Since five years is the age at which most children begin to enroll in kindergarten, it may also be the age at which a homeschooling parent may decide to begin formal lessons. When you begin formal homeschooling, there may be thoughts about not doing enough with your five year old. Here we take a look at what to expect when homeschooling your young one.
Start Off Easy
Your homeschool classroom is not a substitute for school at home. You don’t have to go from loving parent to strict homeschool teacher overnight. Begin with bringing a book over to the classroom and reading it out there. Have drawing and coloring hour on the study desk. Start flashcards while seated in the student and teacher chairs. Gradually bring about the acceptance of the homeschool classroom as a place to sit down and learn.
Milestone and Learning Goals
Yes it is important for a five year old homeschool student to meet his educational goals. Basic alphabet identification, the alphabet song, numbers and basic addition, sorting of objects and creating patterns. All these are skills that a five year old should have, but please remember that you have the full school year to perfect these skill levels. You can’t expect him to perfect everything the first time you teach him a skill.
Other Activities and Interests
Try to bring outdoor activities into the five year old homeschool student’s life besides his school lessons. Climbing, sliding, swinging, and even dancing are good activities to get them to move physically. Arts and crafts can be added with age appropriate projects. Colors and sculptures can make for interesting skill building. Add activities that your child has a natural interest in pursuing.
Remember as a homeschool teacher you have far more flexibility about deciding what your child needs to learn and when. Take advantage of this fact by letting him learn stuff higher than his grade if he can manage it. The basics given in the common core can be easily covered even as you work with your child to focus on what is essentially interest led learning.
