05/27/2026
Someone on another page was asking about curriculum for her preschooler and whether to start at age 3 or 4 and I wanted to share my view on preschool with all of you.
Learning starts from the day they are born as you talk, sing, dance, read, play with your child. Homeschooling is just an extension of parenting so most of us continue to do those things, go places and do things, teach them God's Word, train them to do chores and help around the house, to serve others, have good manners, obey you, and realize that learning is an adventure not something mostly found in textbooks.
Some families prefer to copy the public schools and give their children workbooks and formal lessons when they are young, age 6 and under. But all the evidence from studies done as well as what most of us experienced homeschool moms have found is that early formal academics does more to kill inquisitiveness and the love of learning than to prepare children to love learning and become lifelong learners.
So I suggest having fun with your child until an age, usually between 6-10, when he begs to learn to read and is able to sit still for a 10-20 minute phonics lesson most weekdays and then start a good phonics program, Rod & Staff is our family favorite. If it doesn't go well step back and try again in a few months if the child asks. Eventually the time will be right and reading will come fairly easy. Then we add in some formal math for a 15-30 minute school day for the first couple years of school.
The rest of the day is filled with all the learning opportunities you have always been giving your child, reading aloud, visiting museums, enjoying God's creation, playing games, crafting, and every other wonderful way a child can learn.
Your child has the rest of his life for formal academics. Back 100 years ago students started school at age 8-10 and were done by age 12-14. When students are ready and days aren't filled with time wasters it doesn't take long to educate a child.
