Preschool Homeschooling: Guide to Curriculum and Activities

What is preschool homeschooling? Preschool homeschooling is an education given to kids of preschool age outside of typic school environments, which include a child’s own house or somewhere else that is not a school building. 

Planning a child’s preschool homeschooling journey can be as simple as learning the ABCs. It’s important to research and establish a strong foundation, consider blending different methods to meet a child’s needs, and understand what laws families must abide by.

Families must be flexible and keep things interactive to make learning fun when creating a preschool program. The preschool program must include subjects like math, language arts, science, art, and physical education. 

Getting Started with Preschool Homeschooling

It is essential to explore what will influence homeschooling for both the family and the child. Here are several factors that parents should take into consideration listed below to have the best online homeschooling experience.

Research Curriculum Options

There are several options for preschool curriculum that are in line with different educational beliefs and teaching techniques: Montessori, Waldorf and Reggio Emilia. 

• The Montessori method focuses on promoting child’s independence by allowing freedom within boundaries and recognizing child’s physical and social growth. 
• The Waldorf method underlines the importance of fostering creativity by nurturing imagination and integrating learning through expression and hands-on activities. 
• The Reggio Emilia method prioritizes expressive arts play as a central role in learning and offers a unique reciprocal learning relationship that exists between teacher and child.

Getting familiar with these approaches will assist families in matching their teaching to fit the child’s learning needs and education beliefs. 

Understand Legal Requirements

Homeschooling must adhere to legal requirements based on the state families live in. It is essential for families to understand the local educational law that rules over preschool homeschooling since each state has different guidelines necessary for approval. These rules are a must follow to avoid legal troubles. 

Join Homeschooling Communities

Engaging with other homeschooling parents is a valuable resource for preschool homeschooling. Families can connect with like-minded individuals through online forums, social media groups, or local meetups. These meet ups will provide a platform to share insights, gain practical tips, and receive support during challenging times. 

These communities create unity that offer to guide parents in making informed decisions about curriculum, schedules, and effective learning for homeschooled preschoolers.

Establishing Age-Appropriate Activities and Resources

Preschoolers are eager to learn through exploration, play, and hands-on activities. Here are several ways to help their preschooler study to the best of their ability. 

Sensory Play

• Sensory play helps children explore and make sense of the world around them by touching. 
• Activities like finger painting, playing with playdough, and water play will engage their senses by aiding in the development of sensory awareness and fine motor skills.

Storytelling and Reading

• Introducing age-appropriate books and storytelling sessions creates an opportunity to create a love for reading and language development in young kids.
• Reading to preschoolers every day broadens their vocabulary and stirs their imagination.

Math Concepts through Play

• Introducing math concepts in an engaging and fun way will be effective compared to traditional teaching methods since it will capture their attention. Activities can include solving games by incorporating counting basic math skills and problem solving. 
• Create puzzles and daily tasks like sorting objects by color or size to develop mathematical processing while having fun.

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Setting and Achieving Educational Goals

Establishing and achieving goals for a young student is crucial because it will bring a sense of satisfaction and may also offer rewards by reaching said milestones. Families must set objectives in these areas: academic subjects, social skills, creativity, and physical development. 

These objectives will help guide the parent and the child through the homeschooling journey to success. Monitoring a child’s progress regularly and adjusting educational goals as needed is important to make sure that they are moving along at their own pace when studying at home. 

Homeschooling allows parents to customize educational goals based on their child’s individual needs and learning speed. This approach helps families with creating an environment where students can enjoy learning and achieve appointed milestones without the pressure of timelines.

Crafting the Ideal Daily Schedule

Creating a daily schedule is key to keeping things organized and manageable. Young children have short attention spans. That’s why it is essential to balance structured learning and unstructured play.

Structured Learning and Playtime

Families should assign specific time slots for learning activities like reading, counting, and practicing fine motor skills. 

Structure gives young children a predictable routine they must follow. This routine will create security and readiness for learning. It will also stimulate cognitive and social development in students.

However, unstructured playtime is just as essential because children want to explore, create, and use their imagination. 

Children nurture their creativity and problem-solving skills by building with blocks, engaging in make-believe, or sensory play. Children learn to entertain themselves through this type of play. They also develop crucial social skills like sharing and cooperation while playing together with other kids.

Flexibility

A good preschool schedule needs to preserve flexibility. This flexibility includes accommodating necessary breaks, encouraging outdoor activities (weather permitting), and allowing for individual learning paces tailored to each child’s unique needs.

Flexibility allows families to adapt the schedule when needed for their child. Giving children extra time for exploration in lessons that spark their curiosity or excitement can be beneficial. Likewise, children who struggle with a concept should be able to slow down and take more time to understand those challenging concepts.

Subject Selection and Lesson Planning

The main concern of families is what to teach their child at home. There are areas to concentrate on to help establish a solid base for early education listed below.

Core Subjects

Here is a list of fundamental areas of learning.

• Early Literacy: Teaching the basics of reading and writing. This includes recognizing letters, understanding sounds (phonics), and eventually forming words.
• Numeracy: Helping a child understand numbers, counting, basic arithmetic like addition/subtraction, and recognizing shapes.
• Science Exploration: Getting a child curious about the world around them by teaching them about nature, basic scientific concepts through hands-on experiments, and observations.
• Social Studies (Community Awareness): Helping a child understand people, their communities, their cultures, traditions, and even grasping concepts like kindness and empathy.
• Creative Arts: Encouraging artistic expression through drawing, painting, music, dance, and drama to foster creativity and imagination.

Integrated Learning

Integrated learning is essential in ensuring a well-rounded educational experience for your little one. Integration is all about breaking down barriers between different subject areas and encouraging connections between them. 

For example, when making cookies with the child, a parent can talk about measuring ingredients (numeracy) and how they change as they bake (science). Another example is when parents can discuss animal habitats in different parts of the world (social studies) or practice matching animal names to their pictures (early literacy) while taking a trip to the zoo or aquarium.

Integrated learning will help children see how everything in the real world is interconnected.

Play and Exploration in Learning

Play and exploration plays a vital role in preschoolers’ development. They absorb information best by engaging in hands-on activities and exploring their surroundings. 

Outdoor Exploration

Nature walks and outdoor exploration offer valuable learning experiences for preschoolers. 

For example, experiences in nature will encourage curiosity, observation, and an appreciation for the natural world. 

Walks outside provide a chance for children to see, touch, smell, and hear the things they’ve read about in books or seen on screens. A nature walk can spark questions and lead to meaningful talks about the environment and its creatures.

Creativity through Play

Imaginative play includes building blocks, costumes, and props. This type of play can enhance a child’s creativity and problem-solving abilities. 

Through inventing scenarios and role-playing, children will improve self-expression, thinking skills, and emotional intelligence. 

Dressing up in different professions additionally allows kids to explore new roles, develop their imagination, and practice their social skills. Additionally, other learned skills will include empathy, communication, and cooperation. All of these are beneficial for both academic and personal success.

Benefits of Imaginative Play

Engaging in creative play with preschoolers helps them develop storytelling skills, create characters, and solve problems in an engaging way. This type of play fosters adaptability and prepares them for educational environments where critical thinking and creative problem-solving are essential. 

Integrating play into homeschooling nurtures a love for learning and curiosity, which becomes essential for lifelong education despite appearing as leisurely activities.

Organizing Your Education Space and Materials

Creating a dedicated learning space for the child is essential to create a productive environment that will help him/her concentrate on studying. This space should be free from distractions and equipped with all necessary supplies like pencils, notebooks, textbooks, and more.

Families should encourage curiosity and creativity by providing a space for hands-on activities like building, drawing, and reading. Natural light and good ventilation will help make the learning experience better. 

It is recommended to offer 25-35 square feet per child. Families should include age-appropriate reading books and colorful coloring books to engage and support children’s development. These resources will stimulate critical thinking skills and keep the child engaged.

Learning Resources

Using tools like puzzles, flashcards, and educational games will boost learning during early development. Families should use these resources during their homeschooling time to help their child stay engaged and excited to learn.

• Puzzles aid in problem-solving and spatial skills, while age-appropriate flashcards reinforce knowledge of letters, numbers, colors, and shapes. 
• Flashcards support letter and color recognition, and basic math practice. 
• Educational board games encourage social skills and strategic thinking. 
• Art supplies like crayons, markers, and coloring books in the learning environment will enhance a child’s creativity, fine motor skills, and cognitive abilities. 

Supporting Your Child’s Overall Development

Teaching a child at home provides a wonderful chance to help them grow and develop in a manner that fits their individual requirements. The initial stages of a child’s life play a role in laying the groundwork for education. It’s important to establish an atmosphere that underlines the importance of social interaction and self reliance.

As of 2024, there are approximately 3.7 million homeschooled students in the U.S., with a significant portion being homeschooled due to concerns over school environments and academic quality.

Focus on Socialization

Building skills at a young age sets the foundation for healthy interactions later in life. Parents can help their preschooler connect with others by arranging playdates, engaging in activities with homeschooling families, or joining groups. These interactions will allow the child to socialize and learn important lessons in sharing, teamwork, and navigating social situations. 

Families should consider involving their preschooler in community service or volunteer work to expand their experiences and foster empathy and kindness. It’s important to provide opportunities for positive social interaction to develop communication skills and emotional intelligence early on. These skills will be essential for forming successful relationships as they mature.

Encourage Independence

Promoting independence early on helps children develop self-reliance and confidence for the future. Tasks like cleaning up, assisting in cooking, and personal hygiene instill a sense of achievement and responsibility. 

Encouraging decision-making skills such as letting them choose clothes or books, boosts self-esteem. Providing a safe environment for exploration fosters creativity and critical thinking. Socialization, promoting independence, and various activities contribute to overall development. 

Monitoring progress involves considering engagement, grasp of concepts, and well-being during sessions. Homeschooling helps with creating customized educational goals based on the child’s needs and pace. 

Regular review and adjustment of goals cater to changing needs and interests, creating a positive learning environment and ensuring key milestones are met. 

Check out Legacy Online School programs to find what you need:

• Legacy Online School’s elementary school program sets the bar high. This is a quality education. We strive to ignite curiosity. We also strive to foster creativity. We offer a strong curriculum. We are assisted in this by qualified educators.
• Legacy Online Middle School provides digital education. It is designed for middle school students. The school prides itself on offering live online classes taught by certified teachers. The classes are online and interactive.
• Legacy Online High School is a unique method of online learning carefully designed for high school students. It combines synchronous learning, a wide range of pedagogical methods, and an emphasis on accessibility.

Legacy Online School offers the best curriculum for you and your child to get the best online educational experience. 

Our rigorous curriculum ensures that graduates are well prepared for universities and workplaces around the world. In addition, our vibrant virtual clubs connect students all around the world.