Anyone trying to 'teach' a preschooler at home?

[OstrichRunning]

I have 4yo dd and 2yo ds. So far, I haven't done much 'curriculum work' (if you can call it that with a preschooler) with dd. But I'm beginning to worry she might not be properly prepared for primary in Sept if we continue like this. Most of the stuff online seems to be for primary up, so thought I'd turn to the wisdom of mumsnet instead! Anyone got any tips?

Teach her how to get dressed, how to tidy up, a few stories, starting to trace letters, basic counting. How to recognise her name. I'm pretty sure that will be fine.

My 2 year old wasn’t due to start nursery until September so I haven’t put any plan in place to ‘teach’ as such

We are doing far more reading, drawing and activities than I normally would though and DC has impressed me with the amount they know

They have delayed speach but I’ve realised they can recognise numbers up to 10 and put them in order, can count to 10 using fingers, can recognise and write the first initial of their name.

This has spurred me on to encourage this further if DC continues to be interested enough to do so.

Other than this my main focus is on the toilet training. They really don’t want to be out of nappies though

With baby 2 arriving imminently it will all go out of the window anyway

I’m lucky in that we’ve encouraged most of the being helpful and putting things away and fetching things all in preparation for helping out a bit when I’m recovering from birth in case DH is back to work by then

Agree with above, dressing herself, going to the toilet unaided and sharing stories are the best things you can do. Re numbers, watch numberblocks and just count stuff together as you are going along.

Have a little flick through an online EYFS pdf. It'll give you a guideline of milestones and it's what nurseries use anyway. I have a 3 year old and 2 year old and my eldest was meant to start nursery. We've been doing fine motor skills activities (pen grip, some games which have pieces in them), gross motor skills (little assault courses in the garden the YouTube fella) some cooking, colours and counting. Just structured activities that they can get used to paying attention for half an hour ish onwards so it's not overwhelming x

I taught Reception for several years. Please don't worry about the academic side of things. Focus on dressing, toilet training etc. as pp have said. Shares books regularly, lots of role play, dressing up, exploring the world outside, creative arts etc. That will be more than enough!

Play Hooray has an online pre-writing skills course that focuses on the physical skills needed for writing. I’m going to look into it, more because it’s something to do!

I’ve been doing Lego with DD to help strengthen fingers and I’ve noticed it’s also really good to help with tenacity and dealing with frustration (‘oh dear, it broke? Try again, I bet you can do it again).

I’ve also been trying to do very very simple science - which things float or sink in water for example - more to get her to think about stuff than imparting any actual knowledge!

Please don't worry about "formal" curriculum based tasks.

Getting their own clothes on, toileting independently, talking about what they like or don't like are all important (for NT children, obviously some children with SEND develop at different rates)

Building strength in hand/arm and core by colouring, cutting, threading or other fine motor tasks.

Doing as much exercise as possible.

Loads of Nursery Rhymes and stories.

Listening to differences in sounds, for example these types of activity
www.bbc.co.uk/teach/school-radio/eyfs-listening-skills/zbc4y9q

Cooking/baking/helping to plate up food etc

Hopefully we will be back to school as normal by the time your DD starts school, but teachers will know that the kids have had this weird experience in their lives! (I miss my class, can you tell?)

I have been with my 3 nearly 4 year old but it was all a bit much and she’s much happier just playing really. I think the biggest things are that they are ready to learn and be independent. For us, although we’re doing some letters and numbers, the most important thing is making sure she can wipe properly after a poo.

I’m trying to make sure I’ve covered the following each week:

• baking
• playdoh
• colouring
• painting
• building
• puzzles

And then doing some reading, letters and numbers each day.

I’ve given up with writing. She was interested at nursery but doesn’t want to do it with me and it’s too much of a battle, especially if I don’t teach it right and she has to re-learn it anyway

I also think reception might be a bit weird for this cohort as there will be lots of children that will be ahead on maths/reading (with potentially lots of re-teaching if parents don’t do it right) but behind socially compared to normal. I suspect inequalities might be more marked too. I also think parents who have been furloughed/have a sahp will naturally be able to do much more than single or dual working families trying to fit everything in.

I have a pre-schooler at home, I'm not doing anything formal with him, too busy trying to do stuff with my 8 year old and 11 year old! He will be fine. Just craft, play, and read is all I aim to do with him.

Have a Google for 'pre writing' skills and activities to promote them- stuff like playdough, Lego, threading etc to build up the right muscles in her hands.

Phase 1 phonics, so not about recognising phonemes and graphemes, but about listening and distinguishing sounds.

Basic skills like toileting independently, getting dressed and undressed, taking turns etc

Read read read to her! Talk about the story, how are the characters feeling? How do we know? (Eg picture looks sad, he's laughing so he's happy) what might happen next etc etc

Using numbers in context, counting out plates for dinner, baking, can you fetch me 3 pegs for the washing etc

5 minute mum on Facebook has done good games for pre School level, and there's loads on Pinterest!

Play is the work of childhood. Let them immerse themselves in the wonderful world of role play, small world play and stories. That is how they learn.

Wow, some brilliant suggestions here and the overall message is very reassuring - thanks a million everyone.

I'm doing a bit of these 3-5 lessons with my 4YO:

www.twinkl.co.uk/home-learning-hub

If you sign up with this code: CVDTWINKLHELPS you can download any resources for free. No payment details needed.

She watches the daily phonics lesson and we've made some letter and number cards. Maths is generally a bit of putting numbers in order, recognising and trying to write them. We might look at maps or pictures and chat about the world.

As long as you don't push them too much I think doing something helps keep them entertained. I agree with PP who said that reading to them is by far the most important thing.

Take a look at five minute mum on her website, Facebook or Instagram. A former Teaching Assistant and mum to two you kids she's got loads of ideas for simple games that get them learning. They don't need to read and write but ideally they'd enjoy learning and associate it with fun.

How about simple jigsaws?

Thanks, @donquixotedelamancha, that website is fantastic!

I'll check out five minute mum, @Shelley54, thanks.

Most welcome, ostrich.

I do like having stuff set each day, it saves a lot of searching. Quality and pitch is variable, so you need to exercise common sense, but there is always enough useful stuff.

Videos are almost always on the FB or YouTube channel, so no need to stick to times.