I'd like to start homeschooling my 3yr old. What should I do?

Question

My hubby and I are interested in homeschooling our children, but where should I start. My child is just 3 recently, and I'd like to start teaching her things to prepare her for preschool. What should I teach her, and where can I get the things I need to get(especially the free stuff)?

Answer 1

I think you may be trying to start a little early. Just let her be a kid.

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Answer 2

With homeschooling, you don't need to think about school grades unless you're in a country with strict laws - even then you can mostly do your own thing.  You don't need to prepare your child at all... just continue whatever you're doing at present.  Children of three have natural curiosity, and will ask questions all the time... so take your cue from your daughter!  

Also, of course, read to her, talk about what you see, go for walks, bake cookies, plant seeds.. the majority of education comes from conversation and learning together.   You will probably find she learns most of what she would have learned in the first few grades of school without any formal teaching, so long as you encourage her to ask questions, and provide any resources she might need.  

You can find a few ideas for informal maths here:  http://home-ed.info/maths/maths_toddlers...

Perhaps more important than preparing your child is to consider your own philosophy, and how you will go about homeschooling.  You'll find an overview of some of the possibilities here:  http://home-ed.info/home_ed_articles/edu...

Answer 3

At that young age, spend your time reading lots of books with your child. The biggest part of getting a little one ready for school is by encouraging lots of play time: puzzles, simple games, music, museums, zoos, and again LOTS of reading!

Nursery rhymes and songs are always fun - and a great way to teach the alphabet.

Coloring books and other simple crafts encourage fine motor skills.

Check out your local library. Most have classes for younger kids - sign up!

Use the KISS method (keep it super simple)!

Check out these sites for other ideas:

http://www.first-school.ws

http://www.teachersandfamilies.com/open/...

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/categor...

Answer 4

you need to look into what your state requires for homeschooling, but most don't start until Kindergarten or 1st grade. However as a mother that had both my sons reading at 4, and  former K3 teacher, i would suggest to do a lot of reading and make it fun, also other games that are fun and learning really help. Coloring papers are great too of the numbers and alphabet.  

However you may want to consider a good church daycare that really teaches (even half day for tha lessens) because on of the things missed in homeschooling is how to behave in a group and I have found that this helps best at the younger ages so thy do not have to go to a public school at all. One that uses A-Beka is the best you can get. not pushing church but they have higher standers of teaching most of the time, as a teacher I found most of my students parents did not go to the church and a lot did not go to my church they just wanted a solid and safe start for their children.

I also want to say I have had children in my Sunday school class I teach that have only been homeschooled and they tend to not know how to sit still or do not know how to follow simple rules like no talking, that is at age 7.

Answer 5

Do you have a library card? That is the first step.

The next step is to start reading and researching on your own. Find the homeschooling section of your library, it is around 371 in the non-fiction section. Check out some of the books there. I'd recommend anything by John Holt, Jessie Wise and John Taylor Gatto.

Just live an interesting life with your child. Don't sit the kid in front of the TV - go outside and explore. Find out what local activities there are - free park classes, free craft activities at Michael's things like that. Most museums have a free or deeply discounted day of the week - find out when and go!

Have fun, talk to your child and most importantly - READ to the child.

Good luck

Answer 6

Hi. We're Canadian.  We have three kids.  We homeschool.  How you go about it differs from place to place.  In Canada, we receive funding to homeschool.  The amount you receive depends on how aligned you are with your province's curriculum.  Have a look at these websites:

www.starfall.com

www.enchantedlearning.com

www.brainpop.com

www.rainforestmaths.com

With BrainPop and EnchantedLearning, there are some free materials or you can buy an annual membership.

Also, have a look at:

www.sonlight.com

They offer full curriculum packages starting at the pre-school age.

I wish you the best.  We love homeschooling.  My kids learn way more and they are safe, warm, fed and cared for.  Don't worry about the stereotypical questions people will ask you about things like socialization.  It is NOT an issue.  All the best.

Answer 7

The alphabet, numbers, writing, speech (no baby talk!), you can start anywhere, really.  My parents used phonics and I was reading by age four.  I started violin lessons at age three, but other than that it was mostly learning through discovery and playing!  I never wanted to go to school when I was older because learning at home was so enjoyable, who would want to leave?!  I am now a senior in college and am so thankful my parents gave me the education they did.

Answer 8

Here is some great information on homeschooling preschool.

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

I really love the rod and staff pre-k workbooks.  They are not free, but they are very inexpensive.

http://www.rodandstaffbooks.com

Letter of the week is a great free preschool curriculum.

http://www.letteroftheweek.com

Answer 9

phonics

Answer 10

Prepare her for preschool? 3 IS preschool.

Preschoolers learn their colours, count to 10, tie their shoes, paint, colour, draw, build with blocks, play with sand, do fine motor things like cutting and pasting, sing songs, play outside... As you can tell, you don't need anything specific.

Answer 11

do u mean homeschooling them grades K-12? if so...I don't recommend that. There will be no social life for those kids and they will be freaks.(how would you feel with no friends?) but if its just before preschool as a head-start then that'd be cool. But I recommend putting them in a regular school in grades K-12.

Answer 12

start with colors, letters and shapes

but don't push to much

make it fun

3 is really young