Making the Most of Childhood
I’ve always loved to draw. Somewhere along the way, I decided I wasn’t good at it because I couldn’t do very realistic drawings or draw people that looked like the people I was trying to draw, so I quit. Homeschooling my children has given me a great opportunity to try different art forms and get back into art. One art program I was given the opportunity to review lately is Beyond the Stick Figure by Sally Stansfield.
I’ve taught four of my children to read and it seems like they always need a bit of extra practice on their short vowels. Children learn best when they are having fun so I love to come up with games that also sneak in learning. That is why I’ve created this Short Vowel Phonics Game. It’s a bit of a combination of Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders.
Giving your child a strong start in reading begins with phonemic awareness. You might wonder, “What exactly is phonemic awareness?” …
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I’ve recently created some Nature-themed preschool worksheets. While I don’t think worksheets are an essential part of a preschool curriculum, some children love doing them. This set of worksheets cover math, literacy, and visual perception. They have a fun nature theme with hand-drawn images. I’ve added a touch of color here and there for interest, but I know we’re all ink-conscious so I’ve kept it to a minimum.
Through the years, we’ve really enjoyed using games in our homeschooling. There are so many games available that work perfectly to teach a variety of skills and subjects- math, spelling, language, team skills, strategy, logic, and the list could go on. Of course, there are Scrabble and Pictionary which are great for spelling and vocabulary. Uno is probably one of the best for teaching young children colors and numbers.
Here are some of my favorite preschool programs. Do I think a preschool program is necessary? No, I don’t. Read, play, read some more, go outside (probably one of the most important things you can do), and above all, point your child to Jesus. Don’t be over-eager to push academics. You can never redo these days.
Thanks for joining us. I’m Suzanna, mom to four boys and now an adorable little girl who’s growing up too fast and who will never doubt that her family loves her. I am in wonder of what God has done for me through His Son, Jesus Christ; in wonder of the precious husband He has given me, and of the family we are raising together by His grace. [Read more]
