Did you know you can recreate a preschool experience for your kiddo at home? Yes, you can!
The best teacher for your child is you! Early childhood education isn’t always an option for families. Availability, ability, personal preference, and cost are deciding factors in whether or not to send your little one off to preschool.
Looking for simple preschool ideas you can do at home? We got you covered! Keep reading for 5 simple preschool ideas you can do at home.
Before you start its best to decide when to begin preschool. It’s never too early for children to learn! Reading books, creating, and playing are natural ways for youngsters to grasp new information. It’s different from formal education though. So how do you know if your child is ready for more structured learning?
Preschool outside of the home begins as early as 2 years old. Does that mean you should start your toddler at this age? It depends. Here are some things to consider before you try preschool ideas at home.
Things To Look For Before Starting Preschool
To help you and your child have a positive experience with at-home preschool consider these things before starting:
- How does my child learn? Do they learn by watching, listening, or doing?
- What is my child’s attention span? Can they focus for long or short periods of time?
- Does my child like to be on the move or do they prefer to sit?
- What are my child’s social needs?
If your child shows an interest in learning and exploring, can follow directions and sit pretty well, (even for short periods of time) they might be ready to start preschool.
If you feel your child is too young to start preschool, even at home it’s okay to wait. You can keep teaching them through natural interactions and play until you think they’re ready. If you push them before they are ready both of you might have a frustrating experience.
Things To Consider When Selecting At-Home Preschool Activities
Learning should be fun and interesting for preschoolers. Preschool activities should also be engaging and taught in a way they can understand and enjoy.
The beauty with at-home preschool is you can customize the things to fit your child. So how do you know what to teach and how to teach it? Here are some ideas.
- Does your child like music? Use simple songs to teach.
- Is your child active? Use educational games that get them moving. Or incorporate movement breaks between activities.
- Does your child learn best by doing? Offer hands-on experience.
- Does your kiddo like to be social? Incorporate friends into the mix.
Basically think of your child’s personality and preferences and offer preschool activities that best match him or her!
5 Simple Preschool Ideas
To help you get started with at-home preschool here are some simple ideas!
Plan out themes to help organize activities. Pick themes that are of high interest to your child. With that theme, you can pick out a book, craft, or song to go with it.
For example, you could teach your child about the 4 seasons. For a winter theme, you could read the book “That’s Not My Snow Man.” For an easy craft, glue cotton balls into snowmen on paper, and for a STEM activity make marshmallow snowmen with toothpicks. There are tons of ideas on Pinterest.
To help you get started here are some simple at-home preschool themes:
- Farm animals
- Musical Instruments
- Community Helpers (firefighters, doctors, teachers)
A morning theme usually only takes about 20-30 minutes, but you can take longer if you add more to it. 30 minutes is usually long enough to give your child a preschool experience before they want to move on to something else.
You can do a morning theme as often as you wish. If your child is younger 1 day a week is plenty. You could do 2-3 days a week too if you think your child will like it.
Play Date or Preschool Coops
Plan regular play-dates with some other parents and incorporate themes into the play-date. Each mom can take turns leading the activities. For a more organized experience, you and other families can plan weekly scheduled gatherings with lesson plans on the same day each week. Don’t forget to allow time for free play for the kiddos and their friends!
Virtual Preschool Programs
If you want to take the guesswork out of planning activities for your preschooler the internet offers a wide array of options. Just Google “virtual preschool programs.” You can find programs that offer activities that include themes, arts and crafts, simple games, songs, and storytime.
Some of these programs are live like a Zoom meeting. Others are pre-recorded so you can watch them at your convenience. Some websites are free while others have a fee.
Check out your local library! Storytime is free, educational, social, and fun. You will usually find a regular activity scheduled each week and kids love it. Whether it’s online or in-person preschoolers listen to books, dance to music, and be around kids their own age. Sometimes they get to complete a craft activity. The lesson planning is done for you, all you have to do is show up.
Recreate Circle Time
Circle time is a big component of preschool. You can easily set one up at home and make it a part of your daily routine. Activities usually found in circle time include calendar time where you talk about the month, days of the week, and date. Preschoolers also talk about the weather. Movement songs like “If You’re Happy And You Know It” is sung, along with 1-2 songs about colors, letters, or counting. Depending on the length circle time is concluded with a story.
You can simply set up a designated spot to have circle time. Hang up a calendar and pictures of the weather. Set up some pillows to sit on the floor and keep a collection of kid’s music nearby.
To help you get started here is a simple preschool circle time routine:
- Hello and greeting
- Calendar time: Identify the month, day of the week and date.
- Weather: What’s it like outside today?
- Movement song
- Short educational activity: ABC’s, counting, colors, shapes
- Simple song
Get your little one off to a great start and develop a lifelong love of learning with these 5 simple preschool ideas you can do at home. There is nothing more special than seeing your child grow and playing a vital role in that!