How to Preschool at Home

Preschooling at home is a big and exciting commitment. As you begin researching all of the ins and outs of preschooling at home you might begin to get overwhelmed or lose confidence in your ability to take on this adventure. But I’m here to tell you that you are very capable! You do not have to have a teaching degree to preschool-at-home. Believe in yourself—you can do this!

Here are some tips to create a successful preschool-at-home:

1.       Have a Routine. Having a routine is key! It doesn’t have to be rigid, but predictable is good. Your child will respond better if they know what to expect and are able to recognize when it’s learning time.

Activities need to be at predictable times, like after breakfast, after nap time, right before dinner, etc. Choose a time that works best for your family, and then make them a routine.

2.       Start Small. Don’t overload yourself or your preschooler. Ease yourself and your child in preschooling at home. Begin with 1 or 2 activities that interest your preschooler (typically a themed activity from The Ultimate Toddler Activity Guide is a good start), and then build on that. Once you are in a routine or habit of doing activities together, it will be easy to add a math activity, reading activity, calendar time, art, music, or PE.

3.       Get organized. Even if you are starting small, it helps to have a plan. Grab a planner (I like this one), and write down which activity or activities you plan to do each day.  Once you get comfortable with your role you can even plan out different activities for your different-aged children. Check the materials you will need for each activity and add any materials you don’t have in your home to your weekly shopping list. This will save you a lot of headaches.

4.       Learn Through Play. Even though you are providing playful, hands-on activities to your child, it is very valuable to allow your child the opportunity to have guided playtime. Children learn life skills through play, such as interacting with other people, reading expressions, critical thinking, imagination, and language development. Participate with your child during playtime.

Here is an example of our preschool-at-home day:

This schedule is just an example of what we do in our home. It might not suit your family’s needs, and that is totally fine. I just want to give you an idea to help you create a routine that will be best in your home. Routines help us find time in our hectic schedules. You might want to spread your activities out throughout the day or it might be better for your preschool-at-home to be scheduled in the afternoon. Find what works best for your family and make it a routine.