What About the Little Ones? Preparing for a New Preschool Year

Posted by Tricia Hodges | 0 comments

I’m coming off of a weekend attending our state homeschool convention. I spent a good deal of time planning, researching and seeking out the tools I’ll need to teach my older children.

But here comes the question I get most often. What about the little ones? It’s a valid question since I’ve had five preschoolers over the last fourteen years. So, yes, I also spend a good amount of time planning for the little ones too.

And, by spending some time planning for my preschoolers, I can save money. How’s that? Several families I know enroll their preschoolers in mother’s morning out programs. These programs are wonderful. My eldest was enrolled in our church program when she was just two. But guess what I found through experience? By the time I loaded everyone up to deliver my preschooler and then again to pick up my preschooler, I had expended quite a bit of energy. Not to mention monthly tuition. What’s the answer? For us, the answer is morning room time.

Morning Room Time is the habit that blesses all ages. It’s how I can be in two places at once! Both helping our littlest ones and helping the older ones with math. It’s the answer to that question I get most often.

What do you do with the little ones while you school?

The summer is a perfect time to practice new habits before the regular school routine settles in. Morning room time goes hand in hand with teaching time. Basically, our littlest ones spend up to 45 minutes playing alone in their bedroom or other room of the house. But while they play, they are listening to Hodgepodgedad’s voice and my voice – recorded on a CD. Teaching Bible verses, ABCs, our address, singing songs, talking to our child.

In addition to our homemade room time CD our preschoolers also like: Answers for Preschoolers CD, the Sing the Word series and, of course, Veggie Tales.

I also spend some time over the summer refreshing preschool activity bags. Activity bags are simply a zip top storage bag filled with a ready-to-go activity. The concept is very much like workboxes. Here are a few examples of favorite activity bag fillers:

• Paint with water books are something my preschoolers love – and it’s just water and not so messy. Easy to say yes!
• Ingredients for homemade playdough or cups of store-bought playdough
• Manipulatives and/or a Math calendar
• Matching games
• Lapbook components (free at Homeschool Share) matching a Five in a Row book
• Puzzles
• A nature walk, study or scavenger hunt to do with an older sibling
• The highlights of Slow and Steady Get Me Ready (a preschool activity once a week –needed items placed in activity bag)
• Answers for Preschoolers activity
• A new Rod and Staff book (G, H, I in ABC series)
• A card with permission for 15 minutes of Click Start or Starfall
• A fun idea from my eldest on what preschoolers like

See, our preschoolers are always part of the action. Yes, it takes more effort (and patience) but the results are worth it. The joy in their eyes when they get to help with the dishes and dip their chubby hands in bubbles piled high!

Even cooking and baking? Our preschoolers have special skills as handy-action stirrers throughout the day. Measuring, scooping and serving are easy and quick activities to work into your day. Props, like a chef hat and apron are a bonus. My older children are especially good at reading labels and translating allergy adaptations.

What about your little ones? What do you plan for them during your school day?

Tricia gave up life in the drive thru lane for the joy-filled road home. She homeschools five children from preschool to middle school. You can find her facing that daily dose of chaos at Hodgepodge. There she writes about practical schooling strategies and shares how she is saving bucks and her sanity with the frugal recipes of her Southern roots. Tricia is also known as Hodgepodgemom.