Hi!  My name is Ivy.  I was just wondering if anybody is homeschooling their preschoolers?  I recently started teaching my 3-year-old son at home after regular preschool did not go so well.  Some people I talk to think I am crazy to be trying to homeschool this early, sometimes I wonder.    We found The Learning Box Preschool curriculum and are loving it.  Just wondered if there were more preschoolers here being homeschooled and how it is going?  Thanks!  

Hi ivy,

I've been home-schooling my son for the last year or so. He is four right now and we are working through a kindergarten curriculum. We've been relaxed and not pushy, so as not to make him start to hate school. I never have done a regular schedule where I make him sit and do worksheets for certain periods of time or anything like that, but we've read books and I've integrated teaching into every day life. I think if you are relaxed about it, it can be so much fun, and there are tons of opportunities for teaching all around you.

I love teaching my kids and finding every thing I can to help with learning and a love of learning, so I think it is going great. Good for you. I think you as the parent should be the best teacher your child could have!

You're not crazy... or maybe we all are;)

I have homeschooled all of mine since preschool, for the most part. Society dictates to us as mothers that we are supposed to send our little ones off to school so very young, when it is just really not necessary. In fact, why is it even good? I don't know, but letting your little one just enjoy being little, going to playdates, and learning through play, is the ideal preschool curriculum, in my opinion.

I am homeschooling my 4yo this year, and her curriculum consists of lots of reading (Sonlight prek 4-5 curriculum, which my 5yo does as well) and a math workbook when she feels like it, as well as fun activities based around a letter of the week. We also play lots of games, like matching cards, go fish, crazy 8's, and lots of puzzles. They like to bake with me, play playdoh, and LOTS of outings and activities.

I credit homeschooling for the great relationship my kids have with each other (most of the time).

Good luck on this fabulous journey! It will get easier and the comments will be less as your family and friends see that you are actually going to do this crazy thing, stick with it, and that it actually works!

I was very intimidated by the world's expectations in my first year or so, but now I don't really care what the naysayers think, my kids speak for themselves with their academics and social skills. And we love homeschooling and it works for us. I have no problem with what others choose for their children's schooling, but I know this is what works for us.

Probably way more information than you asked for, hee hee!

Hi Ivy!   So great to meet you!
My son is 6 now but I started homeschooling him at 3.5-years-old when preschool didn't pan-out well for us either . . . it is a GREAT time to start . . . you'll have such a great foundation!
Preschool is a WONDERFUL time to do lots of field trips, do lots of bonding, establish the meaning of holidays and so much more . . . you're gonna have quite the free spirit & free thinker on your hands.
Congratulations and sending lots of TLC and fun-vibes!  

oooooo,  forgot to mention . . . also a great time to "fall in love" with the libraries  

Hi Ivy,

Sure.
My 5 1/2 yr old daughter has never attended pre-school and will always be homeschooled as long as she
would like. She has mild Aspergers and OCD, so a chaotic preschool or public school system would never bode well
for her anyway.
I worked as a pre-school teacher before I had children and I've discovered that children are learning all
the time. It doesn't stop when a child is at home or start only when they step foot into a classroom. Our job as parents is
to make available to our kids many varied learning opportunities. Our children will sample from this buffet of knowledge,
as long as we don't push, coerce or force. We only need to allow children to learn at their own pace. The process is
so simple and lots of fun, for the kids and parents.

From my own personal experience as a pre-school teacher, I've come to realize that, just through living and experiencing
life, my daughter knows more about the world than many of those children who are locked inside a preschool setting.

Your daughter is very lucky to have a Mom who cares so much about her.
Best of luck and much joy wished on your homeschooling journey.

Thank you all for the friendly replies.  This seems like a really great group!    I appreciate everything you all wrote and look forward to making it to a Westside park day in the future and meeting some of you (I hope that would be alright?).  Thanks!    -Ivy

Ivy,
I only joined a few weeks ago and I haven't met many people from the west side, but if the group is like it is over here, you will be very welcome.

Have fun!