Five Golden Rules for Homeschooling Preschoolers

If you are homeschooling your preschooler, here are 5 golden rules to note and remember -

1) Don't cram too much into a day

It is good to be ambitious and want to plan an eventful day every single day. But having too many things going on can be over-stimulating and upsetting for young children. Remember to include nap time, tea breaks, cuddle time and toilet breaks. Start off easy and add to the activity list if your child progresses more quickly than you expect. Allow a little tardiness once in a while.

2) Follow your child's learning pace

The one great advantage of homeschooling is that the "school" is entirely tailored to fit your child's needs. So remember to follow your child's learning pace. Don't rush. It will only lead to frustration and tears. Don't move too slowly either, or you may end up with a bored, restless child. Equally important is to remember your child's age - it is one of the major factors that determines what your child is or is not able to do. A child born in January is much more likely to be more skillful than a child born in December because hey, there is almost a year's difference.

3) Don't splurge on an expensive curriculum

While expensive curriculum sets may be helpful, you should build a customised one for your child. At the preschool level, a great deal of the relevant skills can be learned right in the home. Use what you have at home to help your child learn. Bring your child to the library for reading materials, and the park or the zoo for a real-life biology lessons. Visit museums. Go for plays. Visit factories. Even a trip to the supermarket or grocery store can be a great learning experience.

4) Never forget playground time

Playground time is important. It is the perfect time for socialising. Encourage your child to make new friends at the playground where you can keep an eye on the situation. Don't be tempted to intervene at every sign of trouble. Children can sometimes sort things out with a little give and take.

5) Always end each day with a hug and kiss

Sometimes, things just don't go as smoothly as you wish. In fact, it can be pretty rough - high-pitched screaming, endless whining, ridiculous tantrums and to top it off, a splitting headache. Even if your child truly deserves a spanking, always remember that homeschooling is meant to be a enriching learning experience for you and your child. Always remember to end each school day with a hug and a kiss. Always. No matter how bad the day has been.