Many people fall into a panic when their child turns five…  as if it is the magical age where all learning must begin!  First, let me remind you that learning begins the first day you meet your baby and never, ever ends.  There are no definite school hours and the learning continues all the time…  that is both a joy (to have a whole life-time of learning) and kind of a scary thought when you realize even every idle moment SOMETHING is being learned whether you like it or not. 

One interesting article about homeschooling a Kindergartener can be found here:

http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/kindergarten/a/kindergarten.htm

 Remember the ol’ 3 R’s of education?

 Here they are with a few more important R’s! 

READING:  make time to read with your child everyday.  read for fun, read to learn, read food boxes, read street signs, READ, READ, READ!   

‘RITING:  encourage your child to write letters, write lists, write thank-you notes…  let writing be a part of everyday even before they know how to do it RIGHT… just WRITE!

 ‘RITHMETIC: Count and do simple addition throughout the day.  Measure a cup of flour for cookies, count out  snack items like raisins or Cheerios, figure out how old they and their friends or siblings will be in one year, two years, etc. Count forks while setting the dinner table, talk about subtraction as you eat a bowl of fresh berries, sort socks by  color, length, and style!  Math will be part of your child’s daily thinking process…  COUNT on it! 

Responsibility: even if you don’t have a pet a child can be given the responsibility of a Virtual Pet:  Webkinz is a fun way to take care of a pet while also learning how to use a computer.  Simple chores also teach responsibility.  A chore chart may be a useful tool at this time!  

Respect: Character should always be a number ONE priority!  Make sure your child learns good manners and uses a pleasant tone of voice.  Don’t indulge too much shyness…  encourage your child to answer questions and make a fun game of greeting people in the grocery store.  While children should be taught about “Stranger Danger” help them also enjoy meeting new people in a safe and fun way.  My children have always loved shaking hands at church and even hugging those who were dearest to our family! 

Remembering:  memorizing Bible verses, poetry and lists are a great way to stretch your child’s mind and your own!  Rehearse the days of the week, the months of the year, the Ten Commandments, maybe even something more challenging like a whole chapter of Scripture or the Preamble to the Constitution.  Music makes this learning time easier and more memorable!  

Above all, at this stage let your child barely even know that he or she is “doing school!”  Let learning just be the most natural and enjoyable part of your daily life!

Happy Learning! 

Lovingly and Prayerfully,

Christina 

Christina and her family are in their 11th year of homeschooling.  They believe that it CAN be done despite the many challenges of life! Every member of a family brings its own unique needs and blessings.  Maybe some of what they have learned can be a blessing to YOU!