The Preschoolers Home Ed Thread

[MathsMadMummy]

Hi all, I thought we could do with a thread for posting activity ideas and so on, for those of us with preschool-age children (whether or not you're planning to HE them officially).

Today I made a papier mache mountain and we talked about the letter sound /m/. This built on /h/ which DD has been obsessed with since seeing a helicopter. We're gradually making a start with Jolly Phonics.

Been a bit lazy with 'learning stuff' lately though, as potty training has been the (very successful) project this week!

Looking forward to hearing what you're all up to with your little ones

What a fantastic idea! I'm planning to HE ds, currently 3.5. I'm getting so much stick off other people about not sending him to nursery! We do loads at home but I'm always looking for new ideas.
I'm also a nanny and don't work to the eyfs. Tbh the whole thing confuses and enrages me

I think there are loads of people planning to HE from the start atm, as opposed to more of the older children having been to school and not got on with it. By the time our kids are teenage, I bet HE is at least on an equal footing with private, especially since less and less can afford private these days. Ther is also the aspect that previously minority "hippy" ideas are becoming mainstream, such as organic food and recycling, let's hope HE does the same!

Yes, I agree with you Butterpie, that more and more people are planning to HE from the start.

I've started a thread about it

I think you're probably right, Butterpie. Mine are at private schools now (I can swallow the independence of private schools better than the state control of state schools, but I know that's just a personal opinion). But if I run out of money, it will be HE for the rest of their education.

so what are people doing with their preschoolers today? we're having a lazy morning - usually do on Wed/Fri as DD has preschool on those afternoons. I've got bit of studying to do while she's there, but I'll use the rest of the time to plan a few activities by stealing your ideas

oh what I meant to say was we have a lazy Wed/Fri morning because she gets tired out at preschool. would love some gentle ideas we could use on those mornings to entertain her but not wear her out!

5 yo and 3 yo have started a big puzzle with 91 pieces. 7 yo is having a snooze in bed after being up sick in the night. 22m old is just pottering around.

I am knackered and bored so MNetting.

Not very inspiring I'm afriad!

Might be having friends over later if the sick ones are definitely sick free!

Looking to steal ideas ...mine is having a nap right now but we're staying with my mum and so activities are getting limited. we have one small box of toys (3 tea sets in it?!!) I'm sick of imaginary tea! Some stacking cups, mega blocks, building bricks, books and a doll and pram. We also have 5 crayons.

We've read a lot, played in the garden looking for ripe tomatoes, dug in the dirt, been to the park. I'm going stir crazy and we're here for another 8 weeks at least...ideas purlease!!!

Pretend picnic going on in the kitchen now; and the 'babies' are being sick

Saracen thanks for that book recommendation, I've just found it on google books and having a look now. Interesting.

I don't exactly have a pre-schooler at the moment - mine are a bit older and a bit younger, iyswim

We all had our hair cut this morning (hairdresser came to visit)

and some collaborative lego creations

oldest child reading books to youngest

eating a ridiculous number of pancakes

some complex game involving several small toys and a sieve (I wasn't really following that, tbh, but there were some pretty high octane thrills and spills involved)

successfully googling for sonic the hedghog flash games

games involving throwing balls around the house

...and then I went to work for a rest!

Playdough now for the little three; 7yo looking at a Where's Wally book.

Ommward - have you discovered friv? DD1 plays sonic on there.

I'm feeling really old now - I've EHEd from the start and mine are now 18 and 16. So, I thought I'd give you all the benefit of my wisdom.

@TheDoctorsWife46:
My DD was 2 when she started spotting letters and I made up 'flashcards' for her. We have her on video playing a game of going around an putting a label on everything (Daddy, door, the baby, etc.). I'd agree with what everyone else has said upthread - do what is fun and ignore the EYFC and NC. We did loads of jigsaws, BBC pre-school magazines, watched early schools TV programmes, went to toddler groups (and EHE groups once DD was about 3 and DS 1).

Basically, I'd suggest that you live life slowly and discover that that is how they educated themselves. By slowly, I mean that you do not rush around using labour-saving devices that mean children become participants or passengers. For example, you cook from scratch - and they help and become more competent until they can do it alone. We walked as much as possible and now we cycle or use the bus - the DC are more independent in travel than many their age. We make birthday and Christmas cards and often make presents. I'd have liked to grow food as well but have not had time to do that. None of this is in the curriculum but it is a great education (and is borne out by many professional educators - Dewey, Froebel, Holt, Montessori, Neill). I firmly believe that children's education needs to start in the concrete - that is the principle behind Singapore Maths as well.

BTW, I have worked from home, an average of 25 hpw all the way through. Looking back, I would not change it!

does anyone have any ideas about doing maps with my 3.1yo? she's seen them a lot lately (treasure maps) and today randomly drew around her mountain (that I mentioned in the OP) and said it was a map with a swimming pool she is also good at telling me which direction to go in, to get to the park or wherever.

I would do a map of the living room, say, as I remember doing this in school, but our house is too messy...

any ideas gratefully received

A map of her bedroom? A map of your route to the shop or somewhere close that you walk to and she knows well?

actually the bedroom may be doable as it's not such a state as the rest of the house but what would I/we actually do with it?

was wondering about a treasure hunt maybe, not really sure how to go about it as she's so little. but she's recently enjoyed a Little Einsteins episode with a treasure map, and 'Big Pig On A Dig' which has a map too...

What a lovely thread I'm sort of trespassing as I don't HE (dd fell in love with her play school and her big school, but if she ever says she doesn't want to go anymore, then I'll gladly HE)

Mathsmadmummy you could map stories you're reading. Goldilocks for example, Little Red Riding Hood or Three Little Pigs? Or map a room in a dolls house, or go to the playground and map that???

ooh more good ideas thanks

how would I map a story?

Could you do a map with picture which she follows to the park and find treasure, such as leaves, a picnic, etc? Little Red Riding Hood would be good - you could use the park as a wood.

Another good thing is orienteering. I know she's only little, but she can still find posts and match letters. You may find that there are posts in a park near you. Try Googling your area and orienteering - there's likely to be a club with a website and information.

My DD loved maps - we have a picture of her at about 4 with a rucksack and a map. We also did a long walk (10km) for which DS was too young to win the youngest walker award at 3 because they only counted from 10(!). He won the next year at 4 and is very proud of it. :O

www.amazon.co.uk/Once-Upon-Time-Map-Book/dp/0763626821/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1280084 503&sr=8-1

This is a fantastic book for map interested youngsters.
We drew maps from stories all the time. You need ones with lots of 'landmarks' to start -
why not try "Going on a bear Hunt"? Draw a map of the route to the cave, with areas of long grass etc.

Take a 'penny' walk. Get a local map (or print one off google) and go on a walk. At each junction flip a coin to decide direction and follow it on the map.

Draw a local streetmap, plot friends houses, library, park, shop etc.

Looking at larger scale maps why not try something like postcrossing. We have a big map with stickers for where we have received and sent cards.

SDeuchars - I want to say thank you very much for you inspirational paragraph above:

^live life slowly and discover that that is how they educated themselves. By slowly, I mean that you do not rush around using labour-saving devices that mean children become participants or passengers. For example, you cook from scratch - and they help and become more competent until they can do it alone. We walked as much as possible and now we cycle or use the bus - the DC are more independent in travel than many their age. We make birthday and Christmas cards and often make presents. I'd have liked to grow food as well but have not had time to do that. None of this is in the curriculum but it is a great education (and is borne out by many professional educators - Dewey, Froebel, Holt, Montessori, Neill). I firmly believe that children's education needs to start in the concrete - that is the principle behind Singapore Maths as well.^

You have summarised everything that I have learnt from lurking here and on homeschooling/parenting blogs across the internet.

I hope to make it back to this thread but thought I would say "THANKS" straight away (or history says I never will!).

(I won't be homeschooling - unless DS 2.9 has problems at school but I am learning a lot from philosphy's such as yours above).

A general thanks to all who share in this section - it is massively useful to both non-homeschooling and homeschooling parents!

what tabouleh said

oh and thanks folks for all the map ideas.

Had a free-range morning at a local attraction. My role was to make sure no-one got detached from the main party, and to follow at the pace and in the direction dictated by the small people. It was great! Highlights included getting up close and personal with some lemurs, all climbing in one of those buses that you put 50p in and it rides (I wasn't sure I was going to get out again, tbh. squeeeeeeeze), and seeing, right by our noses (through glass) some bees actually doing that pollen dance that one always reads about. Stunning.

a MNer called mrz shared this link on another thread, it's got loads of fun ideas so I thought I'd post it here!
link