Wanting to "Homeschool" My 17 Month Old.

A. you will find that homeschooling is not so much a method by which we educate but a lifestyle. So when you ask a homeschooler if they homeschool preschoolers, it goes without saying that they do. Homeschooling is about creating an educational environment, lessons can take place anywhere and everywhere.

When they are very young it is nice to get out of the house and take them on age appropriate field trips. As far as activities go, there is always baking with mom, colors, shapes, even picture cards where they say the name when you hold it up. At that age it is fun to just start counting with them, count cherios at sanck time, count when you are driving or say the ABCs. There are so many things that kids this age will pick up on if it is repeated over and over.

Some homeschool groups have preschool age activities for mom and baby. If you hook into one of the groups you will begin getting the activity information and learn that there are many opportunities.

Homeschooling a preschooler is fun. The lifestyle of a homeschool family is something that I will cherish until the day I day. We had so many interesting adventures and made so many memories. Everything is a learning tool. One day when my daughter was about your sons age, we had quite the adventure. We were baking cookies and I was letting her put sprinkles on them. She dumped the sprinkels all over the floor and made a mess. Before I could clean it up she was playing in it. So we sat in the floor and I showed her how to draw with her fingers in it. We played for about 10 mintues drawing in the sprinkels. Then before we swept them up I got a piece of paper and let her dip her finger in some glue. I let her draw with her finger on the paper and then we swept up the sprinkles and poured them over her glue drawing. She showed everyone her art work for weeks. It was a day filled with fun.

Homeschooling is about the lessons, yes. It is also about exploration at a moments notice. One day when my son was about 2 we were haveing an off day, our older son was having difficulty with his math and my daughter was teething. My 2 year old wanted to go out and play. I told everyone it was time for a break and we would pick up tomorrow with the math lesson, fractions. We took a trip to the park where my 2 year old decided to fall into the pond. I climbed in after him and pulled him out. We were both muddy and sopping wet, but we were glad that everyone was alright. We had to go home and get cleaned up. We went from there to the library where my oldest son picked out some books on life saving techniques. He spent almost 2 months studying books and techniques on first aide and different types of life saving methods. It was nice to see that he could let his own interest involve into some thing educational that went beyond my lesson plans. The lifestyle of a homeschooler is ever evolving and always aware of the need for a mind to explore the world around us.

Little ones learn so much from the unplanned every day lessons. They can learn the difference between textures, sounds, play music on home made drums, they can even learn different songs. There are so many ways to engage them. When they are first beginning to talk this is the perfect time to act as though they can say anything and everything. We used to play a game called bring me. I would say bring your red shoe, or bring me a blue cup. They had to think about where it would be, and then pick up the right one and bring it to me. It taught colors, shapes, and following directions. When it came time to pick up toys, I would say pick up all of the brown toys, or pick up all of the animals. They would learn how to categorize. It is fun to think of ways to engage them that are part of everyday life and still something that helps them learn.

I know I have rambled on and on but I love this subject. Good luck!!

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I like to use the website www.preschoolexpress.com. It has given me lots of ideas. I love the pattern station (great for my little one to sponge paint) and there is a calendar that you print out with an activity suggested for every day.

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I have worked in child care centers for many years and I can give you some tips on things to work on.

When doing art, try to focus on the process, not the end product. It drives me nuts when I see a group of children's artwork that all looks the same or like the teacher's. Let your son be creative and don't worry about whether or not the end product looks "cute." Think about what he might be learning when you plan art activities--for ex, he practices his fine motor skills when tearing paper, picking up small objects and sticking them to the sticky side of contact paper, or finger painting (paint and corn syrup is fun) etc. Let his art be open ended with no specific product in mind.

You can get a large tub and put different things in it for sensory play like dirt and toy farm animals or cars, dry oatmeal with scooping and pouring utensils, cornstarch and water (makes a goopy substance), or just plain water. You can get creative.

Children make a stronger connection cognitively when they learn new things and they can associate it with something else. So, try to help him learn about new things through his own experiences rather than memorizing or reciting something. For example, when he is playing with the cars in the dirt, talk about the "red car" tumbling through the dirt, etc. Since you have an education degree, you may have studied this with the Constructivist Theory.

Hope this gives you a couple of ideas.

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Everyone has given such great suggestions there is not much more to say on my part. But I thought I'd let you know about some DVDs I love and some books. "The Toddler's Busy Book" by Trish Kuffner; she also has the preschool age one and I think another one after that. They are full of recipes and great ideas. One I really like when I was being a nanny of my two nieces (age 3 and 18 months at the time) my own son (age 3) and my new born daughter, was a nursing box. Every time I would nurse there was a special box with fun stuff for the other three on which to play or work. I loved the books. Also, I have taught my kids sign from when they were born also and I love the DVDs: "Signing Time with Alex and Leah". They use song to teach sign language. I just get them from the library but they have a websight signingtime.com I think. Good luck and have a blast!

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This is the site I like the most. It has seemingly endless ideas and activities. Good luck and best wishes undertaking such a fun adventure!

http://www.first-school.ws/INDEX.HTM

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Some resources: "Slow and Steady Get Me Ready" a book with weekly activities to do with your child
"Before Five in a Row" gives you activities and topics to discuss with your child about books that you read, after all reading and more reading is one of the most important things you can do right now.
When learning ABCs and reading we like www.starfall.com
It is awesome that you are wanting to be an excellent teacher for your child. Also focus on whatever his interests are. Get books on bugs or trucks or colors etc. whatever he is interested in teach on it, books, crafts, songs....Have fun.

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ALL parents homeschool their toddlers!!!!! How do you think they start school with a vocabulary, know their colors, shapes, etc. We just may not have formalized it with lesson plans. Living is learning!

For example, when I would go shopping, my daughter would be in the shopping cart and we would talk about blue cans, green cans, tomato cans, etc. One can or two cans, if I put one can back, how many do we have etc. We would do similar things with toys in the tub. I had to watch her carefully, but she loved playing with pennies. We would count them, subtract them, add them, stack them, sort other coins etc.

One day we were standing outside and she noticed her shadow. I showed her where the sun was and that she was between it and the ground, that's how her shadow got there. Taking advantage of those moments were very important because they were satisfying her interest.

You can do all the lesson you want, it may help. Taking advantage of holidays is a great idea. Don't forget to include working on table manners. But, my advice is to take him out and show him the world and how it works. Also, don't let the cold keep you cooped up! Dress appropriately and go OUT! I loved going outdoors with my kids because there were no bugs! You can see birds' nests, deer tracks, colors of leaves, trees that keep their leaves and those that don't etc. Even going to the playground when it is cold can be fun, no one else is there!

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I found this site I used some of the ideas.
http://www.letteroftheweek.com/index.html
You can also contact Parents as Teachers. They have lots of great ideas that I never thought of.

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Good Morning A., WOW After reading what Awesome Momma Sherri wrote I hesitate to give you this link..lol
We home schooled our son's many many years ago. Like Sherri I loved it. Was lessons to learn daily. But I loved the spontaneity of each day. I have taught my gr children sign language from early life. They use it some times. Always giving me the I love you sign when leaving. Corbin age 3 1/2 uses the HELP Me sign, lol when he says picking up all the toys he dumped out is to hard. HELP ME Nana..lol
We were at Wally World ( wal-mart) shopping on Monday, he told me not to forgot his pancakes ( signed pancakes)
I taught our boys math through baking, science and nature when we went to the park or creek and played tennis, golf, or looked for fossils or plants we wanted to find out about.

I love the time spent with them even though I balked in the beginning when Homeschooling was first coming out. I thought my friends were crazy to give up the ME time and have 24/7 kid time. Then I thought they were spiritual nuts...lol Tag I am one too. It was just the time together that I adored. I had always loved the summer breaks so why not during the rest of the year..lol I came around obviously!!

So Here is my very tiny help link. They have papers you can print, craft ideas ect. I print off Word searches for the older gr kids. Pictures to color, and it is age divided.
I found the 0-6 for you there are other links at the top.
http://life.familyeducation.com/parenting/early-learning/...

God Bless and Have a wonderful learning time with your little Angel
K. Nana of 5

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I've been working with my daugther since she was 12 months old using Brigthly Beaming Resources at letteroftheweek.com. I found it very easy to use with recommended reading, music, motor skills activities, etc. My daugther loved it and we have now moved on to the preschool section now that she is 2. Each lesson is a week long and then we move on.

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My oldest daughter has a little one that turns one in Dec...I have a feeling that she is planning on home schooling...although she hasnt said that in so many words. They are already teaching sign language to him....he can already use several things appropriately...."mama's milk", "puppy", "More please" and "light"....I get such a kick out of watching him "talk" to us!!! I know that she has several resources that she uses online....if you are interested send me a message and I will tell her how to get in touch with you.
As a teacher you know that it is never too early to start teaching...so you are on the right course!!!!

Um... Yeah, what she said LOL!

I saw this earlier today and wanted to respond. But I knew I couldn't without writing long and my brain just wasn't up to it today.

I could not have said it any better. I can't imagine sitting down and making plans for a 17 month old child. But the opportunities are everywhere. You just need to ask yourself at all times how you can turn this very moment into a teaching moment. The ideas will come :)

S.

There are tons of great ideas online... but two of my favorite resources for preschool aged kids are Before Five in a Row, which is unit-study literature based materials and lesson plans. The best thing about this is you are reading to your child, and then all of the activities center around the book. When your child gets older, you can progress to other Five in a Row books. Another resource that I liked when I was involved in a "joyschool" for my little ones was Every Day in Every Way. There were activities listed year-round with themes coordinated around holidays and seasons, including musical activities, snacks, crafts, and games. Just remember that no matter what you do, the fact that you are spending time with your child is the best thing that you can do for him. Firstborn children are so lucky to have such precious time from devoted parents all to themselves! Good luck!

Are you a member of the Parents as Teachers group, they have all of the age appropriate "home schooling" ideas that you could use.
Thank you T.

Sherrie has said it all! I wholeheartedly agree with Sherrie and with Suzi, too. I homeschooled for many years (including 2 toddlers/preschoolers), and still would if the circumstances were different (my youngest 2 are now 12 and 17).

Every moment of every day is an opportunity for your little one to learn something new or to build on something already learned. At 17 months it doesn't have to be so structured. Make genteral plans of things that you'd like to accomplish for that week and then follow your child's lead! Even as your child gets older and your plans are more structured and detailed, allow him to take the lead with where you are going. Use what interests him to teach him what you want him to learn. And don't be afraid to "disrupt" the schedule.

I currently teach 6 one year olds (15-20 months). We are given the "theme" for the week and I go from there. I write down what I want to work on that week and "projects" that I'd like to do. Some times we accomplish it all and sometimes not, but they are always learning something.

This fall I started working on colors and shapes and concepts like sharing, patience (VERY difficult for young toddlers, but they can learn it!), taking turns, etc. I let them get messy--playing in pudding, jello, and whipped cream are favorites. All are non-toxic and not extremely difficult to clean up. We use paints, crayons, markers,and colored pencils. We sing alot. I sing silly songs that I make up to help reinforce concepts or things that they are learning. I even made up a song for two of the little girls who are "potty training" about going potty. When I'm not singing, I play music in our room (not all day, but a good portion of the day). We also have a time where we sing together, read stories, and play. Your child learns while he is playing, too. Oh, we have also been working on sign language. All of mine can now sign please, thank you, and more. Several of them have picked up other signs as well. I have on child that is 19 months old that knows 10-12 signs. We are working on "I'm sorry".

I have much more that I could say, but I have already rambled on for quite some time. I'm apologize for my lengthiness.

You are doing a great job! Have fun "homeschooling" your son!

I agree with all that has already been said. I also homeschool my 5 and have from birth :) If you search the internet, of course, it's a wealth of ideas too. We live in a very wonderful area for indoor fieldtrips, as well. The zoo is free and has a new room in the living world that is great for the young explorers, it's even breastfeeding friendly! The science center has the discovery room for young ones ($2??). The transportation museum has a room also - that's a bit more expensive. Local play groups (st louis mommies, etc..) and parents as teachers are also good resources for info, activities and indoor fun! Best wishes, God bless.

well I don't homeschool my kids but I did start early when they were babies carrying them around the house talking about pictures on the wall, colors, shapes, letters, numbers etc. My oldest picked up learning things fast. He loved to sit and look at books at 9 months and would bring us one to read every day several times a day from 9 months old and up. He knew his colors, shapes, numbers to 20, recognized the letters and could write several letters by the time he was 2 years old. He started reading at age 4 and was reading 5th grade level when they tested him the day he started Kindergarten. When he was a year old he would play with the large lego blocks and stack them together by color. He would get upset if I made something with mixed up colors and take it apart and put them back together by color and shape sizes. He also put away his toys from a year old and if I put them in the wrong spot he would go change it and always put them in the same spot. He is now 16, a junior in high school, very organized and taking college level classes and honor classes. He plans to be a doctor and sets his goals high and achieves them.
I tried to teach my daughter at a young age as well but she wasn't as interested so wasn't as advanced as our oldest when she started Kindergarten but did pick up fast and didn't fall behind. She makes good grades but just doesn't really care if she excels higher or faster than anyone else and is perfectly content with her level of learning and just does what she has to and doesn't care to learn anything extra.
Our youngest son is a lot like our oldest, very quick learner and loves to find new things to learn. both boys enjoy reading but daughter only reads the amount of books required for book reports etc and no more. The boys read a lot more and anytime they know they will be going somewhere that will be sitting like the doctors office or anywhere they know they will be waiting they will make sure they take a book with them. They can also read in the car and not get car sick so make sure they take a lot of books on vacation or trips longer than 20 minutes.

Babies pick up a lot more than people think. They may not be able to talk but they are watching everything around them and taking it all in so anything you teach them at a young age they will pick up on it quicker. I have seen more people struggle with their 4 year olds learning things to get ready for Kindergarten because they didn't start early and trying to cram in all that information in one year is tough and by that time the kids aren't interested so anything you teach them from the time they are born will benefit them for life.

go to oldfashionededucation.com and take the link to brightly beaming. the author has a full cirriculum for 2 year olds to pre k. lots of good stuff and weekly lessons. the other things that i've used are themes for the week.