Comments on: Homeschooling with preschoolers

By: fyi@iyk | ImpressYourKids

fyi@iyk | ImpressYourKids — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 05:39:45 +0000

[...] Homeschooling with Preschoolers at Owlhaven {easy ideas to keep preschoolers occupied AND learning} [...]

By: Ten Widdow Mon-teys, Yumpin’onna Bed « Merlot Mudpies

Ten Widdow Mon-teys, Yumpin’onna Bed « Merlot Mudpies — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:06:57 +0000

[...] and was delighted with some of his decisions) a post from Owlhaven that I read just yesterday on Homeschooling with Preschoolers came to mind. In it, Mary shared an idea for play stations for kiddos my son’s age [...]

By: Owlhaven

Owlhaven — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:13:45 +0000

Hi Pamela,
It can be tough to keep older ones on task, but I just handle it by gently insisting on obedience and reminding the older child that their turn will come when their school is done. Delayed gratification is a hugely important life lesson to learn, so don’t feel guilty about insisting that the work happen first.

The really nice thing about a 6 year old’s school, though, is that it truly does not have to take more than 60 minutes a day. For that age, I would probably do 20 minutes of math, 10 minutes of phonics drills, 10 minutes of reading, and maybe 15 minutes of handwriting Some of it can even be planned to happened during the 2 year old’s nap.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:37:30 +0000

Hi. I’ve been homeschooling my oldest (6) for two years now, and I’m going to begin with the 4 y.o. this fall. There is a very active just-turned-2 y.o. in the house, and we’re considering adding another to the family in immediate future. I know I got through this once with a baby and a (way less active) toddler — although not with my being pregnant, but I am also looking for strategies to entertain the 2 y.o., who is used to always having someone to play with.

I love your ideas, but when I read suggestions like these I always wonder: How do you keep the older ones on task while the little one has something “interesting” to do? And how do you get the youngest one interested in playing alone? I can just imagine bringing out a tub of rice and some toys — even if the little one stayed engrossed in it forever, I think it would cause battles that would end the actual “school” portion of everyone else’s day. With three this close together, even the 6 y.o. usually wants to do what the little one is doing.

Thanks for the blog (and books!).

By: Cindi

Cindi — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:17:45 +0000

Thanks Mary! I homeschool my older 3 and am just getting ‘my ducks in a row’ to keep the 3 and 1 year olds happy. I love the idea of the bedsheet under the rice to make clean up easier! I also appreciate the other creative ideas that are not expensive, but definitely fun!

By: rrmama

rrmama — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:36:05 +0000

These are great ideas! Thanks

By: Lenae

Lenae — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:51:00 +0000

I won’t be starting homeschool for another 2 years with my oldest, but these ideas are great! I’m bookmarking them!

By: Valerie

Valerie — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:24:02 +0000

Thanks for the great ideas!! This is my first year homeschooling with a preschooler involved. He requires structure but I think he would really love the different stations. I love you blog (only recently started reading) and I have you in my blog roll!! Thanks again!

By: ET @ Titus2:3-5

ET @ Titus2:3-5 — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:37:32 +0000

Linking up, kay?

By: ET @ Titus2:3-5

ET @ Titus2:3-5 — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:35:38 +0000

Though I don’t homeschool, I think I need to try and implement a station system for my 2 pre-schoolers still at home. I find that if I’m busy with ministry work or writing, they are either snacking non-stop or watching too much TV. But maybe if I spend a couple weeks training them in this system, they will engage in more play and less laziness. And I can still get some work done a couple days per week. Thanks, Mary!