Preschool homeschooling - confused

[haveandhold]

Hi and God bless All,

I'm a little confused and overwhelmed about preschool curriculums. It seems like there's plenty out there, partially that's why I am a little lost as far as what to pick or if I need a curriculum at all. Anyone with experience teaching young preschoolers, please help with your ideas and wisdom!

My oldest is a 25 months old girl, she already knows her abc-s and just today she started to "read" words off of tv screen and books (well not really read as she doesn't know the sounds yet, she just spelled them out loud). I am of course very proud of her but at the same time confused as far as what to teach her or rather just let go and focus on playing and fun activities. I've read articles that discourage the early introduction of letters and numbers because children are not neurogically ready to learn these and in the long run it might create attention and learning problems. Well it's a little late for her because of what she already knows (I've never pushed her, she's just picked it up and seemingly very interested in letters, counting, etc..)

Is it "worth" investing in some kind of christian preschool homeschool curriculum or rather not? Does anyone know good websites/books with lots of fun activities (physical exercise, games, craft, etc.) for this age group? What did you all do for your young preschoolers? I guess I'd really like a little bit of everything in her daily routine (Bible time - which we already do, crafts, helping around the house, physical exercise and games, "study time" - if it's beneficial at all..)..Just a little bit of everything every day, to not to overwhelm her but keep it interesting and fun..

Originally I didn't even want her to learn her abc-s this early on but a, I saw her being interested in letters in the past months and b, some family members made me feel like an inadequate parent because she "doesn't know her abc-s yet while others do before they even turn two, how do you want to homeschool at all if you don't even teach her anything".

Thanks so much for help in advance!

[lyngraphics]

WOW! Sound like she is ahead of the game! With my 4 year old, I used preschool books from anywhere, sometimes I have even found some at garage sales. They focus on anything from letters and numbers to colors, sizes and shapes. I am about to start teaching him to read simple words (he just turned 4). My 23 month old just loves to color and play for now, but is learning her colors and shapes. I usually copy my books to reuse them, also.

[NewWorldOrder]

It is not necessary to use a curriculum for one so young. The absolute best thing you can do is simply to read to her. Read books about numbers, ABC books, very very simple phonics books, etc. The rest she will learn through play. She will not need a curriculum till she's older and ready for school, and even then you may not need a formal curriculum, it just depends on what you want to do, and how your daughter learns.

You're doing just great, from what I can tell. Your teaching her all these things without any curriculum. If you want, make some ABC cards, or get her a puzzle of the ABC's and teach the sounds of each letter using the puzzle. There's so many things you can do at that age, just get a little creative. :hug

[lisaann]

I started both of my kids off in pre-K using Five In A Row. You can use books from the library for extra $$$ savings. :thumb
http://www.fiveinarow.com/

[topekaclark]

With our son, I used the internet for worksheets. One time we stacked paper ice cream scoops (colored) on top of a cone.

I do have a pre-school workbook, I haven't really use it. We practice letters, learning to make the letters for his name. I also have a little white board to use like his sisters, makes him feel like a big boy.

When we are driving we play games with the signs and lights.

[Nikilyn]

I like the ace homeshooling books. They are also what they use at the christian schools in the areas. While taking my psychology classes at the college awhile back I learned that the younger they are the faster they pick up and learn things. So I don't think that there is anything wrong with starting a subject early, plus if you are going to homeschool until she is 16-18 then she might get ahead and will have more opportunities such as college early or will be able to master more subjects in greater depth. In response to your other question their are many websites available, I don't have any children so I couldn't give you any off hand, but I have come across fun history and science websites that are interactive and have step by step instructions for science experiments that you could work on together. Yes she is young, but they are pretty basic and simple. I guess it all depends on what you want. Do you want to push learning now or do you want to wait awhile, or maybe you just want to stick to fun activities where she might not even realize she is learning.

[imfree]

It is not necessary to use a curriculum for one so young. The absolute best thing you can do is simply to read to her. Read books about numbers, ABC books, very very simple phonics books, etc. The rest she will learn through play. She will not need a curriculum till she's older and ready for school, and even then you may not need a formal curriculum, it just depends on what you want to do, and how your daughter learns.

You're doing just great, from what I can tell. Your teaching her all these things without any curriculum. If you want, make some ABC cards, or get her a puzzle of the ABC's and teach the sounds of each letter using the puzzle. There's so many things you can do at that age, just get a little creative. :hug

GREAT advice! :thumb

[HSmomto4]

Just read to her and play with blocks. Use the linking blocks to learn your numbers. I've got 2 in "pre-school" and that has already gone through it and thry need nothing more than just books and blocks.

[denny272]

I like Hooked on Phonics K for reading. It works really well.

[topekaclark]

I also found counting/math story books at barnes and nobles for my 3 year old, he loves them. They are story books but have different math themes, such has small vs bigger, counting, etc.