How to Homeschool Your Preschooler

Whether you plan to homeschool your child through high school, or just for a few years, it is smart to start homeschooling at preschool age. Here is what you need to know to homeschool your preschooler.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer
• Printer
• Pencils
• Alphabet
• Number flashcards
• Posters

1. Continue parenting as usual. There should not be a distinct difference between normal care for your preschooler and homeschooling your preschooler. Continue reading to them regularly, singing nursery rhymes with them and teaching them important skills like getting dressed, tying shoes, and keeping themselves clean.

2. Find a place that the child can clearly see and tape the alphabet to the wall. Tape numbers to the wall as well. Teach them to sing the alphabet song while at the same time pointing to each letter so that thy will learn to associate the name of the letter with what it looks like.

3. Take your preschooler on play dates. Learning to get along with others and to share are skills taught in preschool. Make sure your preschooler gets to spend ample time with other children in his or her age range, and also of different ages.

4. Take your preschooler to the library. Learning to pay attention is also a very important preschooler skill. You can teach this skill by taking them to the library for free story time where they will sit with other children and families and be entertained by the stories.

5. Purchase Preschool CD-ROM programs. Numerous CD-ROM games will teach and reinforce everything a child needs to learn in a preschool program. My favorite program for homeschooling your preschooler is Reader Rabbit Preschool. Some of the other titles available are School Zone Alphabet Express, Disney Preschool Bundle and Jumpstart Advanced Preschool.

6. Use the computer to play online games. There are hundreds of websites that have games that will teach your preschooler important skills while they are having fun. Check out websites like funschool.kaboose.com, noggin.com, and iknowthat.com, which are just a few of the many websites available.

7. Watch TV with your preschoolers. Yes I said watch TV, as there are numerous educational programs that will reinforce important skills for your preschoolers. The operative word in this statement however is "with." Do not leave your child in front of the TV for hours unattended, but sit with him and watch programs that you have deemed to be educational.

8. Purchase a curriculum guide book (optional). If you feel you need step by step instructions, you can purchase a preschool curriculum guide book. Some titles to consider are Easy Daily Plans: Over 250 Plans for Preschool Teachers, What Your Preschooler Needs to Know: Get Ready for Kindergarten, or Preschool Success: Everything You Need to Know to Help Your Child Learn.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not force your preschooler to learn. Keep the material in front of them, and encourage them to use it when they seem attentive and interested.