This year I will have a 1st/2nd grader, a Kindergartner, and two Pre K children. While I will be using Tapestry of Grace with all of them by way of including each child in the read-alouds, the younger set will be doing less bookwork and more hands on. I know it can be hard finding inexpensive ways to keep little hands busy – yet learning at the same time. We do not spend a large amount on Pre K materials. This is generally because the younger ones need only basic lessons and it is very easy to make these or print out ideas on how to do this. A full curriculum will probably overwhelm those in Kindergarten or younger.

Our home education consists of more than just a set period where any academics takes place. Nope. We go beyond that to make every opportunity a time to learn. Helping Mama in the kitchen is the perfect time to learn basic math (and home economics!) skills. Working outside with Daddy and discovering an ant hill is a built in science lesson. Everything from cleaning bathrooms to laundry to gardening to a grocery shopping trip can provide a way for you to discuss all ranges of topics. In fact, I tend to think that if I have just performed some usual household “chore” and I haven’t taught my child something then that was a wasted opportunity.

Before even academics, however, training must and should occur. These preschool years are precious in more ways than one. Training them from very early on how to obey and be respectful is necessary for any household to run efficiently. Biblical concepts and Scripture memory work to lay the foundational work of their faith is also important at this time. These little ones, with their growing minds and sincere curiosity, are smarter than society in general likes to paint them out to be. As it is, my youngest, who is not even 1 1/2 years old, is learning colors, shapes, and her letters. It isn’t because she is extremely genius (though maybe I’d like to think so!) but rather that she is being directed in the right areas and not pushed beyond her limits.

Home education will benefit hugely from the young ones being trained. If they can be disciplined to obey Mommy when she says it is time to play quietly or by themselves then teaching the older children will be much easier. While including young ones as much as possible in the whole process is a good thing there will be times when older children will need your focus – such as with a science experiment or an essay – and the little ones will need to be quiet.

Below are some helpful resources on child training. I do not necessarily agree with everything on these sites or in these books so please do not take them all as my endorsement. Rather, use these to learn from according to your family’s vision. Of course, it would be very wise to discuss with your husband first and get his approval before undertaking any major child discipline changes.

Training resources:

• The Bible – Certainly this is the most overlooked child training resource available. Not excluding myself many parents tend to think that the Bible is not the place to look for the how-to’s of child training and discipline. If you read the book of Proverbs and really any of the Bible you will find this not to be the case. Look here first and study intensely what the Bible has to say about child rearing. Then and only then should you proceed to read any human written books!
• Shepherding a Child’s Heart
• Raising Godly Tomatoes
• Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World – I love this DVD series! I feel this is direct, to-the-point, no holds barred wisdom for parents on how to raise children. However, I do not agree with everything in there. I feel the advice on scheduling babies to be unwise and outdated. Feeding a newborn baby every four hours instead of on demand can mess with the mother’s milk supply as well as the fact that demand feeding at this point in their early lives means they will need to cluster feed. End of disclaimer. Moving on.
• Blanket Training
• Older moms. This means seeking out the advice from those older women at church. Find a woman whose view of womanhood you most agree with and ask her what are the most important training tips she can offer you. You will learn a lot from this alone!

I realize many of these are “controversial” topics and I understand that. Again, I do not agree with everything provided in these web sites and books. I feel much of it is quite useful. Only a handful of resources are provided because I know how too much information can overwhelm.

If this was helpful to you please let me know! Also, if you have links and resources you would like to share with me please do so. Tomorrow I will put up the academics portion of what may help you as you home educate your preschooler.

Photo credit: iprole