You want to create the perfect kindergarten homeschool set up. Also, grab my other tips, ideas, and crafts for kindergarten on my page Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum.
Then figure out your child’s learning style and pick your curriculum, or at least the style of learning you are going to begin following.
You may have a dedicated homeschool room or you may just enjoy school together snuggled up on the couch.
Either way you will want to create a setup that works well for you.
I can guarantee a few things.
You will probably change curriculum at least a handful of times before you are done.
Next, your needs as a homeschool family will change over the years.
What works now may not work next year, or even later this year and that’s okay.
I am going to give you some tips to help keep it flexible.
So that whatever you choose for a set up will always fit into your homeschool life with a little adjustment here and there.
4 Ways to Begin Your Kindergarten Homeschool Set Up
Do you have an empty extra room already to be a blank canvas as your learning area?
Will you be starting on the couch then moving to a table for penmanship and crafts?
Get an idea of where you will have your homeschool base so you can set it up properly.
There are benefits for a dedicated room despite what some homeschooler tout.
For example, it helps you and your child to focus with less distraction.
Also, it sets the mood for learning, and gives you a defined place to display posters, your child’s artwork, and more.
At the end of the day, you can close the door and keep the school supplies contained to one room.
The drawback to a room is that learning shouldn’t be stifled and takes place everywhere and all day long.
Crayons and paper scattered on the coffee table might inspire your little Picasso to create art.
A stack of animal books on the kitchen table along with some plastic creatures will invite a curious child to create a diorama.
Or add some popsicle sticks and playdough in to make enclosures for each animal.
You will probably find that somewhere in the middle works best, but it is up to you and your family.
You may need just a bookshelf in a corner and a basket in the living room.
1. Choose Your Kindergarten Furniture Wisely
Smaller children need smaller furniture.
While they can sit at a big family table for meals you will find that younger kids have a much easier time sitting at a table or desk that is scaled just for them.
To master fine motor skills such as handwriting they really need to be able to use the correct posture.
Search for something that is great for multipurpose uses to get the best bang for your buck like a little table and chair setup.
This is wonderful for writing but also painting, playing with playdough, sorting math manipulatives, and even enjoying a snack.
A good sturdy bookshelf is a must have as well no matter where you find a home for it.
It could be beside your recliner or in a dedicated school space.
You want a home for the majority of your materials to keep them organized and ready to go.
2. Gather up all your mom/teacher materials
Start with your own supplies for planning, even if you are doing a very relaxed homeschool a planner can help keep you organized and also serves as part of your homeschool record.
Check out some of my very favorite planners here on my site.
I create the 7 Step DIY Unique Homeschool Planner that is free. Let me walk you through step by step to create your own unique planner.
And I have a planner which is specifically designed with teaching little ones from preschool to about first grade.
One of my favorite materials is good mom encouraging books.
Grab My Book on How to Homeschool
Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is a real eye-opener on homeschooling. It will alleviate a lot of the anxieties about getting started homeschooling.
Reading each chapter’s highlights will give you encouragement, knowledge, guidance, and peace of mind to homeschool with confidence. The best part is that you’ll be educating the person who loves your kids the most in this world--YOU! Armed with the knowledge to make better choices in curriculum will empower you to continue the path of home education. Unlike many books based on one family’s experience, Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers is also based on Tina’s many years of mentoring hundreds and hundreds of new homeschoolers at live workshops.When you don’t know where to begin Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers equips you to successfully homeschool your children.
I have learned so much from other homeschooling moms and if you didn’t already know I am a veteran of 20 years and have written my own book that you can grab right here to help you navigate your first-year homeschooling.
3. Collect your child’s books, supplies, and games
Gather up some basic school supplies like pencils, paper, crayons, markers, a couple types of paper scissors, and glue.
You can add as you go but these are a good place to start.
Check here for a more exhaustive list of my 60 Favorite Top Homeschooling Materials for Kindergarten. Invest in educational toys, manipulatives, and games that align with your child’s interests and learning goals
You want to choose things that can be used in multiple ways and for more than just one year. Here are just a few of my favorites.
- Magnetic tiles can be used to make letters and numbers, create roads, to teach shapes, they can be measured, weighed, and as a part of all important make believe play.
- Letters/Numbers will be used for years to learn not only letters but eventually they can be used as spelling word practice.
- Dry erase, chalkboards, or LCD tablets are wonderful for beginning writing practice, doing simple math problems, and so much more.
- Add in a few neat games. Playing board games may seem like all fun but they teach your child how to follow directions, develop critical thinking skills, improve attention span, learn cooperation, and how to be a good winner/loser.
There is much more than this I could recommend.
These are just a few basics beyond crayons and paper that will round out your child’s kindergarten education.
MORE KINDERGARTEN HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM ACTIVITIES
- How to Create the Perfect Kindergarten Homeschool Set Up
- Best Kindergarten Health Curriculum Easy Ideas For Activities
- 8 Best Summer Unit Studies For Kindergarten | Free Ant Study
- 10 Kindergarten Sensory Bin Ideas | How To Make A Summer Sensory Bin
- How to Create a Kindergarten Math Game With Popsicle Sticks
- 8 Stellaluna Kindergarten Activities | How To Make A Coffee Filter Bat Craft
- First Day Of Kindergarten Homeschool Ideas | Free Scavenger Hunt Cards
- Math Made Easy: Engaging Addition For Kindergarten Dice Activities
- T Is For Simple Fun Thunderstorm Activities For Kindergarten
- Fun and Easy Tissue Paper Crafts for Kindergarten
- Fun Kindergarten History Activities: How to Create Royal Peg Dolls
- Enhance Your Language Arts Kindergarten Curriculum with Free Flip Books
4. Create a Simple Storage System
To contain your daily materials, you can use a large basket or a bookshelf,
One thing that I really like to utilize throughout all levels of homeschooling- a tiered cart that can be rolled from the kitchen table to the couch, because you will find out that homeschooling takes place everywhere.
A 3-tier cart is a great option because it gives you a place to keep your materials and books, a shelf for their curriculum and supplies, and a section for fun games, puzzles, and manipulatives to use throughout the day.
The top level is a good place to keep your planner, teacher manuals, books, and special items for yourself.
A few final tips before I let you get to putting together your kindergarten homeschool set up.
Utilize your local library, thrift store, and yard sales to build an amazing library full of living books, picture books, and chapter books for read alouds.
Enjoy this year, it will be over before you know it and there is nothing like watching your child light up as they learn new things.
Don’t go crazy buying too much right away, you can always add things as you go but start small with just the basics.
This space will not only be a place for your child to learn but also a haven where creativity and curiosity can flourish.
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