Should I consider implementing a preschool homeschool curriculum? Which?
August 2, 2020 6:25 PM Subscribe
I'm starting to wonder my son's next group experience may welll be in kindergarten, September 2021. Even if he goes back to daycare before then, it won't likely be until at least January. Right now we're just hanging out. We read a lot and play a lot, but I'm not really "teaching" him anything, beyond life-skills/human-skills explicitly/deliberately. Should I consider getting a homeschool curriculum for preschool and running with it? If so, how do I find? Can you recommend one?
My son was born late April 2017. So 3 years and 3 months now. He's scheduled to start kindergarten in September 2021. He was in daycare from about 14 months. His daycare will reopen August 17, but I won't be sending him back at that time and likely not until at least January. Obviously no one knows how this will go, but I can also imagine he doesn't go back to any group learning environment before kindergarten. As a coping mechanism, I'm assuming that by September 2021, it will be safe for him to go back.
He was in the "preschool room" at daycare, but that means it's the room for preschool-aged kids (2.5-4). It was not "school" in any sense. It's emergent -curriculum-based and though there are curricular goals, they are not really academic type things. I'm fine with that. I'm actually kind of opposed to academic-type learning for young kids. Kids here start learning to read in Kindergarten now, and even that is disturbing enough to me that even while I was pregnant I was wistfully googling private schools looking for a play-based non-academic kindergarten.
But still, I'm worried about all the learning he's missing out on while he's home and whether he'll be prepared for kindergarten. Should I consider a homeschool curriculum to cover non-academic skills and pre-literacy/pre-numeracy/experiential stuff (i.e. pre-science)/art stuff?
We already read a lots (figure 10-15 books per day), play outside, and chase buses. He cooks. There was a bit of a screen-time problem earlier in the pandemic where he was watching up to an hour in a day, but it's now down to 15 mins max. Pre-pandemic he was fully screen-free from birth.
How do I find something like this? Has anyone used a curriculum they recommend? I don't see this as an all day thing (and will be working) but maybe things I or grandmas could do 2-3 hours per day. How do homeschool curriculums even work?
My son was born late April 2017. So 3 years and 3 months now. He's scheduled to start kindergarten in September 2021. He was in daycare from about 14 months. His daycare will reopen August 17, but I won't be sending him back at that time and likely not until at least January. Obviously no one knows how this will go, but I can also imagine he doesn't go back to any group learning environment before kindergarten. As a coping mechanism, I'm assuming that by September 2021, it will be safe for him to go back.
He was in the "preschool room" at daycare, but that means it's the room for preschool-aged kids (2.5-4). It was not "school" in any sense. It's emergent -curriculum-based and though there are curricular goals, they are not really academic type things. I'm fine with that. I'm actually kind of opposed to academic-type learning for young kids. Kids here start learning to read in Kindergarten now, and even that is disturbing enough to me that even while I was pregnant I was wistfully googling private schools looking for a play-based non-academic kindergarten.
But still, I'm worried about all the learning he's missing out on while he's home and whether he'll be prepared for kindergarten. Should I consider a homeschool curriculum to cover non-academic skills and pre-literacy/pre-numeracy/experiential stuff (i.e. pre-science)/art stuff?
We already read a lots (figure 10-15 books per day), play outside, and chase buses. He cooks. There was a bit of a screen-time problem earlier in the pandemic where he was watching up to an hour in a day, but it's now down to 15 mins max. Pre-pandemic he was fully screen-free from birth.
How do I find something like this? Has anyone used a curriculum they recommend? I don't see this as an all day thing (and will be working) but maybe things I or grandmas could do 2-3 hours per day. How do homeschool curriculums even work?
You've got reading down, so what he needs is writing and arithmetic. But given his age it all needs to be play based because what you want to teach him is that he loves fooling around with numbers, and that he loves writing and drawing.
If he enjoys that kind of thing there are workbooks that would have counting and printing exercises for him to do. More useful than workbook pages would be to spend time playing games that involve counting and numeracy, and getting him to express himself either on paper or on a screen, preferably both. For example if you play a game with him where you need to throw two dice to move it will get him used to hearing numbers being added up. "Three plus two is five, so I get to move five spaces. Okay, you threw a six and a two. Six plus two is eight. You can move eight spaces, Bud. (Count with him as he moves his marker) One, Two, Three, Four..."
Get a set of measuring cups and play with him with those so he can learn the concepts of measuring and half a cup and a quarter cup. When you fix his meals get him to understand the concept of half a sandwich. Teach him the concepts of heavier and lighter, and lower and higher. Teach him shapes. Draw for him and get him to draw for you. Label stuff for him. Post it notes are ideal for this. Stick them all over the house, with drawings of the things you are labeling and the printed words. Door. Chair. Dog. (The dog will lose the post it note very quickly.) By drawing things and writing words it will get the concept across that writing is something you do and that people can do, and not just something found already printed. He will enjoy sticking the post its on things. Get him to tell you what labels to make.
How formal a curriculum to teach depends on how you want him streamed when he does start school. His school may want him writing numbers to 100 and doing addition, and they may want him printing his name and a few simple words as well as all the alphabet, upper and lower case. They may not have expectations that are that high, depending on the school. Those are basics that you can help him pick up by playing games and writing stories with him. If he is going to be aimed for an achievement track you should have been introduced to those things. But remember not all kids are capable of learning these things by the time they are five - and if they are not it is because they are on a different development track. He will pick them up when he is ready; he is not delayed if he doesn't grasp literacy before grade three the same way that short kids are not delayed, they are just healthy and growing on a different time table than the tall kids. What is important is that he not get frustrated by unrealistic expectations as that might teach him to hate academics or feel dumb.
Look up "What your child should know by kindergarten" and work with that stuff, in the form of play, and not as drill.
Even more important than the academics is trying to ensure he gets to interact with kids his own age, and people of different ages. Academics are usually easy to catch up. What is harder to catch up on are social skills. His play opportunities should not be so restricted that he never makes mistakes, or gets mildly hurt, or damages things. Play where he takes minor risks - things like spilling water, or using the wrong colour marker, or falls down, or discovers he is too heavy to swing from a branch are critical for him to develop judgement. Opportunities for self directed gross motor play is one of the most important things you can provide him.
posted by Jane the Brown at 7:22 PM on August 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
If he enjoys that kind of thing there are workbooks that would have counting and printing exercises for him to do. More useful than workbook pages would be to spend time playing games that involve counting and numeracy, and getting him to express himself either on paper or on a screen, preferably both. For example if you play a game with him where you need to throw two dice to move it will get him used to hearing numbers being added up. "Three plus two is five, so I get to move five spaces. Okay, you threw a six and a two. Six plus two is eight. You can move eight spaces, Bud. (Count with him as he moves his marker) One, Two, Three, Four..."
Get a set of measuring cups and play with him with those so he can learn the concepts of measuring and half a cup and a quarter cup. When you fix his meals get him to understand the concept of half a sandwich. Teach him the concepts of heavier and lighter, and lower and higher. Teach him shapes. Draw for him and get him to draw for you. Label stuff for him. Post it notes are ideal for this. Stick them all over the house, with drawings of the things you are labeling and the printed words. Door. Chair. Dog. (The dog will lose the post it note very quickly.) By drawing things and writing words it will get the concept across that writing is something you do and that people can do, and not just something found already printed. He will enjoy sticking the post its on things. Get him to tell you what labels to make.
How formal a curriculum to teach depends on how you want him streamed when he does start school. His school may want him writing numbers to 100 and doing addition, and they may want him printing his name and a few simple words as well as all the alphabet, upper and lower case. They may not have expectations that are that high, depending on the school. Those are basics that you can help him pick up by playing games and writing stories with him. If he is going to be aimed for an achievement track you should have been introduced to those things. But remember not all kids are capable of learning these things by the time they are five - and if they are not it is because they are on a different development track. He will pick them up when he is ready; he is not delayed if he doesn't grasp literacy before grade three the same way that short kids are not delayed, they are just healthy and growing on a different time table than the tall kids. What is important is that he not get frustrated by unrealistic expectations as that might teach him to hate academics or feel dumb.
Look up "What your child should know by kindergarten" and work with that stuff, in the form of play, and not as drill.
Even more important than the academics is trying to ensure he gets to interact with kids his own age, and people of different ages. Academics are usually easy to catch up. What is harder to catch up on are social skills. His play opportunities should not be so restricted that he never makes mistakes, or gets mildly hurt, or damages things. Play where he takes minor risks - things like spilling water, or using the wrong colour marker, or falls down, or discovers he is too heavy to swing from a branch are critical for him to develop judgement. Opportunities for self directed gross motor play is one of the most important things you can provide him.
posted by Jane the Brown at 7:22 PM on August 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I bought one through Busy Toddler, but haven’t done any implementation yet. I’ve also had Blossom and Root recommended to me and it looks good! I have a kid the exact age! Mostly bought the curriculum as a bank of ideas for things to do, not necessarily to follow strictly.
posted by wsquared at 8:48 PM on August 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by wsquared at 8:48 PM on August 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
When I was in parenting class - some years ago now - we were told that kindergarten teachers viewed “readiness” not in terms of knowing numbers, letters, and colors, but as the child’s ability to ask for help when needed, handle toileting independently, the life skillls kind of thing that it sounds like you’re already doing.
posted by lakeroon at 10:15 PM on August 2, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by lakeroon at 10:15 PM on August 2, 2020 [4 favorites]
To answer the question in your title: No. What you're doing is fine. Talk to him, play with him, read to him. He'll be fine.
posted by shadygrove at 5:21 AM on August 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by shadygrove at 5:21 AM on August 3, 2020 [1 favorite]
One thing that my kid's play-based pre-school did that would be fairly easy to implement is that first thing in the morning they planned the “work session” (the three hours before lunch). This consisted of the teacher asking each child what they were going to play with that day (blocks? Dolls? Duplo? Books? whatever you have available) and writing down on a worksheet. Then there was a spot for later in the day for what they actually did. I’m not sure if that was teacher reported or not. My kid moved schools before they got to this stage, but I believe this becomes the child drawing their plan. This “play planning” is a recognized teaching strategy that luckily is a low lift but helps with literacy development.
posted by emkelley at 7:12 AM on August 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by emkelley at 7:12 AM on August 3, 2020 [2 favorites]
Once our kids were memorizing their favorite books and pretending to "read" them to us, we hung up a list of "Dolch words" and they started learning to sight-read them. They thought it was fun. *shrug*
We thought, Great! But beware that if your kid is that far ahead when they get to school, they'll be a little bored. And that's when you need an attentive, flexible teacher to give them stuff to do, or else they can have a ton of social problems.
In other words, go ahead and teach him -- but also emphasize social tools like sharing, expressing feelings in words, and conflict resolution.
posted by wenestvedt at 7:48 AM on August 3, 2020
We thought, Great! But beware that if your kid is that far ahead when they get to school, they'll be a little bored. And that's when you need an attentive, flexible teacher to give them stuff to do, or else they can have a ton of social problems.
In other words, go ahead and teach him -- but also emphasize social tools like sharing, expressing feelings in words, and conflict resolution.
posted by wenestvedt at 7:48 AM on August 3, 2020
If you think it would be interesting and you can afford it, I think you might as well get one and see if it inspires you. It sounds like you're doing fine as is, and don't need to worry about it, but it might add some variety.
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:50 AM on August 3, 2020
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:50 AM on August 3, 2020
I’m surprised nobody has mentioned this- but practice holding a fat crayon or small marker pen and developing their grip and slowly learning to hold their pen or pencil correctly and giving them a chance for the dominant hand to emerge. I practice this with my preschoolers everyday for about 10-15 minutes. We do mazes, tracing shapes etc and dot to dots. Also cutting and gluing activities. I also got a bunch of busy bags off Etsy by little scribblers so we do counting with manipulatives and tanagrams. My kids have some special needs so I guess this comes easier for other kids but if you’re not practicing this stuff I recommend it. My kids are 4 and 5 and we started it when my youngest was just over 3.
posted by pairofshades at 8:16 AM on August 3, 2020
posted by pairofshades at 8:16 AM on August 3, 2020
Best answer: Also see if your kid is regularly “crossing the midline” you can google this for more info but it’s an important milestone and if your kiddo isn’t doing it yet then also do activities to promote it. It will also help them learn how to put on shoes and be able to write etc.
posted by pairofshades at 8:20 AM on August 3, 2020
posted by pairofshades at 8:20 AM on August 3, 2020
I have used part of and like the Busy Toddler Playing Preschool curriculum mentioned above, which is all play-based.
I’m considering also buying Blossom and Root (mentioned above), this pack from Home Preschool 101, and some Breakfast Invitations from Days With Grey and cobbling them together with my own ideas and Internet ideas to make something that works for my 2.5 year old son and the friends’ kids we may bubble with. MeMail me if you’d like me to share the resources I’ve already put together.
Also, the stuff you’re already doing sounds great but it’s totally okay if you would ALSO like a curriculum to follow. I know for me having ideas in advance is so much easier than trying to come up with them on the fly, and some structure seems to work better for me and my kid than figuring it all out as we go.
posted by bananacabana at 8:37 PM on August 3, 2020
I’m considering also buying Blossom and Root (mentioned above), this pack from Home Preschool 101, and some Breakfast Invitations from Days With Grey and cobbling them together with my own ideas and Internet ideas to make something that works for my 2.5 year old son and the friends’ kids we may bubble with. MeMail me if you’d like me to share the resources I’ve already put together.
Also, the stuff you’re already doing sounds great but it’s totally okay if you would ALSO like a curriculum to follow. I know for me having ideas in advance is so much easier than trying to come up with them on the fly, and some structure seems to work better for me and my kid than figuring it all out as we go.
posted by bananacabana at 8:37 PM on August 3, 2020
Cooking is the best play/activity-based mathematics that I know of. It requires learning to count, to look at time, and often even adding and multiplying fractions. I aced fractions in school because I was into baking and had to double recipes - or half them. Measuring things teaches important things like estimating volume (like estimating what a half of a glass); cutting a cake or pizza teaches distance estimation and spacial awareness. (These are things we've recently found out that A had trouble with, due to her disability).
Obviously, he's too little for fractions. But your family can definitely do things like have him count the eggs, or count the minutes on a clock from 1-10, etc.
Games with dice for simple addition and counting (suggested above) sounds like a great idea, and you can help him at first and still have fun.
(I'm crossing my fingers that he will keep his current interest in cooking, as cooking is a such a useful life-skill. It involves fine motor control, gross-motor control, multi-tasking, mathematics, time awareness - and also, it feeds you. I'm now convinced that once a kid is old enough to be at home alone, they should also know how to make themselves dinner.)
posted by jb at 10:10 AM on August 4, 2020
Obviously, he's too little for fractions. But your family can definitely do things like have him count the eggs, or count the minutes on a clock from 1-10, etc.
Games with dice for simple addition and counting (suggested above) sounds like a great idea, and you can help him at first and still have fun.
(I'm crossing my fingers that he will keep his current interest in cooking, as cooking is a such a useful life-skill. It involves fine motor control, gross-motor control, multi-tasking, mathematics, time awareness - and also, it feeds you. I'm now convinced that once a kid is old enough to be at home alone, they should also know how to make themselves dinner.)
posted by jb at 10:10 AM on August 4, 2020
Response by poster: Thanks, all. I ended up getting the Root and Blossom curriculum and will likely pick and choose from Year 1 and 2, depending on what feels like the right level in each "subject." I also got a Chutes and Ladders Game and Candyland. Chutes and ladders apparently uses a spinner, not dice, but I'm thinking I'll put the spinner away and use a die and then two dice.
My son can do most of those Kindergarten readiness things, except writing. This is where I feel like most of these curriculums suck. They do subjects, but not skills. So I asked a kids occupational therapist friend how I can develop fine-motor skills and she's going to send me the suggested activities she uses, and I'm glad because from talking to her, many things are not at all what you would expect: throwing balls, using his climbing wall, hanging (like from monkey bars), carrying heavy things, etc. Apparently the fine motor can't develop until core strength is developed. Who knew?
Lakeroon and Jane the Brown: I hear you about these non-academic skills (like instructions and social interaction) being the most important things. I agree, and believe me, it's stressing me out because I have no idea how to give him that at this point. I can't think of anyone we can bubble with to have him interact with other kids. Right now I'm just clinging ot the known existence of kids raised in isolated places (Heidi...Millicent from Millicent and the Wind) who were basically ok, I think? Ok, they're fictional and they're literally the only two examples I can think of, but that's all I have to cling to right now.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:54 AM on August 6, 2020
My son can do most of those Kindergarten readiness things, except writing. This is where I feel like most of these curriculums suck. They do subjects, but not skills. So I asked a kids occupational therapist friend how I can develop fine-motor skills and she's going to send me the suggested activities she uses, and I'm glad because from talking to her, many things are not at all what you would expect: throwing balls, using his climbing wall, hanging (like from monkey bars), carrying heavy things, etc. Apparently the fine motor can't develop until core strength is developed. Who knew?
Lakeroon and Jane the Brown: I hear you about these non-academic skills (like instructions and social interaction) being the most important things. I agree, and believe me, it's stressing me out because I have no idea how to give him that at this point. I can't think of anyone we can bubble with to have him interact with other kids. Right now I'm just clinging ot the known existence of kids raised in isolated places (Heidi...Millicent from Millicent and the Wind) who were basically ok, I think? Ok, they're fictional and they're literally the only two examples I can think of, but that's all I have to cling to right now.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:54 AM on August 6, 2020
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-recognize numbers til 10
-counting til 20
-recognizing most letters of the alphabet (and if they can do this, learning how to write them)
-printing their name
-learning all the colours & basic shapes
-learning the sounds of the letters once they can recognize them
Many of these skills can be taught during play, reading, or while doing other life things. Also add to this lots and lots of timr for free/imaginative play, because play really is learning for kids! Additionally, fun art projects and different physical activities (depending on your weather and resources).
You might also consider being open to teaching kiddo some reading, if/once they have the pre-req skills.. reading is wonderful and the world opens up SO much for kids when they can read on their own.
posted by DTMFA at 7:12 PM on August 2, 2020 [1 favorite]