Schooling with three preschoolers! Help!

[mary helen]

I have three preschoolers and have schooled most of my 13 years with preschoolers. Give me new ideas on when and how to school!
Currently, I am taking advantage of naps!

[Dianna]

Mary Helen, are you asking for advice on how to homeschool the preschoolers, or on how to homeschool the older children with the preschoolers around?

Dianna

[mary helen]

Any advice please.:lol:

[Ksenia]

:wave:Hi, I am new here but I have preschoolers. For me the best way so far is to go with the flow. The main things I have been working on are every day skills and discipline. Before I sound like a text book, I will explain. Example: the kid spilled his juice or crumbled crackers on the floor= I give them a paper towel and make them clean up their own mess.( I do need to go back and redo it some times:smile2:) I also have a small vacum they would use under my supervision. the bonus is that next time, they actually clean it them selves instead of telling me about it. I really feel that it is the little things that matter at this stage of the game. I have set rules about certain activities and their locations of use. Example: play dough only in the kitchen, "we clean up one mess before we make another", I also have a middle of the day family clean up before their nap.

For more stuctured education we 1. visit the library a lot
2. I found some of the pbs television programs extremly helpful. We also watch videos like veggie tales. It helps me relate to charachters when I try to explaine a new concept.
3. I turn on audio stories while the kids play and build their little people town. (Little Bo is a family favorite)
4. Coloring and painting are so important! The child improves on his/her own. I found this to be one of the single most important skills when teaching my kindergardner to write!


I actually have 2,3 and 4 year old. If I were to summarize everything in to one advice it would be. To just play with the kids and slip in doses of medicine here and there. ( Talk about the seasons out side, have them repronounce a word, ask them how some thing works, role play, teach them how to mix the muffin mix, make a card for grandma and talk about heritage in the process. I can go on and on...)

I have plenty of bad days my self but yesturday I found this quote and it was an incredible encouragement to me . I hope it helps you too.
"Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up the right to be wrong, because then you will lose the abuility to learn new things and move forward with your life. Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism. Confronting your fears and allowing yourself the right to be human can, paradoxically, make you a far happier and more productive person." David M. Burns

[Dianna]

Mary Helen, I just read to my pre-schoolers, do creative types of things (should do more than I do), play, watch educational TV at their level, field trips to the zoo, parks, etc. We don't do anything structured at all.

If I'm working with older children, then I'll bring out things for the younger ones to color, give them toys they can play with only during the time the older ones are working (so they'll be "new" to them and will keep their attention longer), and just involve them as much as I can. I've also been known to find a good show on TV or pop in a Sesame Street video to keep their attention.

I hope some of this helps. :smile2:

Dianna

[chrispeters]

I was really easy going with pre-schoolers. I used legos for practically everything. They're great for counting, sorting, patterns, making shapes...you get the idea. My son loved this method. I really don't feel preschool should be much more than play. I think kids will naturally seek out learning.