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Kinder Gardening to Celebrate Nature and Science

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Today I’ve rounded up some fun things to get the next generation of green thumbs digging in the dirt. I wished I had started gardening earlier with my kids, but your littles will love these kinder gardening resources to celebrate nature and science.

Kids Garden Unit Study Resources

Look at this adorable Radio Flyer big-kid wheelbarrow. Your kids will love to haul their own plants or just dirt. No intimidation here when they have their own kid-sized wheelbarrow for hauling.

Also, grab these fun crocs which are easy to clean and your littlest gardener is ready for his big kid project – well almost!

One thing that held me back from putting my kids in charge of their own garden was the lack of room in one place we lived while homeschooling.

When we got to move out to the more scenic and country areas where we had wide open spaces, gardening was easier.

It wasn’t so easy to do a fun science garden unit study when we lived in the city or in our smaller home which is why I loved these next fun things.

Kid Science in the Garden

These adorable growing your own herb kits are just the perfect kid-sized project. This raised bed is the perfect working height for little kids.

A huge plus is that you can take all of these things with you or move them around as you need to.

Then sneak in some fun ways to learn about gardening with this this flower families go fish game.

Add in some bug bingo for a creative way to learn about bugs from all over the world and you’ve added in a touch of geography.

You can also add in fun boxed craft ideas like this greenhouse from Groovy Lab in a Box.

Then, of course no unit study about gardening is complete without fun books.

With Seedfolks you can add in cultural awareness into your unit study which is a nice twist while learning about nature and science. Grab the Teacher’s Guide to the book and you’ll have a ready-made unit study.

Including a good amount of nonfiction living book ensures that a kid will find science in the garden fun as you avoid boring textbooks.

Not only will your kids love doing what they naturally like doing at this age which is being outside digging in dirt and playing with water, but it teaches kids valuable life skills.

Independence to care for their basic essentials and a sustaining food source are life skills you want your little kinder gardeners to have.

You’ll love these other unit study ideas and activities to add to your own study.

How to Teach Homeschool Preschool From the Inside Out (And Preschool Skills)

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

What does it mean to teach homeschool preschool from the inside out? Any change or growth whether it’s physical or mental starts from the root or inside and comes to the surface.  After 20+ years of homeschooling, I’ve come to appreciate deeply that teaching preschool is a similar approach.

I’ll give you a bird’s-eye view of preschool skills, but more than anything I want you to understand that unless you work from where your child is on the developmental rung and go up and out your teaching efforts could be in vain.

Even more important than perhaps wasting your time is that unintentionally you could be holding back your preschooler from higher learning instead of giving him a solid framework to build on. A hate of learning can then emerge with burn out in only second grade. You can avoid it. I’ll show you how to put the odds in your favor of succeeding at homeschooling from the very beginning.

Homeschool Preschool First Things First

What does it mean to teach homeschool preschool from the inside out? Any change or growth whether it's physical or mental starts from the root or inside and comes to the surface.  After 20+ years of homeschooling, I've come to appreciate deeply that teaching preschool is a similar approach.

Most parents are overly worried about having a child that will be behind. It’s a valid concern. Key to reining in that fear is understanding how a preschooler learns. It’s differently than other ages.What I’ve learned after homeschooling three homeschool graduates and now helping to mentor my fourth preschooler is that foundation is everything. And the foundation at home looks a LOT different than public school with all of its research-based reports. More on that in a minute.

What does homeschool preschool curriculum look like?

I’ll say it once, okay, maybe not. I will say it many times. Homeschool preschool is not about worksheets. I know you’re wanting a guide. Some guideline to follow to be sure your child is on track is really useful.

Here is the problem with choosing structured formal curriculum. Most of it is not developmentally appropriate. A lot of curriculum use worksheets as the spine. A spine is the framework for which all learning is based. From the beginning, you can set up your preschooler to have problems because worksheets are not age appropriate.

That is a key phrase to remember when homeschooling preschool from the inside out. Why? Because kids this age learn primarily through play. They learn through being with YOU. They learn by you modeling what you want your preschooler to learn.

Your role is not just vital, but it’s essential in how a preschooler learns. Research-based reports can leave out that significant component.

Bottom line: You’re teaching pre-reading skills, pre-writing skills, learning through dramatization, fine and gross motor skills as well as a whole set of skills dealing with cognitive development.

At this age, a child needs to learn how to remember things, learn how to think about thinking which is also called meta-cognition (not as easy as one may think), along with how to plan, take care of their needs, and organize.

I’m don’t want to overwhelm you, but to empower you and inform you by pulling back and looking at this from a bird’s-eye view. Preschool skills like coloring and cutting aren’t a waste of time, but were valuable precursors to the beautiful cursive and handwriting my kids had later.

Repeating Old Goose nursery rhymes over, over, and over again are not foolish childhood dawdle and rereading the same Dr. Seuss book for what seems the fiftieth time are ways to train my kids to hear the subtle differences in words.

Without hearing the subtle differences in sound there will be spelling struggle later. Not making time to read aloud beautiful literature to a preschooler now could mean hitting a brick wall with a kid who is book hater.

Teaching preschool does not mean you shouldn’t have or use some laid out programs. I’m not saying that.

I will be sharing more of the components I hand picked for teaching preschool, but one I love is ABCmouse. You get ABCmouse.com – First Month Free – Click here!

Munch-King can do this on his own for short periods of time.

The key to remembering how to use it is that it means YOU teach and model. The program should recognize how a preschooler learns which is through play, hands-on, and moving.

Homeschool Preschool Foundations

What does it mean to go out on the developmental rung? Hint: It’s knowing the value of enrichment and not just skill-based teaching.

A colossal mistake of many homeschoolers is constantly pushing ahead to the next grade or level. They don’t know the immense value of pushing out and away from the same level a child is on.

It reminds me of how a tree naturally grows. As a tree is growing higher, it also widen flourishes out. That is the exact thing that should happen to kids as they grow.

What I want you to know is that unless a child has special needs, he will go up in his development. What he may not do without your guidance is go wide or branch out. Anything that does not grow out as it grows up is stunted.

Going sideways on the same rung is just as vital as going on to the next level. Here is why.

Not IF but WHEN a child has a slow time in development, he can still grow and be enriched on the same level he is at. This enrichment is vital to being a well-rounded learner. Slowing down is a natural way for a child’s mental development to catch up.

Enrichment is a test in self-respect, self-worth and pursuing passions. When kids are constantly graded or taught from a skill-based approach, they learn to compare their advancement to others.

Teaching a child how to learn from observing, experimenting, expanding, and deepening his knowledge on a topic gives him time to master it. Becoming a master scholar happens when a child is allowed to delve and dwell on topics at hand, but peer at them in a close up manner.

Bottom line: Homeschooling is self-education. Let me repeat that again – homeschooling is self-education.  A preschooler loves to learn, but as a child grows older his love for learning wanes. It doesn’t have to IF we allow them to explore trails, discover new twist and turns on information they already know. They are learning to self-educate. This skill will last them through to high school and beyond as they take a college or career track.

Homeschool Preschool Skills

Now that you understand how important it is to work with a child’s developmental stage, not set up a formal environment, and to allow a child to stay at his level until he feels mastery, you want to know what skills to teach a preschooler.

I’m sharing a few of the things I’m using as I watch for signs of developmental delays and developmental milestones. In addition, these help me to lay a foundation for Munch King’s next developmental level.

I’ll be sharing more of how I’m using them, but here is a partial list:

Also, look below at a good rule of thumb guide that I’m using. Remember, just like you waited for readiness before your child crawled or walked, this stage of learning is the same. Be ready with arms open to help him as he reaches for the next rung.

  • Context Clues
  • Visual Discrimination
  • Numbers
  • Phonics
  • Vocabulary
  • Rhyming Words
  • Comprehension
  • Fine Motor Skills
  • Counting
  • Graphing
  • Writing
  • Action Words
  • Gross motor skills
  • Simple chores
  • Explore the world around him
  • Music
  • Nature
How to Teach Homeschool Preschool From the Inside Out (And Preschool Skills). What does it mean to teach homeschool preschool from the inside out? Any change or growth whether it's physical or mental starts from the root or inside and comes to the surface.  After 20+ years of homeschooling, I've come to appreciate deeply that teaching preschool is a similar approach. CLICK HERE for the tips!

In some upcoming posts, I have some pointers to share on additional things we’re using for preschool to help you lay a foundation that is as unique as your child.

You’ve GOT this and I’ve GOT you all the way to High School and a bit beyond! With me?

You’ll also love these other tips:

Hugs and love ya,

Homeschooling Mom Mentoring Mom & Munchkin

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Recently, I graduated my third homeschool grad. Did I mention how AWESOME my husband and I feel? Homeschooling has many ups and down and I’ve savored every precious moment with my kids.

However, after graduating three homeschooled kid what am I to do? Before I answer that, I have to tell you about Munchkin and his parents.

Munchkin’s dad and mom have become precious friends of our family and have been wanting to homeschool their preschooler.

Homeschool Preschool AGAIN

Knowing me personally and interacting with my sons, munchkin’s mom wanted some tips and support. I’ve known this for a while.

In addition, my homeschool how to book will be coming out soon. So because I wasn’t planning on going away anytime soon with my book coming out, I will be both mentoring Munchkin’s mom and homeschooling Munchkin some myself.

I do think I have the better end of this deal because it’s almost like having a grand kid. Believe me, I’m fine with not having one right now. Can I just bask in my son’s being graduated?

I can enjoy Munchkin’s sweet preschool self, teach him some, and send him back to mom and dad.

Did I mention it gives me a chance to share more about how to teach preschool and the younger years?

Oh don’t get me wrong.

I’m not stopping sharing ideas for middle and high school either. You for sure get the better end of this deal as I share my tips again on how to teach the younger years.

Look at these tips you may enjoy now:

Are you ready for my next adventure?

Hugs and love ya,

 

How Early Should I Begin Homeschooling My First Child & Free Checklist

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Being both anxious and excited, I couldn’t wait to begin homeschooling my first child, Mr. Senior 2013. Also, look at more tips on my page The Dynamics of How to Homeschool Easily and Smarter.

Being around the homeschool community because my mother homeschooled my younger sister, I had an idea of how to begin.

As I began, I knew some things, but it was nowhere near what I needed to know.

How Early Should I Begin Homeschooling My First Child? (and free checklist)

I still had many questions.

For example, when do I formally start, where do I purchase curriculum, what is considered curriculum at the preschool years and how much do I really need to teach my son at two or three years old.

These were just a few of my anxieties and probably some of yours as you begin homeschooling.

Begin Homeschooling with Little Ones and Not Panicking

I wanted details or some way to know when to move to the next step.

So I’m hoping some of these important details will ease your mind.

  • When do I formally start? 

You already know that kids begin learning from the time they are born, but estimating a more formal start is not as easy.

Like public school, you can use kindergarten or about 5 years of age as a formal start.

However, the one thing I could not possibly appreciate was that my son was very advanced in some skills and at the same time such a baby.  It seems a paradox and hard to explain as I look back.

Stay with me as I give you the full circle view.

When my son was 2 years old, I started receiving a box monthly with age appropriate activities for him.

It had a craft, a music cassette (yes this was before all the free downloads now) and age appropriate language building skills. It was always centered on themes.

Little did I know then that I would create my Kindergarten curriculum around that format. Back to my point.

My son was already writing his name, knew his letters and was reading before Kindergarten.

Out of my stupidity (I say this kindly about myself) meaning I really didn’t know what I was doing, I taught him to read.

It was normal to me for him to be that advanced and we were ready to go on to other skills in Kindergarten.

It set me back in Kindergarten when I realized that the curriculum I purchased started off with the same skills I felt my son had mastered.

Things I taught him like colors, one to one correspondence, opposites, letter sounds and about science were being introduced in the Kindergarten curriculum.

Homeschool Preschool Resources

Too, I had another problem. The curriculum required too much sitting time for such a young age.

Did you know that Kindergarten only requires short periods of sit down work done in about 10 to 15-minute spurts?

And that preschool and kindergarten are not the grades to make kids sit for hours because you decided to make a more formal start?

I’ve asked forgiveness from my first son.

I’m here to tell you that he turned out beautiful, but it was hard to forgive myself for being so overbearing anxious. Don’t make my mistake.

I knew that playing is learning in the preschool years and like any developmental age, it shouldn’t be rushed.

It’s hard to grasp that when you feel the whole weight of your child’s future rests on your shoulders and all he wants to do is play, chew on toys and destroy your house.

However, those precious years are momentary flashes that you can’t ever bring back if you rush homeschool.

If you search the definition for kindergarten, it would probably say something like a grade or class to prepare your child for first grade.

But the meaning has been lost through the constant push of the education world, and you need to resist the urge to hop onto the formal education track too soon.

How Early Should I Begin Homeschooling My First Child? (and free checklist)

The translation of Kindergarten means “garden for the children” and a child has a right to a stress-fress childhood that is full of play, tender moments and your warm embrace.

Here is a tip that will ease your mind if you ever feel like anytime in your journey you are behind; in one grade or even one month, a child can make significant learning leaps.

No pushing or cajoling on your part will move him ahead faster.

The years before and during Kindergarten should be about singing, dancing, crafting and practicing fine motor skills.

I gradually folded in preschool and kindergarten; it wasn’t until first grade that I required a bit more sit down time.

When You’re Anxious to Use Homeschool Preschool Curriculum

  • Where do I purchase curriculum? And what is considered curriculum during the preschool years?

Again, I can’t do anything balanced. I had curriculum overkill. My curriculum could have been scaled back to living books and crafts. And what I didn’t realize was that my house was already full of things ready to use.

Things like dried macaroni, dried beans for counting, measuring cups, bowls, jump ropes, dried cereal for graphing, rice for pouring, paper for painting, graduated mixing bowls, music for dancing to the alphabet, hopscotch made by chalk, building blocks, and toys for strengthening fine motor skills are what should consume a child’s day.

What I needed more of were living books.

Living books are opposite of basal readers, which are written by textbook writers.

Living books are written in a story form and uses rich vocabulary, which is the stepping stone to effective reading and writing skills.

Ditch the formal curriculum until about first grade and focus just on teaching your child how to read and more important, nurture a love for reading. How do you do that?

Reading aloud is the key to a lifelong reader.

When You’re Anxious to Use Homeschool Preschool Curriculum

But I know I wanted help too in the early years. I have listed some formal curriculum below that fits what a relaxed beginning should be.

12 Homeschooling Preschoolers Resources, Activities, and Curriculum

There is no doubt play-based learning is hands down the best way for preschoolers to learn.

You'll love some of these resources which can help you both teach and schedule if you want to do a bit more formal teaching.

I’ve said many times how I’m not quite sure what I did to help Mr. Senior 2013 read, but I do know for sure that I read a variety of books he loved over, over and over again.

Too, I included nursery rhymes every day so that he could predict the next word.

Then, one day he started to mouth the words and took off reading with easy books. Look at my tips at Teach Your Homeschooled Child How to Read in 20 Easy Lessons.

I know you want some kind of format for how to teach this age and a few my favorite programs are Before Five in a Row and Moving Beyond the Page Curriculum for Preschool.

Here is a list of read-aloud books to get you started.

These are just some of the ones I read to each son as I got ready to formally teach them.

They instill a lifelong love of reading.

Here are more tips, because knowledge IS power!

More Begin Homeschooling Resources

Remember that everything you do daily like conversations and reading gives your child a foundation for grammar, phonics and reading more than any curriculum can do.

From Public School to Homeschool For a Relaxed Lifestyle

You are your child’s first teacher. Savor it.

Do what your heart moves you to do each day in a natural way because he will learn and anything that you drop the ball on regarding teaching, you always have time to make up.

Relax, you got this!

How Early Should I Begin Homeschooling My First Child? (and checklist)

How to Get the Free Get Me Ready for Kindergarten Checklist

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How Early Should I Begin Homeschooling My First Child? (and checklist). Being both anxious and excited, I couldn't wait to begin homeschooling my first child, Mr. Senior 2013. And being around the homeschool community because my mother homeschooled my younger sister, I had an idea of how to begin. As I began, I knew some things, but it was nowhere near what I needed to know. mess up my sons, they turned out fine!

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