Homeschool preschool activities are fun and effective with this easy list. These activities will keep your little ones engaged and get them excited to learn!
It’s no secret that the popularity of homeschooling is on the rise. More and more parents want to be sure their children are receiving great educations in a healthy environment, but they still feel intimidated by the thought of teaching. Preschool is a great way to start homeschooling, as the main goal is get your child interested in learning and teach them very basic skills. Parents should not put a lot of pressure on themselves for preschool! Look at it as a way of teaching your child basic skills but in a fun way. In this blog post I’ll go over 5 fun and effective homeschool preschool activities that nurture early learning.
Homeschool Preschool Activities
1. Sensory Play
Not only is sensory play incredibly fun for kids (and not just preschoolers!) it helps them with cognitive and physical development. Sensory play can be as simple as allowing your child to play with play dough and cookie cutters. Try creating a sensory bin filled with rice or beans, cups, spoons and small toys. It’s amazing to watch kids’ imaginations when playing with these bins! Sensory play not only allows your child to get creative, but fosters problem solving skills and fine motor development.
For a simple sensory play idea, check out by cupcake play dough post. My kids also love these pre-made sensory bins that come in so many different themes!
2. Arts and Crafts
Almost every young child loves coloring or painting of some sort! Whether it’s coloring books or sidewalk chalk, there is sure to be something they will enjoy. A quick Pinterest search will give you an overwhelming amount of ideas of preschool crafts. Most of these crafts are so helpful at developing fine motor skills. Activities like coloring, painting, cutting, and glueing are tasks that seem simple to us as adults, but are skills that take practice for little hands. Get your kids exciting about upcoming holidays with seasonal crafts and be sure to display them proudly!
Here are a few of my favorite preschool arts and crafts that you can buy:
3. Reading and Language Development
Growing early literacy skills is important to add to your homeschool preschool schedule. Your four year old mostly likely will not be reading books by the end of the year, but you can help create a love for books and reading early that encourage these skills later on. Make reading fun by taking regular trips to the library and getting books that interest your child. For example, when trying to teach my son the alphabet I found a book that had a bug for each letter. This got him so excited and interested in learning what was in the book. Read aloud to your kids or even have them listen to age-appropriate audiobooks!
While we’re on this topic to understand it’s important to point out that kids move at different paces and your child is not failing if they are struggling with some of these skills throughout the year. Just set the foundation and make it fun!
4. Math and Science Exploration
Preschool is the perfect time to introduce basic math and science concepts in a hands-on and playful way! Math at this age includes counting, shape recognition and sorting. You may even begin working on calendar skills, reading a clock and counting coins.
Preschool science is as simple as taking your kids outside! Go on nature walks, plant some flowers and watch them grow. Have your little one start a rock or leaf collections. These are great ways to help you preschooler learn while being on the move.
5. Get Moving!
The final homeschool preschool activity is physical activity. It’s so important in homeschooling to be intentional about setting aside time for physical movement. These activities can be very simple such as setting up an obstacle course in the backyard, going to a nearby playground or going on a scooter ride around the neighborhood (we love these scooters). These activities help develop gross motor skills, balance, coordination and social skills. It also helps you, as the parent, get a little break to let your little one get some energy out!
Homeschooling your preschooler gives you the opportunity to create custom homeschool preschool activities that fit your child’s needs and interests. Choose age-appropriate activities that will engage your child and foster early learning. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the precious moments of learning together!
