Hi Everyone I just want to check based on your experience here. Since I'm here still newbie and really need the information regarding the homeschooling. My question is when the child/kid can be start to home school?Can it started in early ages like 2-3 years old?
Welcome to the Spot! Homeschooling started the minute your kids were born! You've taught them to walk, talk, eat, toilet, dress, and whatever else they've learned so far. A lot of us generally feel that you don't need to introduce worksheets at age 2 or 3, or even 5, because a LOT of learning can take place just by watching (age-appropriate) educational television, taking nature walks, being read to, and just daily living and playing.
I wouldn't start formal "study" until older, but informal learning at the level they are ready for and interested in-go for it. By informal, I mean not trying to keep to a schedule or some pre-conceived notion of what they need to learn and how they need to learn it. For example, if a very young child is wondering how all those symbols make words and you gently introduce the idea of what letter makes what sound and they enjoy it- go for it. But, if they wonder and you share with them and they seem lost or frustrated- stop and don't even hint at the fact that they might "want" to learn it. A lot of people say that formal academics are better left until much later (8 or 9 or later), and that is probably true in a lot of cases. There are probably a lot of kids that are ready before the "normal" school age. So, it all depends on the child.
My oldest son wanted to start learning to read at 2 years old. By his 3rd birthday he was reading words like refrigerator and hippopotamus. So yes, you can start homeschooling as early as you like. Just don't be pushy. Try to make it as fun as possible.
Yup you can homeschool from any age but remember play is learning for young children (and I don't think that magically changes at a certain age). Preschoolers love dirty, messy, wet play... you know mudpies, sand castles, bubbles, pouring water into different containers, painting, glitter, glue, clay, playdough, plasticine, etc. If they're having fun then they are learning something from it. A lot of what we thing is simply playing is actually pre-skills e.g. scribbling/drawing is pre-writing, craming toys pillows and blankets into a cubby house is pre-math, mixing paint colours is pre-science. Collect and shred magazines (the more the better) then let the kids go nuts playing in it. Anything with food is good, baking is obvious, but you could make shapes/count using gumdrops and toothpicks. Simply answering their million and one questions is a great way for them to learn. If they want to do worksheets or learn to do something specific like read or write then go for it otherwise just have fun
Absolutely! Teach whenever and whatever your child wants. Life is homeschooling! When a child is old enough to formally start schooling (whatever local mandates state), then you'll want to come up with some sort of curriculum, but until then, just go with the flow. If your kid is ready to read a 2 or 9, it doesn't matter. Don't push, and don't hold back.
This is the beauty of homeschooling young children! They don't have to get wrapped up in the pressure of learning specific academic skills. They are still babies and will thrive by spending time with you doing all sorts of life activities. They will be fine playing outside, being read to, building, painting etc. These acitivities have so much value to their future learning. There will be plenty of "book learning" for them....this time goes so fast. Enjoy!
yep! My dd taught herself to read at 2, was playing spelling games on the computer and math games. She begged me to do school with her but I told her she had to wait til she was 4. on her birthday she announced she was now in kindergarden! lol She already knew most of it so we went from FEB to Sept in K then went on to 1st grade, she kept going that fast and graduated two years early. Looking back I realise she pushed herself, I held her back from passing her big brother but I am glad. She went to college early but was emotionally not ready for a lot of it. She is just now getting the hang of some of the stuff and has had a full semester of straight A grades again. I recommend letting the child work at their own pace but be cautions as to how fast they grow emotionally at the same time. It was not always easy when things were divided by Grade levels outside the home we went with her brain level not the age sometimes and then went back to the age level at church when the kids started calling her names for being smart.
I taught my daughter how to read before Kindergarten. It wasn't my intention but as others have shared, life is a learning experience and as we read together, she would ask questions and picked up on reading.
I agree that kids are homeschooled from birth. Our society just tells us once they turn some magical age (decided by our state) that we are no longer capable of teaching them what they need to know despite graduating from this same state run system... But, unlike our government run education system, I don't think forcing kids to start academics earlier actually makes then smart in the long run. I refer you to one of the best written articles on the subject of young kids and academics I have ever read that someone here on the spot shared a while back (sorry, don't remember exactly who). http://magicalchildhood.wordpress.com/2010/08/31/what-should-a-4-year-old-know/ The thing is, each family will be different and even each child within a family. My 5 year old and 8 year old are both about ready for the same amount of academic work right now. My 5 year old maybe even a little more. The great thing about homeschooling is it's okay if one child is ready to read at 3 and another isn't ready until 11. You can tailor their education to their needs.
