How to Homeschool a 4 year old
How to Homeschool a 4 year old
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Are you looking for a great way to homeschool your 4 year old?
The thought of homeschooling a 4 year old may seem daunting, but it can actually be a lot of fun!
Here are a few tips to get you started:
First, remember that young children have short attention spans, so don't try to cram too much into each day. Choose a few subjects that you want to focus on, and keep your lessons short and sweet.
Next, make sure to incorporate a lot of hands-on learning into your curriculum. Kids this age love to be up and moving, so incorporating things like arts and crafts, games, and outdoor activities will help keep them engaged.
Finally, don't forget to have fun! Homeschooling should be an enjoyable experience for both you and your child. Keep things lighthearted and relax any expectations you might have about sticking to a strict schedule or covering certain material by a certain date. Just enjoy the journey and let your little one lead the way!
In the early years, young children can begin to learn through play which will help build important skills as they get older.
Since preschool programs can be expensive for many families, the best way to teach your child is at home.
Many parents are now using a homeschool preschool approach to teaching their little kids at home.
An important thing to remember is that your little learner can easily learn the skills they need at home.
Want an entire curriculum already planned out for you?
Check out my Preschool Homeschool Curriculum here.
What do 4 year olds learn?
Most preschools begin at 4 years old, but these skills also apply to children from 3-6 years old.
Remember when looking at the skills, think about what your child already knows and what they still need to learn.
Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills are the coordination of small muscles, usually in the hands and fingers, to complete tasks such as writing or buttoning a shirt. These skills develop throughout childhood and reach their peak in adulthood. For preschoolers, developing fine motor skills is important for performing everyday activities such as eating with a fork and dressing themselves.
Additionally, fine motor skills are necessary for using a pencil or crayon to draw and color. While some children may naturally excel at tasks that require fine motor skills, others may need a bit more practice.
There are a variety of ways to encourage the development of fine motor skills in preschoolers. Simple activities such as stringing beads or cutting with child-safe scissors can help to improve coordination. In addition, playing with clay or building blocks can also be beneficial. With a little patience and practice, most children will develop the fine motor skills necessary to succeed in school and beyond.
Fine motor skills involves cutting, pasting, coloring, and writing.
Gross Motor Skills
Gross motor skills are the large movements we use to control our bodies, like running, jumping and throwing. For preschoolers, these skills are essential for participating in activities and exploring their world. Gross motor skills also help to develop coordination and balance, and can aid in the development of fine motor skills. Some simple ways to encourage gross motor skill development in preschoolers include:
- providing opportunities for climbing, crawling and running;
- playing catch, hopscotch or other games that require movement;
- setting up an obstacle course or indoor playground; and
- dancing or doing yoga together.
By incorporating activities that encourage gross motor skills into your child's daily routine, you can help them develop the strength, coordination and confidence they need for a lifetime of physical activity.
Life Skills
There are a variety of skills that children can learn during their preschool years that will be beneficial for the rest of their lives. One important life skill is learning how to manage money. This can involve things like learning how to count coins and bills, as well as understanding the concept of budgeting.
Even a small child can learn how to spend and save money.
Another crucial life skill is learning how to stay safe. This can include things like knowing how to cross the street safely, or what to do in an emergency situation.
Other important life skills for preschoolers include things like learning how to be respectful and kind to others, being responsible for their own belongings, and developing good hygiene habits. By teaching these skills early on, parents can set their children up for success in all aspects of life.
Life skills include opening and closing objects, dressing, and cleaning up.
Even at the preschool age, young children can begin to develop their life skills.
Math Skills
When most people think of math skills, they tend to focus on the basics like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. However, there is much more to mathematical literacy than just being able to do simple arithmetic. In fact, preschoolers need to develop a foundation of math skills that will set them up for success in school and beyond. Some of the most important math skills for preschoolers include counting, sorting, patterns, measurement, spatial awareness, and basic shapes. By providing opportunities for children to practice these skills in a fun and engaging way, you can help them develop a love for learning that will last a lifetime.
In my ebook, I show to use easy activities to teach younger children. Click here to learn more.
Literacy Skills
When most people think about literacy, they automatically think of reading and writing. However, literacy skills begin to develop long before a child picks up a book or pencil. In fact, preschool is the perfect time to start promoting literacy skills. There are a variety of simple activities that can help to develop important skills such as phonemic awareness, phonics, and vocabulary. For example, singing nursery rhymes is a great way to promote phonemic awareness, while playing with letter blocks can help with phonics. And games such as I Spy can help to expand a child's vocabulary. By engaging in these activities on a regular basis, you can give your child a strong foundation in literacy skills that will last a lifetime.
How do 4 year olds learn?
Usually preschool teachers teach subjects through weekly themes.
In my curriculum, it includes 20 fun theme units that your child will love.
Each theme includes alphabet, numbers, sight words, and more.
How much time does it take to teach a 4 year old?
You can teach your 4-year old in as little as 20 minutes a day.
School Time
I consider school time the time to actually work on specific school activities.
It can be number worksheets, alphabet tracing, sight words, or reading.
School Time can be broken up into 2 ten minute sessions.
The rest of the day can be
Free Time
Free time is a way to incorporate free play.
Nap Time
Play Time
Quiet Time
What is quiet time? Quiet time is a few minutes for your child to do a quiet activity such as look at a picture book, play with a puzzle, or practice writing.
Clean Up
Yes, clean up should be a part of your day. Clean up is a fun way for your child to learn how to be responsible.
Don't forget to schedule nap time as a part of your day as well.
Use a preschool planner to create a weekly schedule for your learning, or use the lesson plans in my home preschool to help you create a schedule.
Homeschool preschool should also include play time, where your child can play and explore new toys as well as free time.
Does a 4 year old need screen time?
Screen time should be limited for small children, but can be used to show educational videos and help your child learn about new things.
You can also use screen time to play online games that help with
One of the benefits of homeschooling is that you can tailor your child's preschool education to fit their individual needs and interests.
I always include my child's interests in our home school. Little children will have a better time learning when the subjects are things they are interested in.
How to create a homeschool schedule?
You can also create a flexible schedule that works around your family's other commitments.
To get started, sit down with a calendar and map out the days and times when you have available for homeschooling.
Then, start planning your preschool curriculum around that schedule.
Remember to include time for things like breakfast, lunch, and recess in your daily homeschooling schedule. And be sure to leave some flexibility in your schedule in case you need to make adjustments along the way.
Check out my Sample Homeschool Preschool Schedule to help you with your homeschool routine.
Field Trips
Take your 4-year old on a field trip to the farm, park, grocery store, libary, and other local places.
Field trips for younger kids are a great way to help them learn more about the subjects taht are being taught.
Preschool Homeschool Curriculum:
My best-selling homeschool preschool curriculum includes:
Lesson Plans
No wondering what to teach, I include easy to follow and adjust lesson plans for each theme.
Educational Activities
Sight words, numbers, alphabet and games
Literacy Activities:
Fun printable games in each unit.
Letter of the Week
Each week, the focus is on learning two letters of the alphabet.
Letter sounds, letter recognition, and letter tracing skills can also be learned in my alphabet bundle.
Number Activities
Vocabulary Cards
Sight Word Cards
I created my Preschool Homeschool Curriculum for the Homeschool Mom who wants help in teaching their child.
No more guess work, just print and teach!
Click here to download your copy today.
More great ideas for your preschool homeschool:
Sensory Bins
A sensory bin is a fun way for your child to practice fine motor skills.
Reading
Give your child a love of reading but exposing them to books every day.
In my Preschool Curriculum, each theme includes a book list to introduce the theme.
By reading to your child, they will learn to recognize sight words, learn that books are read from left to right, and the parts of a book.
Social Studies
Children love to learn about the world around them. Teach continents, transportation, and more included in my preschool homeschool curriculum.
Incorporate your child's interests
Don't forget to ask your child what they want to learn about.
Use fun activities to teach each concept to create a love of learning.
Great resources to Homeschool your 4 year old for new homeschoolers:
Here are my resources that I created to help moms teach their children at home.
Kinderstar- an early learning video course and ebook
Preschool Star- preschool homeschool curriculum
Letter of the Week
Fun Alphabet Learning Bundle
Supplies to Teach:
Here are a few supplies that you will need to teach your 4 year old at home:
Wooden Blocks- blocks help to develop fine motor skills
Sheet Protectors- place your printables in sheet protectors so your child can have continuous practice.
Art Supplies- construction paper, crayons, markers, to help your little learner practice creativity.
Plastic Bins- for sensory bins
Puzzles
Alphabet Toys
Dry Erase Board
Building Blocks
Dry Erase Marker
Printer- to print your curriculum.
Related: Click here for the Ultimate Preschool Supply List
Remember that older children who still need help with these skills can also use activities as well.
When your child is ready to attend public school, they may not
Keep in mind that all children learn at their own pace.
As long as you are working with your child at home on a daily basis, they will be ready for the next school year.
The first year of learning should be a fun time for you and your child, so remember to take your time, have fun and enjoy the learning process.