Today I’m talking about how to teach preschool at home. I love how easy it is! The simplicity of what kids need to learn at this point leaves so much room to just have fun learning. 😃 This is a time filled with glue-sticks and ABC’s.
I have had so much fun with projects and curriculums and just whatever I think of to teach and learn with my preschoolers over the years. Since my pre-schooling started with my oldest, and we’ve had a steady stream of preschoolers over the years, I have more preschool experience than any other grade.
Not all of the years have been ideal. Haha! I don’t think there’s such a thing as “ideal” with preschool because of the age and stage of the little kiddos. What I mean, though, is that I haven’t always been able to make much effort for preschool as I’ve juggled new babies and older kids.
Preschool Standards to keep consistently:
- Introduction to each letter of the alphabet and it’s sound
- Practice counting to 10
- Introduction to the symbols for 1-10
- Practice with fine motor skills for writing
- Lots of exposure to written words
Aside from these simple standards, the other thing we’ve done with all our preschoolers is to read to them. The number one influence on children learning to read is their parents reading to them. This has been an easy one for us as my hubby is a big reader and I love children’s books. 🥰 That doesn’t mean each of our kids picked up reading super easy, though most of them did. They’re all individuals and have their own strengths and weaknesses. But the support system is in place so those slower ones did or will catch up.
Keeping these simple standards and getting creative to make them fun is how to teach preschool at home.
This is the very first book we bought for our Baby #1 while he was still a bun in the oven. You can see we’ve read it a few times. 😆 All of our little ones have enjoyed it.
At this point we have quite a collection of children’s books. We gotten them as hand-me-downs, as gifts, on clearance, at library sales, and the occasional Barnes and Noble purchase. Children’s books are one of my weaknesses.
I think that having reading as a priority in our home has given our family an educational life-style, where learning isn’t just for school, but for all of life from personal time, to problem solving, to family bonding. We love to read!
Having fun with preschool at home
What about the creative part of preschool?
I don’t think I’ve done the same thing for preschool more than 3 years in a row. For of a few of them I participated in a co-op group doing Joy School. some years I’ve used an alphabetized theme book and other preschool curriculum books. It’s fun when we can go outside and explore nature together. I love it when we get to do an art project or science themed craft. The past few years I’ve just used the alphabet as our theme and have found projects in our books or on Pinterest. I actually use Pinterest a lot to supplement all of our homeschooling grades and subjects.
Looking back I think my favorite plan for how to teach preschool at home went like this:
- Focus on 1 letter per week
- Pick an animal that starts with that letter to learn about
- Read a book with that animal in it, fiction or non-fiction
- Do a related math activity
- Make a related art or craft
I loved this one so much, probably because I learned about several new kinds of animals, most of which were birds. I really gained an interest in all the birds that come to live here half the year, and the ones that stay year round. 🦆
Some of the most fun preschool project are messy projects, whether it’s glue-sticks or painting or peanut butter and birdseed on pinecones, these little guys can make a mess! I’m gonna show you how to make a preschool apron out of a plastic bag to help keep those messes contained (mostly😉).
A plastic bag apron
Step 1) Lay a plastic bag flat. Cut the top end of both bag handles as shown.
Step 2) Cut down the center of both sides of the bag.
Step 3) Open the bag. Cut on the folds of each side of the bag, just to the middle.
Step 4) Pull up the parts you’ve cut to use to tie the bag on like an apron.
Step 5) Double tie it comfortably onto your kiddo. Now you’re ready to get messy! Tada!
You don’t have to be fancy or formal to teach your kids preschool at home. In my opinion, the most important thing they can learn in preschool is to love learning, so have fun!
Thanks for reading my blog. if you liked it, share it. And enjoy your adventure.
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