Enjoying preschool

I started homeschooling my eldest half way through her 6th grade year. I was a wreck. I was so uptight (still am sometimes). Veteran homeschoolers kept telling me to RELAX... but I just couldn't figure out how to do that. Once I started to let go of the reins just a tad, things got so much better. We have now reached a nice stride...not perfect but nice...

So after "falling" into homeschooling, I found myself slowly starting to view it as more of a permanent choice for our family rather than a temporary fix for a situation with one particular child. Fear stepped in when I realized that this would mean I would be responsible for teaching my little ones some of the most fundamental stuff in education....and I've never considered myself to be a "little-people-person".

Once again I was freaked out. I read so much about how preschool should be and what they should learn....and then I remembered the lesson I learned with my oldest....RELAX...so I decided to try that and it has been wonderful. I can't believe the things my son learns while with me and I thought I'd share some of things that we do around here just in case it might encourage someone that small kiddos just don't need to be stressed over but ENJOYED!

I never though I'd enjoy being with my ltitle ones. I really do....God is so good.

I JUST made my three year old a notebook and put a piece of paper in the clear pastic spine that says "Sumo's Notebook". Right now, it has one thing in there that he colored. We will soon be getting back to our routine and I'll be adding stuff that he does in there. Things like alphabet coloring pages, worksheets (learning how to drawn in a line or from dot to dot). He fingerpaints the words he learnes to read so I'll probably be adding a section soon called "Words I Know". Stuff like that...but mostly this is for HIM to look at and get excited about what he's accomplished. I'm really not concerned about a "knock" at the door". Texas is such a GREAT state to homeschool in.

The best that it gets with Sumo is that he has his spot on our family routine and I have time during the day set aside for him to work on certain things. I have things that we work on during his preschool time but even more than that....he's learning all day in my house. During preschool time (30 minutes) we work on:

• Reading - Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons (but we are progressing S-L-O-W-L-Y)
• Counting and Number Recognition - Number coloring pages or an Abacus I bought from Ikea.
• Fine Motor Skills - Puzzles, Large-Piece Floor Puzzles, Lacing, Workbooks, etc.
• Computer time with w/Mom - PBS Kids or Starfall

During Blanket Time or Table Time Sumo can work on:

• Puzzles - gotta get some more cuz he's mastered all the ones we have!
• Coloring - he gets to choose what he wants to do
• Table Toys - Lauri Toys are GREAT. Pegs/Shape Sorter/Lacing
• Finger Paint - I've TAUGHT him not to make a mess
• Library Books - I keep a nice set in a basket on our fireplace where he can browse whenever he wants. This worked great until recently when the baby (who we are still training) started getting into it and messing it up :)
• Wooden Tool Set
• Wooden Blocks
• Play Doh
  

And then there is all that Free Play. I try not to give them free access to our game room or their bedroom so that when I DO allow them in, they are excited to the toys relegated to that room. I just put them in their room and fold clothes while they play or let them have a good time in the game room while I read a book on the couch or make some quick phone calls.

Sumo is really working his mind all day though. I try really hard not to buy toys that don't have purpose. We are really into puzzles, wooden train sets (Ikea), coloring, paint, make believe play with all of those free kid's meal toys, etc. I'm hoping to invest in a good set of legos soon. I have the letters of the alphabet posted at his eye level going up the stairs.

Also, I'm big into him helping around the house. Sumo helps me empty the trash, put the wet clothes into the dryer, throw away dirty diapers when I change my youngest, cleaning up his toys and books, etc. I recently taught him how to crack eggs so he loves helps me in the kitchen too!

I can get really stressed over wanted to do everything "right" but with the fruit I see in my kids, I'm becoming convinced more and more that it's not about meeting every task on the checklist but about developing great character in kids and giving them the freedom to be curious and begin to love learning.

Hope this helps someone!