The Preschool Years

  I think it is kind of funny when people ask me what kind of curriculum to use for preschool.  I mean, the term is “pre” school, which means before school, right?  So why would we need workbooks and other curriculum before school?  I’m not sure.  I think much of it has more to do with parents wanting to look good because their kids are “so smart” and parents who just go along with what everyone else is doing rather than actually thinking things through.  

First, I’ll just put it out there - I think every single child in the world should be homeschooled for preschool.  Of course, there are situations in a fallen world where that just isn’t possible, but it is possible much more often than it happens.  A lot of (married) moms would find that, if they really count up the costs (including a second vehicle, nicer clothes, convenience foods, more sickness and doctor visits, etc. as well as school/daycare costs), they could probably stay home with their preschool aged children with just a few minor sacrifices. Even many single moms, if they banned together (remember Kate and Allie?) or worked with their extended family could probably find a way.  That isn’t to put down women who are working or heap guilt on you for putting your child in preschool.  What it is to do is make you think rather than just accept the status quo.    What is really best for your children?  Not what society says is best, not what the government wants you to do, not what your neighbor is doing, or even what your mom (or mother-in-law) say you should be doing.  You’re the mom.  God gave you those children to raise.  What is really best for your children (not you, them)?  I think if we unselfishly and without cultural bias really think about it, we know that being home with us is what is really best.  As long as we are going to do our job as moms.

Ok, so we’ve established that I think preschoolers should be at home with mom (or as close to that as possible).  Now what?  Many women who have been in the work force find being home with their preschoolers difficult simply because they don’t know what to do all day long.  Here are some ideas.  First, a loose schedule is always a good idea.  Even a routine for the week is helpful.  Then . . . .  

• Clean the house together.  Yes, it will take you much longer than doing it during nap time, but they will learn how to clean house and begin learning the value of work and the importance of working for the good of the whole family (and later, community).  
• Cook together.  This is more work ethic and service for the family, but they also learn lots of great math, science, and reading skills.  
• Garden and do other yard work.  Again, more work ethic and service, but also a lot of science and art.  
• Draw and make other arts and crafts.  Yes, this can get very messy, but who cares if they make a mess if they are also learning to clean up after themselves?  Real learning is always very messy.  With art they learn a lot about colors (which is science as well as art), shapes (which is math), imagination (which is important for all future learning and just about everything else in life), and you can use this time to introduce letters, numbers, counting, basic arithmetic, phonics, and lots of other building blocks for later learning.  
• Go to the library.  Check out lots of books to read at home, but also take advantage of the story hours the libraries usually have once a week or so (be careful with this one and make sure the story hour is appropriate and one you really want your kids exposed to).  Discuss every book you read.  They do need to learn not to interrupt constantly, but some is ok.  Discuss the book when you are finished reading it and help them to express their thoughts about it, even if you just start with favorite parts.  Also, be sure to get yourself a book.  NOT JUNK, but a good living book that will help you to develop your own mind and learn something new yourself.  This will help your own brain development and will also show your kids a great example of lifelong learning.
• If you live near a zoo, aquarium, and/or children’s museum, then get a season pass (to all of them, if possible - these are great things to ask the grandparents for for Christmas) and go a lot.  The season pass is great for preschool children because it means you can go often, but don’t have to cover the whole place every time.  If your kids only want to go see the bears today, then go see the bears.  Then go home and read a bunch of books, fiction and nonfiction, about bears.  Draw pictures of bears.  Talk about the letter “B”.  Count how many bears you saw or how many are in the story or how many are in your drawing.  And look at that, you just covered science, english, and math all without a single workbook. 
• Begin working on basic catechisms and other “memorizations” that you want your kids to know.  There are no flashcards or other gimmicks required for kids to memorize things, just keep repeating them. (Although, I do like Seeds Family Worship for memorizing Scripture.)
• Go hiking or to the park (or just play outside).  You can have all kinds of science adventures here, not to mention physical activity and sunshine.
• Playdates with friends are always great fun.  These can be at your house or a park or the zoo or anywhere and don’t need to be a big deal.
• Join a Bible study.  I recommend Community Bible Study or Bible Study Fellowship as they have great Bible studies for the parents AND great Bible lessons for the kids.
• Anything else you can think of that will help your child grow into the kind of adult God wants him or her to be.  You know your kids.  Be creative, be fun, and don’t worry about being silly or messy.

But, you say, these things mean I have to interact with my kids all day long.  YES, you do.  (This is how they learn good social skills, from interacting with you.  You are the best one to teach them good social skills, not other three year olds.)  Ok, maybe not all day.  I’ll let you in on a secret.  I really messed this up, so learn from my mistakes.  No matter when your child wants to give up his/her afternoon nap, don’t take it away.  Even if they are teenagers (and you are still homeschooling), an afternoon quiet time where everyone retreats to their rooms to read or play quietly (puzzles, dolls, small cars, books, coloring, reading as they get older - a great time for some Bible reading, etc.) for an hour or more can help the whole household run more smoothly.  I’ll also put this plug in there from my mistakes - don’t turn on the TV for this time (or any other time during these years, if I had it to do over again).  It may be hard to train them to have this “quiet time,” but it will be totally worth it in the end.  And don’t use this time for chores or other work; use it to recharge yourself.  You may need a nap or just some quiet time with the Lord, but if you don’t take that time, you will just run yourself down and that does no one any good at all.  Honestly, as busy as I was when my kids were in this phase, I really miss it now that I have so much time when I don’t get to interact with them.  These preschool years are the ones when you will interact the most so make the most of them because they will be over before you blink.