Homeschooling Preschoolers
I never considered homeschooling preschoolers when I first started teaching. When my oldest was four everyone wanted to know if she was excited for school next year.
The trend today is to ask a three year old if he is ready for preschool. But do we need to follow the status quo? Do preschoolers need to read, write, and do arithmetic?
Most of the authorities such as Maria Montessori, Dr Raymond Moore and Froebel say no.
So, Who Are the Authorities
Maria started the Montessori schools where students learn by using a hands on approach. She believed that education should educate the senses before the intellect.
Dr. Raymond Moore was a leader in the homeschooling movement. He did not believe in formal education before the age of eight.
Froebel was the father of the kindergarten. He believed that the only way to learn about the different properties of things is by touching, tasting, or feeling.
Homeschooling Preschoolers with Special Needs
If your child is nonverbal, does not look at you, or you have other concerns about about his development be sure to ask your child's physician. He may be disabled.
You can still teach him at home, but you may need some help. Read all you can about your child's disability. Talk to the authorities and other parents. A lot of the techniques used by the authorities will also work with your child.
What Does Homeschooling Preschoolers Look Like?
Let your child play. Give them good toys. Make sure that your have toys for imagination such as dress-up clothes, cars, and dolls.Then your preschooler will be able to act out the stories that he hears. Also give your child toys to build hand and eye coordination such as puzzles, balls, and jump ropes.
Provide new experiences for your child. Let your child taste new foods. Buy a pineapple. Smell how sweet it smells. Taste the pineapple. This is a good time to start teaching about nutrition.
Another time have food from a different country. Try Mexican, Chinese or food from India.
Also see new sights. If you are from the city go to the country. How about visiting the mountains or the desert?
When homeschooling preschoolers read quality picture books. If your are a Christian read Bible stories to your children.
Young children love to sing, so sing songs together. Do art projects together.
If you are teaching older students give your preschooler a choice between two quiet activities so that they will be entertained while you teach. If they want to play school give them play dough and letter cookie cutters or let them write in a tub of rice.
Go places such as the park, a lake, or the zoo.Take about the places you go. Point out interesting things.
Name items that you know. If you see a robin, point it out to your preschooler.
Also Let your preschooler get dirty. Let him play in the mud. Help your child make mud pies.
Get a pool or in the bathtub and let him experiment with things that float and sink. Do other experiments for preschool science.
Because preschoolers are still young and do not understand cause and effect. You will need to be close. Watch that your child does not eat something that will hurt them. Watch them around water. Remember that preschoolers can drown in a small amount of water.
Use real life examples to teach math. Set the table. Sort socks or silverware. Your child is learning without using worksheets. Young children need to be able to manipulate items before they can use symbols on a worksheet.
Before teaching reading look at the development of the child.
This is also a good time to teach your preschooler about work. Give your child some easy chores to do. Teach him to pick up his toys and dirty clothes. He can take the silverware out of the dishwasher and put them away. Have your preschooler put his clean clothes away. He can also make his bed.
Most of all enjoy homeschooling preschoolers. It is only for a short time.
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