Can You Successfully Homeschool Preschool? A New Approach

Can You Successfully Homeschool Preschool? The answer is a resounding, ‘Yes!” This is everything you need to get started.

I am encouraged by the way our routine is falling into place around here. Without too much prompting from me our days tend to follow a particular pattern that just works for us. I notice that when I look at the clock we are generally doing the same things at the same times each day and spending our time better and better as the weeks go on.

That’s a good thing. Because if I am honest there have been times that I have worried.

Preschool at home failure

One of the biggest concerns I had entering into this homeschooling adventure was the fact that I never made preschool at home work consistently.

It was always hit or miss, with me constantly seeking a new approach that would work. I despaired that I would spend all of the elementary years doing the same thing.

The past few months of easing into our kindergarten plan with consistency have shown me that I won’t. Whew.

I am glad that I had the preschool years knowing that I wanted to homeschool so I could get some things worked out in my mind.

What I’ve learned about homeschooling preschool

Preschool is really not necessary. Yes, I know, I know.

Experienced homeschoolers have been trying to tell me that all along, but all those preschool activity blogs out there are so darn cute and those boxed curriculum looks so tempting to buy (bought two so I know).

Despite our hit or miss tendencies, Olivia “started kindergarten” with an amazing amount of knowledge and skill gleaned mostly from everyday life.

Preschool didn’t work for us because I tried to be something we are not. After much trying to fit ourselves into the crafty or formal box, I have come to the conclusion that it is just not our style.

What we really love are messy art projects, random activities, and tons of books!

Can you successfully homeschool preschool? A New Approach

So what does this mean for our future?

Largely, the boys are just along for the ride for the preschool years. My kids are close enough together in age that many of the activities we do for early elementary will appeal to the spectrum.

They can just jump in and add on whenever they are ready. Before that they can play alongside whatever we are doing. I don’t ever intend to plan a complicated preschool again.

What I do intend to do is what I should have done all along. So “preschool” at our house will look like this:

Morning Time
Playdoh
Messy art with crayons and paints
Fairy tales and good books
Singing songs and nursery rhymes
Puzzles
Fun science
Stickers
Counting what we see
Talking about letters and sounds when it comes up in our day (and Leap Frog Letter Factory — a not to miss in my book)
Starfall.com if there is interest
Learn to Write Numbers printables
Kumon cutting books when the time is right
Cooking
Montessori-style practical life trays to play with

And that would be it. Just offer a few spontaneous choices and go for it.

I have a feeling they are going to turn out just fine.

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Pam

Pam is the author of The Your Morning Basket Guide and Plan Your Year: Homeschool Planning for Purpose and Peace. She also is the host of three popular podcasts -- The Homeschool Snapshots Podcast, Your Morning Basket, and The Homeschool Solutions Show. She lives in the Deep South with her husband and three kids, where she is the go-to lady for great curriculum recommendations or a just a pep talk on a rough day.