Preschool Curriculum for Homeschoolers, in a Nutshell

• Go outside. Dress for the weather and go out in the rain, the snow, the sun, the fog, the wind. The world looks and feels and smells and sounds different in different weather.
• Talk to your child about what you both see, feel, hear, taste, and smell.
• Listen to your child.
• Read to your child (picture books, board books, long books, short books).
• Bake or cook with your child (start small, assemble snack plates together).
• Pretend with your child. (My daughter has spent a large part of her life as a cat, a dog, or a dragon.)
• Give your child chances to be independent and choose the book, their clothes, the snack for the day.
• Add in a quiet time to your day if you don’t have one already. Get everything ready: snacks, drinks, books, paper, tape, writing tools (all those things for both of you). Then get cozy together in the same space.
• Explore. Your yard, your neighborhood, your town, your county, your state.
• Go on outings. The grocery store, the post office, the farmer’s market, the library, the playground.
• Visit interesting places. Museums, historical sites, natural sites.
• Make things for others. Cards, drawings, food, wildflower bouquets, finger painting masterpieces.

I could keep going, but one thing I will never add to this list is an actual curriculum. Save yourself the money and invest in time instead. Preschoolers do need time. They need your time and your undivided attention. (Leave your phone in the other room.) They need time to play and grow. They need time to explore and try new things. They need time to practice all their new skills (coat zipping should be an Olympic event!).

Preschoolers should not be learning to write. Give them chunky crayons or finger paints or play dough to create with. Tape and paper results in some beautiful creations. Give them very little direction in their crafting and creating fun.

Preschoolers do not need to learn how to read. Read to your child. Read, read, read. Read the same book 10 times a day for a week if that’s all your child wants. Spread other books around the house in unusual spots to peak your child’s interest in new stories or topics. If your child starts to ask, “What does this say?” that is a good sign that you can start talking about letter names. Get some alphabet books and read them together. I’m currently working on a list of alphabet books and it just keeps growing. There are so many to choose from!

Everything on the list above really comes down to an investment in time. You will spend pennies on any of the above activities, but your rewards will be immeasurable. (Subscribe now so you don’t miss my future post, “Homeschooling With Pennies: A Realistic Homeschool Budget.”) Remember, this is preschool curriculum in a nutshell. I chose that title very purposefully because there is very little actual material required for a superior preschool experience.

Now, go outside and find an acorn together! And remember to Homeschool Happy! 🙂