Homeschooling with preschoolers

Again I need to emphasize that I did not write this.  This is a compilation of answers to questions that were asked at my homeschool group meeting. I hope some of you find the information helpful.

Renita

Homeschooling with preschoolers

Q: What can I do with my toddler and infant when I need some time to focus on an activity with my homeschooling child?
A: Common sense will dictate what needs to be done for any particular situation. Homeschooling parents have found that infants are easily incorporated into the flow of a homeschooling lifestyle. Since you're not saddled into a school schedule, you have the flexibility to do more concentrated work during nursing time, sitting in the high chair time, nap time, or even bed time. Toddlers, full of energy and eager to explore, may require a little more strategic planning.

When I asked experienced homeschooling moms how they handle their toddlers, their answers could be placed in two categories: inclusion or diversion. Most of them prefer inclusion as they noticed the very real educational benefits of this.

Briefly, inclusion means listening to read-alouds as a family. While many of the books may be "over the toddler's head," it's incredible what they *do* pick up from these opportunities. It doesn't hurt the older child to listen to books aimed specifically at the toddler, either. Inclusion also means a "similar" activity. For example, if your older child is writing a poem, a younger child can feel included with a piece of paper and a crayon. Doing math? The younger child can play with manipulatives, too.  Diversion methods include saving special play toys just for the occasion. If everyone moves outside, the little ones can play in the sand box within easy viewing. Computer games help, as does the occasional Winnie the Pooh video some folks were loathe to confess to. Finally, Dad was an often-mentioned, popular diversion, asked upon arriving home to run to the store or to enjoy the park for "just a little bit."  One piece of advice one Mom shared that is worth repeating: "Go to the young ones before they're clamoring, saturate them with attention, then return to your teaching." By Linda Dobson

 Great  website     ~~~~~~     http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/

How do you homeschool with babies and preschoolers?

Many homeschoolers try to do academics while babies and preschoolers are napping.  Swings and playpens for the very young work quite well.

Homeschooling is so much more than bringing a private school classroom into your home.   Many families incorporate many different grade levels as well as a preschoolers and toddlers into the homeschooling environment.  Younger children do very well working, listening and even just playing side-by-side with older students.   Coloring books are a great resource for topic related material for the younger set.  The little ones may opt to play with math manipulatives during school time.  By the time the little ones reach K-1st grade level, they are already very familiar with the math manilupatives and how they are used.  Oral reading becomes a family affair with Legos and playdough being invaluable tools!

Another tool is to have older children occupy younger ones while the parent is working one-on-one with another child.  Not only do siblings bond, but gives the parent the necessary peace to proceed with instruction.  This is not a time for the young scholars to watch TV, but a time for older scholars to play a special game or teach the little ones a new activity.  The little ones thoroughly enjoy this time!  Depending on your neighborhood and ages, you may even be able to allow them to go for a walk down the sidewalk and back.

Training is probably the most work when teaching older siblings how to train younger scholars.  Yet, this aspect of the homeschooling life is so highly rewarding that the time and effort in training the older siblings is well worth it in the end.  By training children in what is expected and when, there is less crying and gnashing of teeth.

Many homeschooling mothers simply hold the baby or preschoolers while they are homeschooling.  Crayons, blocks, toys or a good old-fashioned movie like Robin Hood with Errol Flynn are marvelous ways to distract young ones.  Cut out various shapes from construction paper and give the preschooler a glue stick and a sheet of any color construction paper they would like and create some artwork.  Rubber stamps with washable ink can be a lot of fun.  Let the child look through an illustrated cultural atlas for young people, illustrated dictionaries, Audubon Guides, etc.  Tupperware and pots and pans offer endless fascination.  Cardboard boxes make terrific shoppes, race cars, etc. and offer endless hours of pure joy.  Measuring cups — both dry and wet measuring cups — with water at the kitchen sink is fun entertainment as well!  Make "worksheets" with numbers and letters for them to trace over or color.  Attempt to include the young ones in whatever homeschooling activity you are involved in!  Audio books at the appropriate age level are wonderful ways to keep a child entertained.  If you feel comfortable, you may let your little one play in the yard or, better yet, have school on the picnic table in the yard!  Housework like the dusting game is also beneficial not only for the little one, but is extremely helpful for the entire family.  The laundry game where the little ones are folding wash cloths, dish cloths, dish towels are great along with sorting socks.

The important thing is to try your own routine and what works best for your family.

Homeschooling with Preschoolers

1) Even preschoolers are subject to habits. They can be trained over time to play quietly while everyone else studies.

2) Try having a school box exactly like the other children with your preschooler's name on it. Stock it with safety scissors, crayons, color books, lacing cards, quiet toys, etc.

3) Preschoolers often want to work in the same book as the older sister or brother. That problem is easily solved by giving young children used up workbooks. None of my little kids have cared that they were already written in, it's the appearance of looking important enough to "do" school like the big kids that matters.

4) Waiting until your preshooler's nap time is one solution that worked for me. We couldn't get the whole school day accomplished in that short time but we could save the most important subjects for then.

 Catherine Levison is the author of three Charlotte Mason-related homeschooling books:  A Charlotte Mason Education: A How-to Manual, the sequel More Charlotte Mason Education, and her newest book A Literary Education: An Annotated Book Lis

MANAGING THE HOMESCHOOLWITH PRESCHOOLERS

Many families have the challenge and joy of teaching their school-aged children with preschoolers in the home. The following are some ideas and tips that have helped different home educators deal successfully with this challenge.

One method is to schedule class time around the naps of the younger children. This approach demands the discipline of getting to work as soon as the naps begin. Even though your older child may not be as fresh to do his schoolwork as he would be first thing in the morning, this idea usually works well. Be flexible; as your baby's or toddler's schedule changes, you will need to make adjustments in your school schedule as well.

Try "filling the cup" of your toddler first. Spend some quality time with them before you start to work with your older children. While Mom is beginning with the preschooler, the other children can read aloud to one another or practice math facts. When it is time for Mom to focus on geography, your little one will be more likely to accept being told that it is his siblings' turn.

When the younger children are awake, Mom can involve them in play activities (with an older child if possible) while she gives her attention to teaching the other children. The family socialization that takes place during these times is priceless. Have a box of toys reserved only for school time and rotate the toys each day to keep your toddler's attention.

With younger children who tend to make messes that they cannot clean up, it is especially important for everyone, including Dad, to pitch in with the housework. (Hint for Dad: Most home schooling moms dream of extra help with the housework. A maid service is much cheaper than private school. Hint for Mom: Dream on! Most home schooling dads have their hands full supporting the "school lunch program"!) What better way for our children to learn the work ethic than to pitch in and help Mom with the chores around the house? Remember that home economics is also a course of study. The training time is not always easy, but the benefits last a lifetime.

TEACHING PRESCHOOLERS IN THE HOME

Some families attempt to teach academics to preschoolers at home. Although if is possible to teach three-year-olds to read, it is not recommended unless:

(1) you only have one or two children at home and plenty of time to spend with them,

(2) you do not push them too hard so as to make them hate formal learning, and

(3) you use a curriculum designed for preschoolers.

Many find that two- and three-year-olds have limited long-term retention. Unless you continue to work with them every day, they rapidly forget what they have learned. We have also found that a five-year-old can learn in one or two days what may take weeks for a two- or three-year-old to learn, and he can remember it longer.

As preschoolers mature, they can begin to do schoolwork of their own. It makes them feel special to be treated like their big sisters and brothers. A four-year-old can usually cut out of magazines pictures of items that start with certain letters. Have glue sticks available to put his picture on a piece of paper that has the capital and lower case letter drawn on it. Your child can assemble his own book of the letters he has learned. What a painless way to learn phonics! This also gives him something to do when Mom is busy with the older children.

Always include your preschooler when reading aloud together and discussing interesting things. Children learn so much more by osmosis than we could ever imagine! If possible, have picture books containing pictures of the subjects being discussed in school. This helps your little ones feel more included in this family activity.

Most of all, relax and have fun with your little ones, read and sing to them often, make things together, answer their questions, take them many places, and show and explain things to them. They will come to love to learn at an early age when surrounded by such opportunities and a loving, caring family.

How do I homeschool with preschoolers?

 Homeschooling with preschoolers around presents a special challenge. Home School Legal Defense Association Chairman and General Counsel Michael Farris tells us how his family incorporates preschoolers into their homeschooling program.

Michael Farris: My wife Vickie has homeschooled our 10 children for 16 years. In the early years, we had just a couple of younger students in the primary grades and one or two preschoolers. This is a fairly typical family pattern for new homeschoolers, who need to learn to deal with the little ones.

The most important fact for such families is that it only takes about two hours a day to give a 1st- through 3rd-grader necessary academic instruction. And a parent can switch back and forth between a couple of younger students and get through an entire school day in about three hours. Babies and toddlers, thankfully, take naps. This is prime instruction time, and toddlers have a certain attention span for quiet activities such as coloring, looking at books, or playing with Legos. Vickie can teach Emily in the kitchen while 3-year-old Johnny plays quietly 10 feet away in the family room. While this won't last for long periods, an alert mom can learn to rotate her attention between children to keep things at even keel long enough to get through the two or three hours she needs for younger children. Older children require more instruction time, but they're also more capable of helping with the preschoolers. Homeschooling with preschoolers is a challenge, but it's far from impossible. Hundreds of thousands of moms have done it successfully. There's probably at least one such mom in your local support group. I'm Michael Farris. How can the Home School Legal Defense Association help you? To find out, contact us and ask for a free copy of You Can Homeschool!. Call us toll-free at 866-338-8614.