Having a 3-year-old at home presents both opportunities and challenges for parents. Homeschooling a toddler for their early education, can be intimidating.
You may be unsure of your own competency, what’s expected of you, and worry you won’t be able to provide your child the education and experience they need. The good news is if you follow some set guidelines, and keep an open mind, you can homeschool your 3-year-old successfully.
Choosing an Appropriate Curriculum
Finding the right curriculum for a 3-year-old can be one of the most difficult steps of the whole process. Although three-year-olds may not be ready for a Preschool through 12th grade style curriculum, they still need age-appropriate attention, interactive playtime, activities, music and more.
Toy and book stores are chock full of products that offer guidance to help children learn letters, numbers, shapes, etc. However, it is not necessary to purchase an expensive, branded product, to provide your child with an adequate education. Curricula can be found online as PDF files or as YouTube videos.
There is much to be explored in the world of homeschooling for 3-year-olds and you may find that what works for one child does not suit your child’s unique learning style.
Establish a Habit and Schedule
Establishing a routine and setting a schedule is the best way to ensure your toddler is getting the attention, education and care they need. Even though learning activities for 3-year-olds only really involve a few subject areas like letters, shapes and numbers, getting organized and setting up a routine can prepare your child for a successful life in school. You can start your child’s day with a morning routine of practicing the alphabet and counting.
Then, you can introduce it through activities like singing songs and reading stories. You can even break down larger concepts and learn the world around them by taking trips in your neighborhood, and talking about interesting sights, sounds and smells.
Break activities into short increments of 10-15 minutes and schedule them every day at the same time. Taking regular breaks and changing activities will keep your 3-year-old’s attention focused while they learn important new skills.
Engage in Unique and Engaging Activities
Unique, interesting and engaging activities will capture your child’s attention and help them excel in their learning. For instance, introducing 2D shapes with a cutting activity is an excellent way to help a 3-year-old learn their shapes.
You can also create a timeline of your child’s life, divided by weeks or months. You can draw pictures of your child in different stages of their life or you can use pictures of toys or activities your child enjoys to illustrate the timeline. Storytelling is a great way to capture attention and encourage your child to write or draw from their imagination.
You may also want to consider using a variety of media to supplement your instruction. Take advantage of digital media to provide your child with the key foundation points of academics, such as the alphabet and basic math.
Digital lesson plans are available and can be customized to teach to different age levels.
Make Learning Fun
If you maintain a positive attitude and make learning fun, your 3-year-old child will be eager to participate. Playing games with counting and the alphabet can turn a tedious task into an exciting adventure. To practice the alphabet, you can create an “Alphabet Hunt” using simple items from around the house.
Search for items that start each letter, as you say them out loud, and classify them into groups. The goal is to reinforce the sounds every letter makes, by associating the letter with a word, and then seeing the word being used.
You can also make learning vegetables, colors, animals and shapes more enjoyable with creative and interactive activities such as puzzles and coloring. When working with colors, try to illustrate through simple stories and familiar objects, how colors can be used in different aspects of life.
Include Outdoor and Free Time Activities
Take advantage of outdoor activities to help your child explore the world around them. Even activities as simple as taking a walk or a trip to a park can provide them with invaluable learning experiences.
Along with outdoor activities, make sure to provide ample free playtime for your child to explore and thrive without any limitations or restrictions. Free play allows children to explore their own creativity, exercise their imaginations and use their curiosity to their fullest advantage. Unstructured playtime and outdoor activities will also help your child develop problem solving skills and discover new ideas.
Tap into Other Educational Resources
Explore online libraries for videos, apps, podcasts, and more that can help guide you in teaching your 3-year-old. You can read books, watch movies and cartoons, play audio stories, etc.
Developing a plan with a few daily activity goals is an excellent way to help them reach their full potential. You can also consider resources such as museums and libraries to provide your 3-year-old with an academically stimulating learning environment. Attending field trips and going to the zoo to explore animals are great activities that will provide an engaging educational experience.
Encourage, Praise and Support
When homeschooling your 3-year-old provide them with consistent support, encouragement and praise for the tasks and effort they put into learning. Make sure to focus on their skills, not their struggles and reward their effort.
Helping your child understand that learning isn’t always easy, but it is an important part of life will motivate them to stay focused, stay on task, and move ahead with determination.
Teach Respect and Good Manners
In addition to academics, foster an environment of respect and good manners in your house. Even though manners may seem confusing to a 3-year-old, they actually understand more than we realize. Teaching them respect, politeness and patience also provides a foundation for a successful school later in life.
Connect with Other Homeschoolers
If you are considering homeschooling your 3-year-old, reach out to other homeschoolers and join a group or forum. Connecting with other parents will provide you with invaluable support, input and resources that can help you provide a successful learning environment for your child.
Set Realistic Goals and Be Patient
Don’t set your expectations too high or expect your 3-year-old to turn into a “mini-genius” overnight. It’s important to remember that toddlers are still growing and learning about the world around them.
Give your child the time, space and patience to do so, and always remember to be realistic with your goals.
Conclusion
Homeschooling a 3-year-old can be intimidating but with the right strategies and strategies in place, you and your child can enjoy a successful and rewarding experience. With patience, consistency and an open mind homeschooling your toddler can provide an educational experience catered specifically to them.