Do you as a parent feel that homeschooling your preschool age child is too daunting?

Many parents do! Don’t feel bad if you’re one of these. Somehow, we’ve become so accustomed to thinking that ’school’ has to be the way that the public school system does things.

As a former teacher in this system, I must say that not everything is bad – there are good points too.

BUT, overall, YOU as the parent are the BEST teacher for your child! You know their individual needs – the areas they are strong in as well as the ones they are weak in.

For me, the largest reason behind homeschooling is the fact that “I” am responsible before the Lord for being sure my children know the Lord and His Word. Many schools don’t offer this at all, and the smaller church based ones to share the gospel. But is this ‘group’ lesson as in depth as you’d be able to get with your own child?

As we’ve gone through the Sonbeams curriculum in our home, my children have stopped me many times to explain further the Bible verse or passage we were reading. And many times, the answer I would give would prompt another question. THIS IS GOOD!

Sadly, even in Christian schools, there’s just not enough time for each child to ask every question they might have regarding the Word of God. Another thought to ponder, do you know and trust the teacher’s relationship with the Lord enough to KNOW that they are telling your child what you would tell them (would you have been the one they asked)?

There are so many different methods of homeschooling. I haven’t even started to see them all, but being homeschooled for many years myself, understand some of them.

For the most part, each child is different, so I believe each child’s school structure should be different. What I’ve done with my children is to have an overview of what we learn together (Sonbeams curriculum guides), and adapt each idea to each child’s age.

For instance: In one lesson, we learn about the letter L. That Bible verse would be Mark 12:30 (and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart….)

Both my 2 and 4 year old would practice drawing the letter L. For my 2 year old, I would first draw the letter with a pencil, and help hold her hand as she traced it with a crayon. My 4 year old would draw the letter by himself.

From there, we would take the word that starts with L – LOVE- and discuss what love means. Love is something you have for people special to you. Love makes you and others happy. God loves all men, and we should too (Mark 12:31 – …love thy neighbor as thyself…).

Love is represented by a shape, this shape being a heart. This gives you the opportunity to teach a shape AND color! Draw a heart and have your child trace it (or draw themselves) on a piece of pink or red paper. They can then practice ‘fine motor skills’ by cutting on the lines.

Inside, you can write ways to show love to others (have your child tell you ways) – tell someone, give a hug, being respectful and obedient, meeting a need/ being helpful. Sharing these ideas together will engrain these deep in your child’s heart – they will realize what love is each time they do these in the future.

Are you beginning to see how easy this can be? The letter L has now given you a Bible verse to memorize, a chance to learn to write it (and sign it), opened the door to teaching a character quality and ways to apply it, taught a shape, and a color – and there’s much more you can still do!

Being your child’s teacher doesn’t require a college degree – just a little prayer, thinking, and knowledge of the Lord!

What about you? Are there areas you feel inadequate in, or would like more assistance? Please share them with us!

And of course, we’d love to have you join Sonbeams! The above ‘mini’ lesson is a good idea of what you’ll have access to as a member – plus more! You don’t have to have the thinking part I mentioned above – just the prayer. Visit our Products Page to sign up for the 26 week subscription – offering lesson guides for letters A to Z, numbers 0 to 25, colors, shapes – ALL based on that ‘letter’s’ Bible verse!

“Mrs. Candace”