Simple Homeschool Ideas for Younger Years!

Hi Mama! Wow, I’m always thinking about what I can post about, then this happens, and I find myself having the experience of homeschooling and this beautiful platform to have the privilege of sharing with you! I know you are overwhelmed with tips and advice, so I’m going to try to make mine as simple as I can. Our oldest is almost 7 (with a 4 & 1 year old brother) who have all never attended school, so we have plenty homeschool experience with the younger, pre-K-2nd grade years. I’d love to share what has worked for us and if you have any questions just post in my comments, I’d LOVE to help you as much as I can with this transition, and salute to the not over-played mom chant, YOU GOT THIS.

Positive Mentality Shifts to Tell Yourself:

You can do this. You are 100% capable of teaching your children something over these next few weeks or months. You are their #1 primary educator as their mother and God has ordained this privilege to you. “The Family is the School of Love,” & “the mother is the heart of the family.” Do not be afraid, God is not trying to trick you or give you more than you can handle, He is allowing this precious time with you and your children.
Homeschooling doesn’t have to look like “school at home.” You can tell yourself that you don’t have to try to re-create a certain environment. Your kitchen table and your family room couch are the perfect spots.
The goal is to have a positive connection with learning. And to try to make it fun. All you need to do is smile and make direct eye contact, and add in some tender physical touch with your kid for that to happen. I rarely say, “its time for school,” it’s more like, “let’s learn something about ____” together. The goal is positive connection and instilling a sense of wonder.
In the curriculum we use the experts recommend approximately 30-45 minutes of “workbook or direct teaching,” for preschool-2nd grade. I will link some resources, but to make yourself feel better this is typically what seasoned homeschoolers follow, (and what I have followed with my boys who are all ahead of the learning curve). We are always “done school” by 12noon.
The internet is my friend. Free homeschool curriculums everywhere. Google math sheets for 1st grade, letter writing print out page for preschool, or Saint day print out coloring page. You can find free crafts, worksheets or youtube videos to learn anything and everything with you kids.

Simple Basic Ideas:

Reading - Set your timer to read 15-20 minutes out loud to your kids. Picture books and fairy tales are perfect. Picking a chapter book series to binge together is amazing, (we are currently doing Narnia) “Guess what? Mom is going to let you do a special thing thing, I made hot chocolate or popcorn, and you get to sit on the couch while I read this story to you!” Or, “we get have special story time today and you get to pick!” Or if zero interest from them, do what an expert recommends, don’t say anything and just grab your book and start reading the kid book outloud to yourself, (& they will magically start listening, making their way toward you). Also, audio books count! Download a kids book on audible to play through your speak and give them a coloring page while you turn it on.
Writing - “Today is Saint Patrick’s Day, we are going to write a special card to Grandma & Grandpa or one of our friend’s named Patrick and send it in the mail! We are going to make it our very best so they love it!” Or take a picture and text it to them! Also can counts for art and spelling.
Arithmetic - “You get to be Mommy’s helper today and pick a special recipe for lunch or dinner (or St. Patrick’s day!)” “Guess what? You are going to learn about measuring, adding or following directions in the kitchen! Wow, you are such a great helper/chef/mathematician!”

Bonus Subjects

Religion - “Did you know what Saint Patrick did?” We are going to watch this video about him, or learn how to draw a Shamrock.” “Who do you want to pray for today? We are going to learn a special new prayer together!” “Do you know why God made you? Because he loves you! Jesus loves you so much He came to earth just for you!” Prayer with their mom and family is literally the best thing in the entire world. Learning about a saint or a new prayer or a new bible story is wonderful.
History - “Do you know where mommy & daddy were born?” “This is what it was like when we grew up.” Pulling out a map, old pictures or better bonus: calling their grandparents and asking if they can ask to tell them a story about their childhood.
Poetry, Art & Music - If you read one poem, pull up one beautiful art piece online or from a book, or listen to a piece of beautiful music together you’re a rockstar! The way we memorize Robert Louis Stevenson poems with the boys is by picking one short poem and repeating the first few lines over and over in a fun way, and they usually can have it memorized by the end of the week.

I hope there’s at least one simple thing that you got from this post! Pro-tip is to keep it simple, start with a short simple story time if just one thing. Write down the book you read to them for a self-esteem booster of proof of what you did. Pick just one subject a day to focus on. Allow yourself to stop and change gears as soon as you get frustrated. In whatever way this is not what you expected, like I keep telling myself, pray without ceasing and try to enjoy the unexpected time! Happy Saint Patricks Day, Mama!!!

“I pray to God to give me perseverance and to deign that I be a faithful witness to Him to the end of my life for my God.” - Saint Patrick