What Should I Teach My Preschooler?

What you teach during your home preschool will depend in part on what you plan to do after the preschool years end. If your child is headed for a public or private elementary school, you’ll need to prepare her for that. If you will be homeschooling, but your state requires children to keep up with the schedule set by the schools, you’ll also have to prepare for that. However, if you’re homeschooling in a relaxed state, you can just follow your child’s lead, and progress when she’s ready.

The first step, then, is to decide what you’re preparing for. You can always change your mind later, and if you think there is a possibility you might, keep that in mind as you plan.
Regardless of how you think you will handle the kindergarten year, you may want to find out what your local school thinks a child should already know when starting kindergarten. That way you know where you stand, and where others will expect you to be. You don’t have to follow their plan, but it’s always good to know.

Then evaluate your child. I don’t mean to give a formal test. Just make a list of things you feel she ought to learn in preschool and find out what she already knows. You may find she knows more or less than you thought. To test informally, ask small questions throughout your normal day, one at a time here and there, and don’t worry if she doesn’t know the answer. For instance, when you’re setting the table, ask her to help you count the plates. If she can do it, you can check counting off your list, at least as far as she counted that day. When reading a sign, point to a letter and ask her if she knows what it is. Later, when she’s not paying attention, make a notation by that letter on your list. You’ll have to check out every letter, since many children pick up one or two along the way.

The best part of homeschooling is that you only have to teach what your child doesn’t know, so don’t waste time teaching the color red if your child knows it already. This is what makes homeschooling so efficient.

In addition to the things your child must know for school, add in the things you want her to know. Are you a space fan? Teach her the planets. Do you like music? Teach her to conduct. At the same time, notice her own interests. If you take her to a museum and she gets excited about dinosaurs, teach dinosaurs.

The most important part of preschool is to turn your child into a person who is excited about the world around her. People who are curious and passionate are good learners. What you teach isn’t as important as the attitude toward learning you create in her.

For a totally unscientific list, check out my checklist of preschool skills.