I loved doing preschool with my son at home! This was a truly rewarding experience and I’m excited that you are about to embark on this wonderful journey! Here are some tips and 5 steps for homeschool preschool success.
STEP 1 — Set Goals
What do you want to accomplish by doing preschool at home? Take a look at your local school district’s kindergarten entrance requirements for a starting point. Typically a child entering kindergarten needs to be able to say the alphabet, be able to recognize some of letters, count up to 20, recognize shapes and colors, and write their first name.
STEP 2 — Lesson Plans
Now that you know what you want to do, let’s make that happen. You need to find a curriculum or make your own lesson plans. There are plenty of free options. Check with your local district, state education department, find a free curriculum online, or join up with a homeschool group in your area. I organized my son’s preschool lessons around learning one letter per week, with plenty of time for revisiting ones he was struggling with and lots of seasonal activities.
STEP 3 — Create a Schedule
Preschoolers thrive on consistency and routines. Once you start your homeschooling, you might need to tweak your schedule. Once you have a schedule that works for you, try your best to stick to it. Here is a link to the schedule I used: https://imaginationsrunningwild.com/preschool/alphabet/
STEP 4 — Make a Space
Now you know what you are going to do and when you are going to do it, so it’s time to decide where you are going to work on preschool activities. You don’t need a dedicated homeschool room. Find a space that is free from distractions (not in front of the TV or by the toy box). Gather all of your supplies and have them in this space ready to go.
STEP 5 — Find Local Resources
You are not alone! There are lots of other homeschool families, you just need to find them. Where to look? Try Facebook — this is a great way to connect with homeschool families around the country. Go to your local library. Homeschool families greatly rely on their libraries and often participate in the library’s activities. Your librarian can likely help you connect with other homeschoolers.
