Ahhh, preschool. It is my favorite age, they are so full of curiosity, they are so easy to please and have a great desire to learn. If only each grade was as simple, easy and fun as preschool. I like to make a special schedule just for my preschooler so she feels included with the other children doing school. I include her in the family school, making sure to have the same notebook pages or print outs the others use and sometimes she insists on joining us and other times she wants to do something out of the preschool bin. This is what the preschool schedule looks like, all dependent on what the little miss feels like doing that day.
Personal Scripture Study
I believe in creating habits as young as possible and scripture study is no exception, even with little ones. It's not so much about if they are understanding (although that is a bonus) it is more about knowing everyday they study their scriptures. Every morning before chores and breakfast I set the timer for 15 minutes and every person has personal scripture study time. For my preschooler I will be using Behold Your Little Ones and a small set of scriptures (just for a visual). I keep a file box with each lesson in it, along with any activities, coloring pages, file folder games, and handouts. I just have to grab what lesson we are doing for that week and everything I need is right there. We also pull this out on Sundays for quiet time activities.
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Folder Activities for Behold Your Little Ones
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The Core Curriculum
According to the Phases of Leadership Education by Oliver Demille the curriculum for the Core Phase (0-8) is to not over program with lessons or skills but to focus on the following:
- right vs wrong
- good vs bad
- true vs false
- relationships
- family values both spiritual and cultural
- family identity; family mission and family history
- family routine and responsibilities
- accountability
- value and love or work and play
Language Arts
I found this program with my second child and was so sad my first missed out on all the fun. I have since used it successfully with the last two and my two year old joined in this past year and already knows a lot of her sounds. I'm excited to do it with her again this year. Her favorite game is to find the letter in the flip chart and find the match on the place mat. You can find out all about this program by checking out the website here or clicking on the pictures below.
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The Preschool Bin
While I am doing school with the other children I want my preschooler to have activities and projects to keep her busy. I have made and collected many items over the years and I keep them all in what we call "The Preschool Bin". This bin is only brought out during school time and lets the preschooler feel they have their own special school items, just for them. I usually let the child pick one item at a time, it then needs to be cleaned up and returned before they can choose another activity.
- Colored pom pom balls: I painted an egg carton with different colors in each cup so the preschooler can match the ball in the correct cup. I also give her some bowls and spoons so she can play with them like a sensory bin. Another fun game to play with the pom poms is to take a Costco size egg tray and write a letter in each cup, she tosses a pom pom into one of the cups and then you say the name and make the sound of that letter.
- Foam shapes: These were a dollar store find that I keep in a re-used plastic container, I'm sure she will find plenty to do with those.
- Texture squares: I got this idea from Family Math, cut up old shoe or cereal boxes into squares and cover with different textured material. You can play different games with these like putting them in a bag and letting the preschooler describe what they feel. I keep mine in a mini box and half the fun is taking them in and out of the box. I also have a larger box of these that are different shapes, sizes, and material designs. We use these to play the games described in the Family Math book as a rag box games. My preschooler likes to sort them by "families" with the Mom, Dad and babies.
- Drop tub: I love to re-purpose used containers so I covered an oatmeal container with cute paper and cut a slit in the lid for her to slip used milk lids in. I wrote a letter on one side of the milk lid and a letter on the other so we can use those for other games. She enjoyed dropping the milk lids in so much I used another lid and cut a hole in it for her to drop used yarn spools in.
Colored pom poms and foam shapes
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Textures squares and ABC egg cups
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Drop tub with tops and "droppers"
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Dropping in the milk caps
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- Animal hand puppets
- Seek and spy bags
- Animals bean bags
Animal puppets: re-enact stories, make up your own or bug your siblings while they are doing their school work.
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Seek and spy bags
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Animal bean bags
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- Seek and match quilt: I made this years ago with material scraps, it has been a favorite of all my children. After choosing 36 different prints, cut 2 squares of each print, one for the quilt and one for the cards. Sew together the first set to make the quilt and the other set, glue to a piece of card stock and laminate them. I made a little pocket on the back of my quilt to store the cards in with a small piece of velcro to keep it closed.
Seek and match quilt
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Laminated matching cards
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Velcro pocket in the back of the quilt for storing cards
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Purchased items: These purchased items have all been big hit over the years; Stacking cups, Baby Einstein Nature Cards, Mr. Potato Head, foam puzzles of letters and numbers, jelly ball, some wooden animals beads and Discovery Toys Busy Bugs.
Story Time
The most important part of preschool is snuggling up with your little one with a great story. I steer clear of what Charlotte Mason refers to as "twaddle" and try to focus on good classic stories that have morals, nice art work and an engaging story. This would include fairy tales, folk tales, and the Little Golden Books. We also love all the Robert McCloskey Books and Jan Brett is a favorite. She has fun activities on her website to go along with her books including letter and number tracers, puppets, wall murals, and tons more. We also love and read the books from my Kindergarten Book List.
