If you plan on homeschooling preschool you may wonder what you need to get the job done. The truth is you need very little! But, homeschooling preschool can be easier with a few tools.
If you plan on homeschooling preschool you may wonder what you need to get the job done. The truth is you need very little! An imagination, an eager child, library card and your daily routine is all that is needed to successfully homeschool preschool. However, there are tools that can make homeschooling preschool a little easier.
Counting Bears-We LOVE these adorable bears and they are great for teaching a wide variety of things. You can work on patterning, counting, color recognition and early math skills. If you don’t have counting bears you can use blocks or barrels of monkeys!
Flash Cards– The dollar tree has flashcards for everything from shapes, to positional words, to letters and numbers. We go through these cards at snack, in the car, during school, or any other time that is convenient. My kids always loved “getting” the cards after they were right, then counting them up afterward. Flashcards do not have to be rigorous and can be fun if your child enjoys them.
Board Games– Candy land, chutes and ladders, Hi Ho Cherry O, and Memory are all classic preschool games. The best things about these games are they are also educational!
Curriculum– A preschool curriculum is NOT needed, but some people really like to have one. I have used a few different ones through the years, and have heard reviews on numerous ones.
The favorites have been: Easy Peasy Homeschool (Free), Little Hands to Heaven, ABC Jesus Loves Me, Before Five in a Row and ABC Mouse.
Books– Preschoolers love to read and books are a great way to learn while having fun. We have really enjoyed the recommended reading list from Before Five in a Row. I also recommend the preschool books on this list of 100 great books for kids.
Friends- One of the best things about preschool is playing with friends. When you homeschool preschool you may be worried about not having that “tool”. However, finding friends for your preschooler can be easy. Look into storytimes at your local library. Most offer some sort of preschool age program. Arrange to get together with your friend’s kids; go to the park, or mall play area. Look into local homeschool groups. Many accept preschoolers, even if you are unsure of your long-term plans.
Homeschooling preschool should be one of the best years you will have as a homeschool parent. There is no pressure, and learning is still fun. So, make plans to sit back and enjoy it! Hopefully, some of these tools will help :)
Misty Bailey is the owner of the blog Joy in the Journey and podcaster at Joyfully Homeschooling. Her goal in this online space is to encourage and inspire you on your homeschool journey by providing practical tips for real life homeschooling. Through real stories, real struggles, and real life, Misty shares how to embrace imperfection and strive for a more joyful homeschool.
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