2F9780064430067%2Fpd%2F30065&cjsku=30065
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff https://www.dpbolvw.net/click-100522748-15496421?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.christianbook.com%2Fif-you-give-a-mouse-cookie%2Flaura-numeroff%2F9780060245863%2Fpd%2F45867&cjsku=45867
You can also add these fun lapbook activities https://payhip.com/LifeUnboxedBlog/collection/activity-pages for your favorite picture books.
Homeschool Preschool and for Work from Home
As a work from home moms, we often wonder if it is really possible to work from home and homeschool. Especially these younger years when they aren't reading yet.
First, it is totally possible. It does take planning, but it is completely possible to homeschool on your lunch break or in the margins of your day. There are things your kids can do independently. Use the tools you have available to you. Utilize online preschool programs https://www.creativekidsvirtualpreschool.com/ for free. Learning apps like ABC Mouse https://www.kqzyfj.com/click-100522748-12690523 were a big hit with my kids. There are also other apps like Teach Your Monster to Read or Monkey Math.
Mom, if you are working and homeschooling, then use the tools available without the mom guilt.
Conclusion: Enjoy Your Homeschool Preschool
Homeschool preschool is about nurturing the foundation of a love for learning. Focus on enjoying this time, not checking off the list.
Some days my daughter is all into homeschool preschool, and other days she isn't. At this age, it is ok to just go with the flow. You will enjoy it more and so will your child.
Do you need more help with curriculum? It is possible to work from home and homeschool. But it helps to have the right curriculum. Not all curriculum is suited for the work at home mom. Get over 60 pages of homeschool help for the work from home mom. Grab The Momtrepreneur's Guide to Homeschool Curriculum. https://lifeunboxed.blog/homeschool-curriculum/