How Can I Best Prepare My Kindergarten-Age Child (and Myself) for Starting Homeschool?

A mom writes in asking for advice about starting homeschool with her soon-to-be kindergarten-age son. She wants tips for getting started, and she also shares her concerns about the process overall.

Homeschool Hideout‘s Tiffany Jordon weighs in with some expert advice below.

A Mamas Uncut fan asks:

“We are thinking of homeschooling our soon-to-be kindergartner. What are your best tips to set this up for success for us both? I am worried it’s going to either be chaos or I will feel like I am letting him down. Thanks in advance!”

– Mamas Uncut Community Member

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Advice from Tiffany Jordon

Kids learn best when they feel comfortable and confident, so there’s no better place to learn than at home with you. Start slowly, with low expectations, as you both navigate this new journey.

You set the tone for the day, so take some time to plan ahead and prepare your day before you get started. Little kids don’t have a very long attention span, so don’t try to overdo it. 

Kindergarteners shouldn’t spend more than 2 hours each day on schoolwork. Many experts recommend spending an hour each day for the grade they are in. (1st graders should do 1 hour of work, 2nd graders should do 2, etc.) Don’t  expect your child to learn everything overnight. Aim to learn to read simple words, add numbers to 10, and count to 100 by the end of kindergarten.

At that age, kids learn best through fun, hands-on activities. Instead of pushing boring workbooks, try writing the alphabet in chalk on the sidewalk. Write sight words in play-doh and learn about science with easy experiments. Fill your day with books, educational videos and hands-on learning. There are opportunities for learning all around you, so use that to your advantage. You don’t need textbooks to learn! The world is your classroom.

Homeschooling isn’t “public school at home.” You don’t need a rigid schedule or a room full of desks. This is usually harder for the parents to come to terms with than it is the children. Let go of the idea in your head of what you think school should look like and instead think of all the ways you can learn, without using boring textbooks and worksheets.

Homeschooling has hundreds of benefits and will help you make the most of your time with your kids while they’re young. It allows your child to be surrounded by family and their childhoods to be full of good memories.

[Images via Shutterstock]