Homeschool preschool: keep it simple, keep it fun, and go for it!
Have you found yourself wanting to homeschool your preschooler? Whether your life circumstances are keeping you from enrolling your child in a local preschool or you just want your kids home with you longer, homeschooling the preschool years are an option!!
Homeschool may seem daunting and you might think aren’t qualified to teach your kids but I am here to say YOU CAN DO THIS!!
In fact, up until the early 1900’s most children were taught at home. One estimate shows that in 1870 only about 65 percent of 5- to 17-year-olds were enrolled in public y schools and the average number of days attended per year was only 78. It wasn’t until 1918 that every state required students to complete elementary school.
I’m not saying you should homeschool your children forever. I’m saying if you even have the smallest hint and desire to homeschool you should just DO IT!
Why Teach Preschool at Home?
1. Homeschooling allows you to shape your child’s education around your family, your choices, your schedule, your values, and most of all YOUR CHILDREN!!
- Take a closer look: Why We Homeschool . . . And You Should Too!!
2. If you are considering homeschooling, even just the preschool years, it does take time and work, but it is so worth it!
- Dig Deeper: Thinking of homeschooling, read this first!!
3. “Kids don’t need their parents to be teachers. Kids need their parents to be parents. And kids are born as natural learners. They don’t need a teacher to make them a learner.”
- Read more from Penelope Trunk: Mainstream media is delusional about homeschooling
How to Start Homeschooling your Preschooler
1. Most states don’t require reporting for homeschool preschool. The average age for homeschool reporting is usually around age 6. But depending on what age your family considers “preschool” age be sure to double check your homeschool laws.
- Read more from HSLDA: Homeschool Laws in Your State
2. If you are in Wisconsin, you are in luck because I am too!! Wisconsin doesn’t require school attendance until age 6.
- Deep Dive: Wisconsin Homeschool Laws
3. Think about how you want to structure your days. “We’d play outside, every day, if possible. We’d garden, go for walks, run errands, chat with the postman, watch slugs slither across the deck and leave trails behind. We’d play lots and lots of games. We’d follow a natural daily rhythm that wasn’t tied to the clock.”
- Read more from Sarah Mackenzie: 6 Ways to Early Years You Won’t Regret
Planning your Home Preschool
Preschoolers are adorable and squishy, so much fun, and you want to enjoy your time together before schooling gets serious. But you want a plan.
1. You don’t need much for school supplies during the preschool years, markers, construction paper, and lots of books. But let’s be honest, the best part about school is the new school supplies
2. Keep your homeschool schedule simple and predictable. Most kids thrive on structure, which is why I am a big proponent of block scheduling.
- Deep Dive: A Simple Homeschool Schedule for Preschoolers
- A Closer Look: An inside look at a day in the life of a homeschool preschool
3. Remember, these young years should be fun!
- Read more from Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers: 10 Ways to Keep Preschool and Kindergarten Learning Fun
Preschool Learning Activities
1. If you are unsure where to start with learning activities, things like arts and crafts, sensory play, and read alouds are perfect activities for a home preschool. Not sure what all that means?
- Dig deeper: 6 Categories to Include in your Home Preschool
2. Letter of Week was huge hit in our house!
- Deep Dive: Homeschool Letter of the Week Curriculum
3. Homeschooling your preschooler should be fun and interactive. But it can be hard to think of ideas at times. No worries. Got ya covered.
Homeschooling Preschool Encouragement
1. Even though we start homeschooling full of excitement and vigor, it can get lonely and tiring. In those moments it’s important to remember your why.
- Dig Deeper: Why Homeschool
- Take a Closer Look: Homeschooling Advocate
2. You might think, “Oh I got this. I won’t get overwhelmed or want to quit.” Remember, everyone wants to quit in November and February.
- Read more from Simple Homeschool: Everyone Wants to Quit in November and February
3. When I hear the question, “How do you not go crazy being with your kids all the time?!” it’s not that I don’t go crazy. I just know how to deal with the crazy.
- Deep Dive: 5 Tips for the Overwhelmed Homeschool Mom
Home Preschool Resources
All this information might be leaving you feeling slightly overwhelmed.
Below I have a list of some of my favorite homeschooling books and blogs that you can use ane reference on your homeschool journey. Bookmark this page today and come back in the coming days and weeks as you start your homeschool plan. This will help as you gain confidence in homeschooling!
Homeschool Books
101 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum by Cathy Duffy was the first homeschool book I ever read, and I was able to really wrap my head around what I wanted our homeschool to look like.
The Read Aloud Family will change the way you think about read alouds, books, and family connections forever.
Life of Fred is a literature-based math program that my kids just LOVED!
Homeschool Blogs
My favorite source for printables: 1+1+1=1
My go-to site for fun paper crafts: Learn Create Love
For awesome sensory activity ideas (and much, much more): Teach Beside Me
Amazing blogs for when you need a little bit of encouragement: Simple Homeschool and Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers
I hope you have found this article useful for learning about homeschool preschool. Teaching your kids at home doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive, or overwhelming. You are more than capable! You are enough!
