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Homeschooling Preschoolers Curriculum

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Do You Need a Curriculum?

Whether you plan to homeschool your child or send them to a private or public school this lens is for you. Every parent homeschools their children to some degree, especially in the preschool years. So while I'll address this the homeschooler this lens is appropriate to all parents and grandparents of preschoolers.

I have volunteered for several years at our states homeschool convention. One of the questions that often comes up is what curriculum to get for their preschooler. I tell them they don't need a curriculum, the average kindergartner in the U.S. has learned one of the most difficult languages, knows their colors, and count, dress themselves and much more. Where did they learn it? At home, by example, without a curriculum, from their parents. So parents, come along and see what you can teach your preschooler without curriculum.

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Do You Plan To Homeschool?

Which of the following Senarios best fits you?

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Everything is New For Your Preschooler

One thing to remember is everything is new for your little one. Try an look at things from their perspective without all your past knowledge. Are the looking at something quizzically? Ask them a question, what fascinates them? Get down at their eye level, see the world from their perspective. When you go into a store and see constructions workers doing a job, stop and observe for a few minutes. When you see something interesting while driving point it out. Go to the library and check out books about the things you see. Many libraries have a reading hour for preschoolers. This will help with social & listening skills, and will introduce them to new books you might have otherwise missed. Homemade playdough is a great toy and learning tool. Use it to make letters and numbers. Sit and color with them or play Duplos, bocks or their favorite toy. As you play you can also teach. All of life is their school room and during the course of you daily life there will be many learning opportunities.

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I Spy Preschool Game Tin

This looks like a great game to playfully develop skills using pictures.

I Spy Preschool Game Tin

I Spy Preschool Game Tin

Amazon Price: $27.95 (as of 05/31/2012)Buy Now

The multiple award-winning classic game that matches riddles with colorful I SPY images. 5 different games in 1. Play a beginners' matching game, a listening game, a rhyming game, a reading game or a memory game. This game reinforces memory skills and offers the child an opportunity to learn tactical and strategic thinking.This version of the award winning I SPY MEMORY Game comes in an attractive travel tin. I Spy Preschool is for 1 to 4 players, ages 3 to 6.

Teach Your Preschooler Obedience

This is an important foundational skill to teach. If a child can not follow instructions or is always rebelling, whether passively or outwardly, they will not be very teachable, for us or another teacher. If we have to count to three before your little one obeys, we're teaching them they don't have to obey until we get to three. This undermines our authority. Another way we undermine ourselves in this area is by giving our preschoolers too many choices. When they get to choose the color of cup they drink out of, what they drink and eat, when they drink and eat etc. its no wonder they resist when we try and assert what we want and try to get them to take a nap, sit down, etc.

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Child Wise and More

These books will give you tools for your tool box to help you raise happy, well behaved, children. You will want to read them every few months each time finding something new to focus on.
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Preschoolers Need Order

Our world was created with a sense of order. Look at all the detail and intricacies of nature and we see how one thing works with or relies on another. We all have routines, some of our routines work better than others. Even in an environment with an apparent lack of routine is likely to have people eating and sleeping around the same times each day. If as a parent personal discipline is something we struggle with THIS is the time to really work on it especially if we plan to homeschool. We all work better with a sense of order around us. Start developing routines that work for your family, wake up routines, meal times, play time both independent and with others mixed with quiet sitting activities, and chores. When preschoolers and all of us for that matter know whats going to happen next it gives us a sense of comfort and decreases the amount of whining a chaos. Anyone watched Super Nanny? Structure and authority are the things she puts back into the home to bring about peace, calm and growing relationships.

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Nanny to the Rescue!: Straight Talk and Super Tips for Parenting in the Early Years

Nanny to the Rescue!: Straight Talk and Super Tips for Parenting in the Early Years

Nanny to the Rescue!: Straight Talk and Super Tips for Parenting in the Early Years

by: Michelle LaRowe

Amazon Price: $1.16 (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now

Often removed from grandparents and relatives who in times past lived next door or just down the street, they have no one to guide them through the disorienting world of raising children. Enter Nanny to the Rescue! Michelle LaRowe, 2004 International Nanny Association "Nanny of the Year," gives her tried and true solutions to childcare. Her expertise with chapters titled "Who's the boss?" and "Discipline is not a four letter word" gives confidence to parents who need specific ideas for real day-to-day problems. A proud member of Christian Nannies, Michelle offers foundational truths sure to help encourage moms and dads.

What Do I Do With My Child Before Kindergarten?

There is no need for formal, out-of-the-home preschool. You are your child's best teacher.
Preschool at Home: What do I do with my child before kindergarten?
This booklet is designed to give you ideas and suggestions to help you think through what you want for your child.

Christian homeschool binder: Homeschool Mom binder
Christian homeschool binder: Homeschool Mom by UpstreamDesigns
More Homeschool Binders

Make Them Readers

One of the gifts I like to give at baby showers is board books. You know those books made of thick card board that are hard to destroy, or at least take a lot of effort to ruin. I still have a picture burned in my memory of my oldest around 12 months old laying on her back, knees bent, with one leg resting on the other, looking at a book her grandmother had given her. Giving them access to books at an early age, have books in the house for mom and dad, reading aloud to them starting in the first year and continuing into the teen years, making the library a part of our routine are all things that will contribute to them being readers. One of my children has dyslexia, and even though reading is difficult for her she doesn't hate books and has a thirst for learning. I think this is because of our practicing all of the above.

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My Very First Library

Great pictures and learning fun too.

My Very First Library

My Very First Library

by: Eric Carle

Amazon Price: $15.21 (as of 05/31/2012)Buy Now

Here is the perfect gift for young children learning their colors, shapes, and numbers. All four of Eric Carle's popular new split-page board books are now packaged together in a slipcased library. A game as well as a learning experience, these early concept books are both fun and smart.

Children can turn the top pages independently from the bottom pages, creating a matching game that offers all the charm of Eric Carle's bright collage illustrations. Collected here are My Very First Book of Colors, My Very First Book of Shapes, My Very First Book of Numbers, and My Very First Book of Words. Irresistible fun for young hands and minds!

Caught Than Taught

This is true for our children at all ages, preschoolers and beyond. We know the phrase do as I say not as I do, doesn't work, or make sense. That's why I mentioned earlier this is an important time for parents to work on weaknesses. I wish I had done more of this at that age. If you don't send your child to school and yet you hear this attitude coming out of them or see some other character flaw, guess where that got it from. Not the kids on the playground. Recently a friend was telling me about how her adult son calls her to let her know he's on his way home and to see if she needs anything from the store. She never asked him to do this, he learned it from seeing his dad do it. More is Caught Than Taught!

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Children Learn What They Live

By Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Copyright © 1972 by Dorothy Law Nolte
Children Learn What They Live

Children Learn What They Live

by: Dorothy Law Nolte Ph.D., Rachel Harris L.C.S.W. Ph.D.

Amazon Price: $0.98 (as of 06/01/2012)Buy Now

Since its publication in 1954, Dorothy Law Nolte's inspirational and educational poem, Children Learn What They Live has been published worldwide, translated into 10 languages, taught in parenting and teaching courses, distributed in doctors offices, and printed on posters and calendars. In Children Learn What They Live: Parenting to Inspire Values, authors Nolte, a teacher and lecturer on family life, and Rachel Harris, Nolte's friend and teaching associate, have taken the classic poem and fleshed it into a small gem of a book.

Enjoy Your Preschooler

With my first, I was always looking forward to and trying to encourage the next milestone. When I had my second, I knew this was probably going to be my last so I savored each stage. Each stage of our child's life has its advantages and disadvantages. Enjoy the good things, take comfort that the not so good things will pass. As a homeschooling parent we need to be careful that we aren't wearing the teacher hat all the time. I think its easy to get into the instructing, training mode, and not do enough praising and affirming our children. So while we tend to their physical needs, train their character, do the chores, spend time with our spouse, etc. etc. remember to sit down and play with with them. To adapt a phrase, take time to smell (enjoy) your baby.

Creative Commons Photo by oddharmonic

Homeschool Girl Keychain keychain
Homeschool Girl Keychain by ThaddeusWJohnson
More Homeschool Keychains

LEGO® DUPLO® Bricks & More Deluxe Brick Box 5507

HAVE FUN

* Includes 2 DUPLO® minifigures
* Special elements include windows and a wagon base for making rolling vehilcles
* Building base plate
* Includes inspirational building booklet to spark young imaginations and creativity
* 102 LEGO pieces
LEGO DUPLO Bricks & More Deluxe Brick Box 5507

LEGO DUPLO Bricks & More Deluxe Brick Box 5507

Amazon Price: $48.95 (as of 05/31/2012)Buy Now

A perfect introduction to fun Lego DUPLO building play! Providing endless hours of creative play, this deluxe set features great elements, such as two DUPLO figures, windows, a wagon base, a building plate, and lots of other bricks. Comes in a deluxe storage box and includes an inspirational building booklet.

This Lens Was Blessed By an Angel

zwani.com myspace graphic comments
FOR THE BLESSING
Below are the angels who blessed it.

Do You Agree That Every Parent Homeschools?

What Have/Did Your Children Catch From You?

Thanks for stopping by. Let me know what you think, or tell me about the preschooler in your life.

  • careermom Apr 6, 2011 @ 3:10 pm | delete
    Great job. Do as I say not as I do is something that at some point most parents and parents' parents have said. I don't think I ever seen it really work.
  • bygproductions May 25, 2011 @ 2:43 pm | delete
    careermom thanks for your comments.
  • Pukeko Mar 30, 2011 @ 7:42 pm | delete
    Beautiful lens. And I so agree with "We know the phrase do as I say not as I do, doesn't work, or make sense."
  • bygproductions Mar 30, 2011 @ 9:03 pm | delete
    Thanks Rhonda. It would be easier if it did work but alas, we have to do our part. ;)
  • lakeerieartists Feb 24, 2011 @ 11:23 am | delete
    Nicely done. Very focused on the preschooler and what they specifically need. My girls are way beyond this stage, but it was fun when they were that age.
  • bygproductions Mar 6, 2011 @ 8:13 pm | delete
    Thanks for the complement & feedback.
  • Evelyn_Saenz Feb 7, 2011 @ 7:58 pm | delete
    Preschoolers need examples of people who love to learn, explore and enjoy life. You are so right, they don't need a curriculum. Thank you so much for sharing this lens with The Homeschool Club. :)
  • bygproductions Feb 7, 2011 @ 10:31 pm | delete
    Thanks Evelyn and your welcome.
  • 23squidoo Jan 29, 2011 @ 5:56 pm | delete
    My kids are grown now, but I have often wished I had homeschooled them when they were young. Very informative lens. Angel Blessings!
  • bygproductions Feb 1, 2011 @ 1:01 am | delete
    Thank you for the visit and the blessing
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About The Author

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bygproductions

First and foremost, I'm a sinner saved by grace, which is what the "byg" stands for, "by grace". Next I'm a wife, a mother, a homeschooler, and a jack... more »

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