Category: Homeschooling tips

Preschool is when usually parents start putting their kids first time in some time of public or private educational system. Prior to that kids have been in private care or day care type of setting when education would not have been main point of child care.

Different children have varying interests and learning needs not to mention attention spans. And so, for parents who are pondering whether homeschooling is for them or otherwise, it is best to do an initial evaluation of what the preschool child’s needs are.

Several online resources provide lesson suggestions for preschoolers.  Parents and tutors will most definitely find these materials very much helpful.  But of course, consider them only as guides to provide the children’s learning some direction.  It is highly advised on most of the popular homeschooling websites to be aware of the learners’ interests, be it an inclination to writing, sports, arts and crafts, or any other subject, so that these may be incorporated into the learner’s list of “things that a homeschooled child should know.”

For different age groups of children, parents and tutors may be required to employ different methods and techniques for homeschooling.  And in order to know which methods and activities best suits the child under a specific age group, this short list may be of help.

Children of age 2 are found to be the most difficult as the child often gets bored and at times frustrated when being taught. Stimuli are needed in order to catch their interests.  Children of this age group are most eager to learn, often walking around, and climbing steps.  Common behaviors of this age include self-centeredness and possessiveness. Their sense of humor also develops.  Do activities relating to these capabilities of the child.

Homeschooling three-year olds is even more trying.  At this point, the child is more physical in affection and also in play.  They don’t mind change, love having friends to play with, and they take verbal instructions very well.  Use these to stimulate them to participate in learning activities.  At this age, they are already capable of communicating their needs.

Four-year olds are usually capable of working with scissors, hopping around on one foot or skipping.  They start to learn to draw and possess a lot of physical energy.  Let them try new things, as this will be their number one interest.  They are very imaginative so give them an opportunity to develop and express this creativity.

Remember that all children grow at their own rate, and surprisingly in their own ways.  And to achieve maximum benefits for the homeschooled preschooler, parents and tutors should trust them and give them sufficient freedom to explore, inquire, and ultimately learn.

Homeschooling In Modern World Of Today

In recent decades, homeschooling, or the traditional practice of educating children within the home as against sending them to a public or private learning institution, is slowly making its way back to the educational mainstream.

This alternative means of elementary and high school education dates back to 1906 in the United States when the Calvert Day School in Baltimore, Maryland offered the “curriculum in a box” partnered with a National Geographic advertisement.  Shortly after its fifth year, almost 300 children employed Calvert’s instructional materials for homeschooling. Almost a century later, this method, alongside many other methods and materials developed, spread like wild fire not only within the U.S. but also to 90 other countries all over the globe.

Notable home-schooled personalities include, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Dakota Fanning (famous Hollywood child actress), Christopher Paolini (book author), Sho Timothy Yano (an American boy of prodigious intelligence), Lynx and Lamb Gaede (the girls of Prussian Blue).

Through history, the methodology with which homeschooling is carried out have proven to be effective.  However, as times change, so do the needs and requirements of the learners change.  With this, certain modifications are required of the conventional homeschooling methods.  Something more stimulating, more motivating, and worthwhile to encourage today’s children to learn and explore.

Looking through the vast resources available on the world wide web under the subject of home-schooling, it could be seen that there has been so much improvement on how homeschooling is done through its century long history.  From the crude and very simple methods and materials, new ones that are more sophisticated and complex have become available.

Fresh ideas are readily offered on how lessons should be planned for children of varying ages.  Suggestions for fun activities are also presented to always keep the homeschooling atmosphere exciting and something to be looked forward to by the children.  It is understandable that kids have shorter attention spans that may usually be a deterrent in keeping their interest in sitting down and listening to a lesson.  Taking this into consideration, doing fieldtrips to museums, libraries, even zoos might just do the trick for the little tykes.

In general, the conventional methods and techniques of homeschool need not always be applicable to all settings and apt for each child.  Modifying these conventional methods by throwing in some fresh ideas for exercises and activities in such a way that suits the learner’s needs the best should always be regarded.