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When did you start to homeschool your child? Is it possible to start a child in homeschool (kindergarten) when they are younger than five years old?

Hello Maryanne,

I say we started homeschooling from the day they were born (even though our oldest, Brad, attended private school for 7 years). So, yes it is definitely possible to start before five years of age!

I read lots of books to my older son when he was around a year old, and I believe the Sound Box Books by Jane Belk Moncure (www.janebelkmoncure.com) contributed to his strong verbal and reading skills. We checked them out from the library and read all of them in the order of the alphabet.

We do not use curriculum yet with Nate, our 3 year old. Everyday he learns something by doing one of the following: reading books or flashcards (www.trendenterprises.com) with letters, numbers, colors, pictures, shapes, animals, states, etc.; looking at our globe or maps; playing grandma’s piano, singing songs, or listening to music; watching Veggie Tales DVD’s (www.veggietales.com); watching Nest Family DVD’s (www.nestfamily.com); playing card games, tic-tac-toe, Connect Four, math games, etc.; playing Wii Sports including golf, bowling, baseball, or boxing; jumping on the trampoline; house cleaning including helping sort laundry to learn colors, taking his own plate to the kitchen, personal hygiene, vacuuming, dusting, taking care of pets, etc.; family camping trips including helping set up camp, boating, swimming, tubing, hiking, etc.; attending church services and Vacation Bible School; play time at the park; learning about horses at Galloping Grace Youth Ranch and other field trips

Well, I am sure I left something out…I hope this helps and gives you some ideas that you can use too.

Blessings,
Angela

Yes, it's so true - they learn a lot from just being immersed in an active environment!  They sure seem to absorb more when we slow it down, too.  It would have been torture for my son to sit at a desk so early.  "Creativity is more important than knowledge" is my latest personal reminder as I purposefully avoid teaching my almost 6 year old daughter to read... for good brain development.    She's pretty creative and independent, I think.  We'll put more effort into reading when she's 7 and I just heard that they do that in Finland!  The latest treat coming out of homeschooling is listening to the kids sing together - despite different ages, they were both in the same music program together earlier this year.    I love homeschooling... and homeschoolers!

http://site.beaniedesigns.com/blog/why-wait-to-teach-reading/

Even though I was not sure when my kids were born if I was going to home school, it was always my attitude that I would be my kids first teacher.  With that in mind, everything is a lesson.  My oldest daughter is 4, and my sister, who is an elementary school teacher always tells me that she knows more than a lot of their 1st graders, and even some of their 2nd and 3rd graders.  I don't sit and do 'lessons' with them, but we count our snacks, and subtract how many we eat and things like that.  All that said, I agree that teaching starts at day 1, and never ends.  I believe that is the joy of parenting, and the even greater joy of home school parenting!