First and Foremost.

Preschoolers grow up really, really, really quickly. Those hugs and kisses they offer so frequently are numbered. There will be a day that you are chasing them down, so, listen carefully…

Hug and kiss your preschoolers a lot! Tell them you love them- More.

 

Second.
Take a few days to assess your life.

Do you already have a schedule and daily routine or are you like me when I had my second child, snickering behind my back at the suggestion that a preschooler can be scheduled (and love it!).

Third.
For the sake of the desperate, I am going to assume you are new to parenting preschoolers and homeschooling. You are trying to figure out your older child’s math lesson while your very busy, yet delightful tot is running around.

Your delightful little munchkin does not want to sit and wait for school to be done for their fun to begin. They will create their own fun and include glitter and nail polish-so you need a plan.

Without a plan, that delightful little munchkin will play with your carving knife, hide in your dryer, or paint your bathroom with nail polish while you are feeling great about your homschooling abilities in the other room.

Yes, I am speaking from experience. 

If you do not have it built into your day already, spend the next week or two establishing a rhythm to your children’s day. 

 

Create: Rinse and Repeat Schedule.

Here’s kinda what I did with my boys.

      Psst: Anyone who tells you “This is the exact recipe for success for scheduling kids” is lying. Or they don’t have kids yet. 

Kids definitely need a schedule, love a schedule, thrive when living by a schedule, and can mess up a schedule before you can set a timer.

There is no such thing as “one size fits all”, so use this as a guideline to get you started.

Sample Rinse Repeat Schedule: Homeschooling with Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers

Wake

I woke up kids at 7:00.

LOL.

Who am I kidding?

One of my boys woke up at 5:30 every day. I had to train him to stay in bed reading quietly until 7. Yes. You can do that.)

Clean room

I had my boys make beds and get dressed, even if I was helping them every step of the way.

By the way… This is parenting for the win.

Have your kids work alongside you while they are incapable of doing it right and train them up in the right attitude/heart.

Eventually, they will be able to out work you, but they can also “Out Attitude” you. Train for heart first, ability comes later.

Eat breakfast

Yes, mama. You too!

 

Calendar Time. 15-20 Minutes. 

This is a public school term. But my kids loved it.  Gather near a calendar or activity board. This is a time of “Repeat after me” or “let’s sing…”

Find today’s date. Sing Seven Days in a Week song. Count the dates up to today. Recite the months of the year.

Use calendar time to work on any memory work pieces, like bible verse, poetry, or phone numbers. 

Sing silly songs. 2-4 a day. Mama, don’t roll your eyes. Embrace silly… your kids need it, and frankly so do you. Use Youtube if necessary. Your kids need silly songs. Here are Some starters:  Stand Strong, Love my lips, I am a pizza.  Need More? Here you go.

Memory work: month’s of the year, bible verses, poems, your address and phone number

Real Alouds. I know it’s more comfy to cozy on the sofa, but adding a circle time reader is good for teaching sitting still.

Weather: talked about the weather, graphed weather, dresses “weather bear“

Counting: Count to 10, or 50, or 100. SKip Counting.

Calendar time will quickly turn into a favorite part of your kids’ day. 

Table activity/ Baby-Toddler 1st Nap Time

Cut and paste activities with the little ones. Prepare yourself for, “mommy help me” a bazillion times.

Older kids work on things like handwriting, copy-work, spelling. Think, “What can my olders work independently”.

Math time for “olders”. 5-15 minutes of instruction, then they work independently. This will not work when the math lessons are tough, they get confused, or you are holding the math lesson sideways hoping that the change of view will help it make sense.

Snack

Outside whenever possible.

Outside play

15-45 minutes- all kids. If you have a picnic table, you can work with older kids while littles play. Let them play for a few first. Please embrace the Danish Motto, “There is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing.” 

Snuggle and Read time, followed by…

Roomtime/playpen time

Train your littles to play independently. 15-60 minutes. No electronics.

Put on music, Pull out a special toy/set of toys, Bring Down the Blocks, Present a fun activity- The key is you help set up a fun activity.

Use a timer.

When timer dings, sing the clean-up song and teach them to clean up their mess.

Help mommy make lunch

Oh, mama. Let them help you- at least 3 times a week. The other days, let them play near you or just outside (if safe).

Lunch

Yes, mama. You too!

After lunch.This is a good show time while you work with older kids. I used car seats, high chairs, and playpens to wrangle my squirrelly boys. They Loved the baby Einstein videos:).

Pro Tip- Streamline your kid’s meals. When you limit breakfast and lunch choices you bring peace to mealtimes. Take the “What’s for breakfast/lunch question” off the menu. Choose 1-3 healthy things that you will always have for these meals. 

Nap-time/quiet-time

Perfect time to work with older students!

My boys napped/rested for 1.5-2 hours every day until their 5th birthday. Kids need this downtime. Mom’s need this downtime. If you are like me with my oldest son, and you find that you never lovingly enforced nap/quiet time- Start tomorrow.

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Art/ errands

Free play

Dinner prep (include kids in prep- setting table, mixing, measuring, etc- at least 3 times a week)

Family time 

A.K.A.- this time of day moms sit on the sofa and doze off.

Bedtime routine (no electronics)

All my kids went to bed by 8:00, most were in bed by 7:30 until they were ten. We send older kids to bed before 9:00 to read for a bit, then lights out.

Sleep

Kids need sleep.

Moms need sleep.

Dads need sleep.

Repeat. Every Day.

 

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That’s what this course is all about. Helping you focus on the BEST.

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