At what age did you start pre-school hs'ing? And how did you do it?
My dd is only 32mo but I am very interested in hs'ing. My DH is strongly against it but says he will be open. I was thinking of starting hs'ing for the pre-school age years, after all, my dd can count to 10 and says her abc's and that's from just playing and reading books during the day! I think this is a great new forum and look forward to getting info from parents who are doing this successfully!! :happyclap:
sunshinemama
08-26-2006, 07:13 AM
I think what your doing now works for your dd age. They learn so so so much during play and interaction at that age. I started ds last year @ 3 with occassional worksheets, like tracing shapes etc.. This year @4 we will work more directly from books, excersies, intergrate science etc...
Just keep reading & playing, make up learning games. For example: we made up alphabet bingo so I could test his letter recognition.
MamaMel
08-26-2006, 07:25 AM
My DD is 26 months and we are starting but in an unschooling kinda way. Meaning when we go outside and play we call the grass green, count the trees things like that. I think next year we will start w/ more structured w/ work sheets and what not.
ahava'smama
08-26-2006, 07:29 AM
It sounds like you have already started hsing to me! I was going to say as early as you are able in everyday situations. My 19 mo. old can count to ten in three languages and say her abc's! I think you are doing a great job. Keep it up! :) and another idea if you want to start (if you haven't arleady) put some crayons and pencils in her hands! She can start making pictures for mommy and daddy~ :)
hollyhobby30
08-26-2006, 08:25 AM
I agree with everyone else. You don't need a formal curriculum that young. Even my 5 yo has a hard time sitting still and concentrating. Take life and use it as a learning experience. Count laundry. Count dishes when unloading the dishwasher. Buy some alphabet bath letters and let her play with them. I also found LEAPFROG Talking Letters, Words and Math Circus to be a wonderful tool to help them learn their letter sounds. LOVE them.
READ READ READ to your little girl and establish a love for reading early on.
Most importantly...have FUN!!!
annes_cottage
08-26-2006, 01:12 PM
Since we started homeschooling all are included at every age. I think I really always did it like that. Even as babies we read to them and started showing them cats and dogs, shapes and colors....you probably don't even realize it, but teaching is everything and I am sure we all do it with out even thinking about it! lol :goodvibes:
I agree with a pp, make crayons and paper available at all times. Creativity can begin when they are old enough to hold the crayon and enev help them before that!
A formal curiculum isn't necessary, but I use Mother Goos Time from ages 2 and up. www.mothergoosetime.com
Have fun! You are doing great!!!:thumbsup: :hugs:
mommalilac
08-26-2006, 04:12 PM
I think as parents we are always teaching them something my. Oldest dd was very adapt and avanced we unschooled her but she loved books and the library so she ended up being able to read very early type readers like "dot the pot, hop on spot" kinda thing, She Actually started school in a gifted private school and started K at 4 (she turns 5 nov 20th so she was almost there) she leveld off and is pretty average in all subject but still a very good reader she is 3rd now and she is reading my old books I enjoyed in school I love that part ;) with my 4 yr old we are unschooling for the most part she is willful and its hard pressed to get her to do much with out a fight but I highly recomend giving them a little spot of there own since i did that her intrest went way up and she loves her work book I got at Barnes & noble on a discount rack its called "the giant book of preschool skills" (i have 3rd grade for dd1 too). it really just covers everything but she pics and chooses what we do but I encourage certian things too. I started with her around 28 mts but she was not very intrested but somedays she was all about it.
jaseyandmallorysmommy
08-26-2006, 08:11 PM
I agree with what everyone is saying. I am going to start on Monday in fact an "official" school hour in our house. With my almost 4 yrs old and I suppose DD who is almost 2yrs will benefit as well. We will be doing a letter and number of the week.
CrunchiestMama
08-30-2006, 04:22 PM
I have a 4 yr old, and he is already at a 1st grade level in all areas except writing, he can read, he can spell he just doesn't write well, and he hates to practice writing~:banghead: I recently bought a new handwriting curriculum though and he has started to do so much better in the last couple of weeks he actually asks for the books! Anyhow my point was, I never sat him down for school until this year, he always had reading, art, science, any thing he could use to learn available to him on his bookshelves, and when he was ready he would decide what he wanted to do, alot of parents try to teach their children too soon, children develop differently, and if we try to push something on them before they are developmentally ready it doesn't do any good for the child. My mil hs'ed her 5 plus is now hs'ing her 2 granddaughters, and wrote a curriculum for boys, and teaches some classes to local homeschoolers....she is way too busy if you ask me LOL anyhow, she has done alot in the way of researching how children develop and all children have base lines so to speak of when they are ready for certain skills....I guess my point is that I just let my son decide when he was ready for the next level or subject and he has done exceptionally well...he just turned 4 in July and is doing very well, this is the first year I bought actual curriculum and he is loving it! When he finds something that challenges him, he works till he figures it out, I can't get him to close the book LOL Keep stuff around for them that will challenge them in small steps and when they are ready they'll tackle it :)
Proverbs169
08-31-2006, 09:32 PM
I am going to start a kindergarten curriculum with my oldest dd this fall. She is only 3.5 right now but I think she is ready for the preliminary stuff and if we have to go through it for 2 years or more that's OK. i will only be doing Bible and reading, nothing else formal. :)
StacyB
09-02-2006, 09:24 PM
Since we started homeschooling all are included at every age. I think I really always did it like that. Even as babies we read to them and started showing them cats and dogs, shapes and colors....you probably don't even realize it, but teaching is everything and I am sure we all do it with out even thinking about it! lol :goodvibes:
I agree with a pp, make crayons and paper available at all times. Creativity can begin when they are old enough to hold the crayon and enev help them before that!
A formal curiculum isn't necessary, but I use Mother Goos Time from ages 2 and up. www.mothergoosetime.com
Have fun! You are doing great!!!:thumbsup: :hugs:
Wanted to say...I looooooove the mother goose!!!
YumaDoula
09-07-2006, 01:00 AM
I have 3.5 yo twin boys and we just talk about colors, shapes, animals; we read, we play with a lot of play doh, we make lego things.
My mom was a middle school math teacher and she is REALLY into legos. She says they're wonderful for learning about spatial relationships and math.
