Whether you are homeschooling a preschooler along with older children or you just want to give your little one educational attention, homeschooling the preschooler presents many challenge
- Attention spans during the preschool age remain short. Be sure you plan for a broad variety of activities during your school time.
- School skills are widely varied at this age. For example, some children may start to read during the preschool years, while others may not show any reading readiness at all.
Be aware of this, and do not push your child where they are not ready. If they show sign of frustration (crying, fussiness, whining, fidgeting, yelling), be prepared to put that activity aside and so something else.
- Motor skills may not be well developed yet. If this is the case, allow lots of art time.
Bring out scissors that are friendly to still-chubby hands.
Let them cut, glue, and draw to heart’s content. These are easy ways to help develop small motor skills.
Get a bowl of beads or bolts or other smaller items (but be sure they won't put them in their mouths, or any baby siblings). Give your preschooler an empty bowl and a pair of tweezers. Challenge them to get all the beads from one bowl to another using only the tweezers.
Cut out shapes from cardboard (cicle, square, etc.) and let your child trace them.
- Be prepared if you are also teaching older children. Preschoolers may want to “have school”, just like the big kids, but they often need a lot of help. While you teach the older children, have activities on hand your preschooler can do on their own.
At our house, we have what we call a “While I Wait” box for preschoolers and Kindergarten ages. Every week I change what is in the box. Everything is very simple, like stickers and paper, shape stencils, easy puzzles, beads and string.
- Be sure and reserve time just for your preschooler. When you are teaching older children, too, it can be easy to get involved in their schoolwork and put off the little ones. Make sure you set time aside just for the little guys to read or play.
- Remember – play is learning. Let your preschooler play lots and join in with her.
You might be surprised at how much a preschooler can pick up during school time. My preschooler is listening in on Latin with his two big brothers, and sometimes he remembers things they do not!
Have fun!
Christine Alcott - Christine is an active homeschooling mother of 4 boys in Texas. She holds a BS in Mental Health and Human Services and a MTS in Theology ...
