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Home ed

Find advice from other parents on our Homeschool forum. You may also find our round up of the best online learning resources useful.

Homeschooling a 2 year old?

72 replies

BeKind89 · 06/04/2017 16:14

My DS is 2 and a half but I've started homeschooling already as the local schools are really overcrowded and we may be relocating abroad in the next couple of years so this is the best option for everyone.

So far we've learnt quite a bit, he can name all the letters, can count & recognise numbers up to 30, knows all the colours and about 20 different shapes and can read a few words.

My question is... what next? His vocabulary is pretty good for his age but he can never seem to sit and concentrate on one thing for more than 10 mins (probably because of his age).

I always try and make learning fun and get and laugh out of him while we work/learn but I'm stumped on what to do next or what is expected of him before he turns 3 or 4 or 5?

I'm really at a loss and was wondering for any advice or tips or any words of wisdom from anyone who has home schooled from the start.

Tia xx

OP posts:
user1466690252 · 06/04/2017 17:22

Latin. Tarquin could do latin by 3 so I'd do that.

He had no mates and didn't know how to play, but his latin was cracking Hmm

MrsJayy · 06/04/2017 17:30

Learning is great for children im not sure you need to call it homeschooling though however if you google pre school learning you will get tonnes of ideas, I will say though don't try and push it 10 mi ute bursts is normal for little children,

multivac · 06/04/2017 17:32

This isn't "homeschooling". It's parenting (albeit slightly overscheduled parenting).

MrsJayy · 06/04/2017 17:39

Yeah it really is just parenting most parents do colours and counting and pointing out stuff

zzzzz · 06/04/2017 18:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Jennie1978 · 06/04/2017 18:42

If you Google EYFS Development Matters it will show you the developmental expectations from birth to five. Nurseries and schools use this to inform their planning and activities.

LilQueenie · 06/04/2017 23:28

You would be surprised the number of parents who don't teach their child anything and expect school to do it all. I agree at the moment its not technically homeschooling but on the other hand it is exactly what homeschooling is. an extension of learning the basics. Find some homeschool groups local to you and attend some get togethers to see what works for you. home educating can be done various ways. Its also a way for your son to socialise.

Ojoj1974 · 07/04/2017 23:25

Socialising skills, forming friendships with peers, sharing, learning about his environment/plants/animals/how things work
Please don't rush literacy and numerousy there is plenty of time. Concentrate on the other things as mentioned above.

StealthPolarBear · 07/04/2017 23:29

I'd hate to see a non relaxed schedule

BackforGood · 07/04/2017 23:34

This
If you want look at the early years curriculum where you will soon find out socialisation, interpersonal relationships and communication skills are the most important at this age
Then let them play with other children

Titchy Grin

and this I'd hate to see a non relaxed schedule

oh, and I agree with everyone saying it isn't home schooling, if the poor little chap is too young to be at school anyway. Its just a slightly OTT way of parenting.

TheElephantofSurprise · 07/04/2017 23:36

Daughter learned to read (whole words - out of fashion now) at that age. It didn't hold her back.

bebanjo · 12/04/2017 09:52

I home ed my 10 year old.
We didn't teach her to read tell she was 7 and she is now reading the same books as her friend that was reading at 4.
There really is no point in focusing on academic stuff so early.
You say he chooses what he does but I don't see any, tree claiming, swimming, parks, friends,lego eat in your seclude.
Go pond dipping
Collect tadpoles
Find a nice playgroup
Roll down hills
Get him a bike
Roller skates
Go ice skating
Let him see the world outside.

That1950sMum · 12/04/2017 10:02

You would be surprised the number of parents who don't teach their child anything and expect school to do it all. How shocking. Letting people who are professionally trained actually do their job. Shock.

Parenting at that age should be about talking, reading to them, getting them out and about to experience the world and giving them opportunities to learn how to interact with other children. Two and a half is far too young for formal learning and it is totally unnecessary.

smilingsarahb · 12/04/2017 10:27

I know school starts at 3 in Wales but I thought it was like nursery, less hours than school and doing an early years/foundation stage style of learning with free flow and play based. Perhaps visit one and see what they are doing.
Lots of children like learning facts and lists but particularly with number make sure he really understands what number is.

user1466690252 · 13/04/2017 06:33

I'm in Wales. School starts at 3 but it is nurseries attatched to the school. Nothing acedemic as such. Just learning through play. Learning rules ect.

picklemepopcorn · 13/04/2017 07:27

Be careful, as it is easy to teach them things they need to unlearn later! Teach them to write lower case letters rather than capitals, first. Make sure they are made the cursive way, not ball and stick, for example.

Key at this age though is language and motor skills.
Motor skills: Trampolining, climbing, scooting, play dough, bead threading and getting dressed etc are all really important to posture and grip when writing. Read some articles by physiotherapists about the importance of early years development.

For maths, it's also language. Ordering by size, height etc and appropriate language. Ordering by number and appropriate language. Position. So using words like more, less, first, last, bigger biggest, taller, shortest, heavier, on top, underneath, next to, beside. Make arrays of items, look for and complete patterns.

Social skills also need to be learned at the correct age, so make sure DC is mixing with lots of children, playing games etc.

There are some concepts they simply cannot get at this age. You can teach them to perform it, but they don't actually grasp it.

Most importantly, to love books and follow their interests. Go to interesting places, use a varied vocabulary, and play play play!

Flippingecktucker · 13/04/2017 07:32

Unbelievable.

kingscrossnoodle · 13/04/2017 07:32

If you want to home school the most important factor is probably to do it age appropriately. Nobody wins a prize for being able to count/read/write before others.

I would personally just enjoy your baby and play

LarrytheCucumber · 13/04/2017 07:39

Get a sandpit and a water tray, a climbing frame, play ball with him. Take him for walks, let him get dirty and jump in puddles, dig up worms and whatever else interests him. And go to toddler groups so he can learn to share and socialise at an age appropriate level.
Do finger painting, and dough play and making patterns in cornflour and have fun.

SenoritaViva · 13/04/2017 07:52

It isn't home schooling, it's parenting!
Get him to practice listening, following instructions, how to dress himself, how to share, how to make friends etc. If he shows an interest in something then share it with him but mostly just play and have fun together.

WellErrr · 13/04/2017 08:03

Teach him to ride a bike and not cry when his knee is bleeding.

Mine are champions at that.

Joinourclub · 13/04/2017 09:07

The vast majority of children are sponges at this age. You don't have to 'sit down and focus' in order for them to learn. I'd relax a bit. Just going for a walk or to the shop can be 'learning' as you point out the different plants/birds/fruit and veg etc. As long as you are active and you talk to your child and get out of the house and experience new things, they will learn. You don't have to worry too much about actually teaching them at only 2.5 .

corythatwas · 18/04/2017 19:06

"You would be surprised the number of parents who don't teach their child anything and expect school to do it all."

I would be surprised to learn that it was possible for most normal people to be in the daily company of a 2yo without constantly teaching them things. There is a very snobbish attitude in this country which can be summed up as:

learning that is worth having can only be had from "educated" (read, middle class) parents

learning that is worth having has got to be packaged in a certain way, ideally in the form of work sheets

learning must be separate from the normal activities of the day

a disinclination to engage with practical tasks in the home, such as baking or cooking, or with messy play, or with ordinary childhood games, shows that the child is brighter than their peers

None of it has any foundation in research or indeed in common sense.

Blossomdeary · 18/04/2017 19:10

Just play with this child - he has the rest of his life to be stuffed full of facts. He is not a sausage skin; he is a brand new human being feeling his way in the world and needs more than anything to learn about loving relationships and having fun.

Take him out in the fresh air and play with him. This precious time will be gone before you know it!

farfarawayfromhome · 18/04/2017 19:26

was just curious as I couldn't think of any country where they start at 3 and even 4 from the international perspective is criticised as being too early.

The UAE they start at 3 depending on the intake date. My DD starts in September and will still be 3 on her start date. These are private schools and very motivated by money.