Homeschooling Preschool and Pre-K: What Our Days Looked Like
The first thing worth mentioning is that we didn't use a curriculum during those early years.
I didn't introduce a formal curriculum until it was time to start kindergarten. Before then, our learning was very interest-led.
We read lots of books, explored different topics, and followed whatever he happened to be interested in at the time.
For example, when he went through his dinosaur phase, we went all in!
We checked out dinosaur books from the library, watched educational videos, found dinosaur-themed activities, printed coloring pages, and looked for places we could visit that were related to dinosaurs. We even visited Jurassic Quest whenever it was in the area to see life-sized dinosaurs.
Whatever he was interested in became an opportunity to learn more.
I loved being able to follow his curiosity without feeling like we needed to complete a certain number of lessons or stay on a particular schedule.
1. Following His Interests and Learning Without a Curriculum
We decided very early on that we wanted to homeschool our children. Naturally, that meant we started incorporating learning into our everyday lives long before it was technically time to start school.
When my son was two, three, and four years old, we were already doing lots of learning at home. However, it didn't look anything like a traditional school day. We didn't have a strict schedule, a classroom setup, or even a curriculum.
Instead, most of our days were filled with reading books, exploring his interests, playing, creating, visiting places in our community, and finding little opportunities to learn throughout the day.
I often see parents wondering what to do when homeschooling preschoolers, especially children between the ages of two and five. So, I wanted to share some of the things that filled our days before we officially started using a homeschool curriculum.
Here is what homeschooling before kindergarten looked like for us!
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2. Reading Books Together Every Day
3. Learning Letters, Numbers, and Early Math Through Play
We incorporated plenty of early literacy and math activities into our playtime.
Some of the things we used included:
Wooden letter blocks (affiliate link) for letter recognition and practicing letter sounds.
Wooden number blocks (affiliate link) for number recognition and counting.
Math manipulatives (affiliate link) for exploring simple addition and subtraction.
Puzzles (affiliate link) to encourage problem-solving and critical thinking.
Hands-on activities to help make learning more interactive.
We also used Play-Doh quite a bit. We made our own Play-Doh, and in addition to rolling, cutting, and squishing it, we used it to practice forming letters and numbers.
These activities gave him opportunities to work on early academic skills without sitting down for formal lessons.
We also enjoyed getting outside and taking slow walks around our neighborhood.
We would collect sticks, stones, and leaves, count things along the way, and observe whatever caught our attention.
Sometimes we would sing songs, hop, skip, and enjoy the walk without having any particular destination.
These little outings were simple, but they gave us plenty of opportunities to explore the world around us.
We could talk about different plants, notice changes in the seasons, observe insects, and collect natural materials to explore later.
Not every activity needed to have a specific educational objective. Sometimes it was enough to get outside, enjoy nature, and be curious about what we saw.
This was also how we met most of our neighbors, and my son got many opportunities to interact with other kids, but mostly grown-ups, including the mail-lady and many construction workers.
7. Taking Our Learning and Playtime Outside
Whenever we had really nice weather, we loved taking some of our activities outside.
Sometimes, I would set up a little picnic blanket with toys and snacks, and we would spend the afternoon enjoying the fresh air. Other times, we would take our regular story time outdoors.
Honestly, we did this even when it was a little cold! I would spread out a picnic blanket on the porch, grab a few extra blankets to keep us warm, bring out some snacks, and we would sit together reading books.
On other afternoons, we would head out onto the grass, where I would set up a few containers of water and some toys for him to explore and play with.
It was such a simple activity, but he loved it!
8. Visiting Our Local Nature Center
Another activity we enjoyed was visiting our local nature center.
One of the nature centers near us offered a weekly preschool session every Wednesday, and it quickly became one of our favorite outings.
Each week featured something different. There were opportunities to learn about different animals, listen to stories, participate in crafts, and enjoy hands-on activities.
It was such a fun way to introduce new topics while spending time outdoors.
I especially appreciated that the activities were designed for younger children. They could explore, participate, and learn in an environment that was appropriate for their age.
If you have a nature center nearby, I definitely recommend checking to see whether they offer preschool programs or weekly children's activities.
Reading was a big part of our everyday routine.
We read together daily, and I would regularly read books aloud to him. Sometimes we would sit together and enjoy a story, while other times he would spend time looking through books and reading independently.
He developed a love for books very early and became an early reader himself.
We also made frequent trips to the library to find new books related to whatever topic we were exploring.
Reading didn't feel like a separate school subject. It was simply something we enjoyed doing together throughout the day.
Looking back, I think having so many books available and making reading a natural part of our routine helped nurture his love of learning.
4. Practicing Handwriting, Drawing, and Coloring
We also spent time drawing, coloring, and practicing handwriting.
One of our favorite tools was a simple whiteboard (affiliate link). He could doodle, practice writing letters, and work on forming words without worrying about making mistakes.
We also used dry-erase handwriting practice books (affiliate link) and activity books.
By the time he was around four, he could write his name, recognize letters and numbers, and write some simple words and sentences.
Another fun thing we did was save big cardboard boxes from packages. Instead of immediately throwing them away, we would turn them into drawing surfaces. He could doodle, practice writing, or use stencils to create pictures.
I loved finding simple ways to reuse things we already had around the house. You really don't need an elaborate collection of homeschool supplies to give preschoolers opportunities to learn and create.
5. Learning Through Cooking and Baking Together
A lot of our learning happened in the kitchen!
We spent time cooking and baking together, making cookies, cakes, sandwiches, and other simple foods.
He also helped with age-appropriate kitchen tasks like preparing vegetables and cutting up fruit with appropriate supervision and child-safe tools (affiliate link).
What I loved about these activities was how many different learning opportunities naturally came up.
We practiced:
Counting ingredients.
Sorting and organizing foods.
Measuring ingredients.
Recognizing numbers and quantities.
Exploring different textures and smells.
Learning about ingredients and where food comes from.
Observing how ingredients change when mixed, heated, or combined with water.
There was so much to talk about and explore while preparing food.
The kitchen became one of our favorite places for hands-on learning, and it was also a great way to spend quality time together.
6. Going on Walks and Exploring Outdoors
9. Making Weekly Trips to the Library
The library was another one of our favorite places to visit.
We regularly attended library story time, which was a great opportunity to listen to stories, sing songs, and interact with other children.
I also loved that it gave him the chance to be around other kids while enjoying something we already loved doing: reading!
But we didn't only visit the library for story time.
Sometimes, we would simply go there to hang out and explore. If we didn't have anything planned for the day, we could visit the children's area, play with the toys, work on puzzles, or do some coloring pages.
Our library always had coloring pages available, which was perfect for a relaxed afternoon.
The library became more than just a place to borrow books. It was somewhere we could go to explore, play, socialize, and find something new to learn.
10. Watching Educational Videos and Children's Shows
Of course, not every day involved an outing or a hands-on activity.
There were plenty of slower afternoons when we stayed home and watched educational videos.
Some of our favorites included Super Simple Songs, Tab Time, Ms. Monica, and Caitie's Classroom.
I especially enjoyed watching Caitie's Classroom because she would take children along on different field trips, including visits to places like fire stations, apple orchards, and other interesting locations.
These videos were a nice way to introduce new topics, sing songs, and learn about things we might not have experienced firsthand.
We didn't spend the entire day watching television, but I appreciated having educational content available for those quieter moments.
11. Introducing Simple Preschool Workbooks Around Ages 4–5
As he got closer to four and five, I started introducing a few simple workbooks and worksheets.
Nothing too intense or time-consuming. Just little activities that allowed him to practice some of the skills we had already been exploring through play.
We worked on things like:
Letter and number recognition.
Simple handwriting practice.
Counting and basic addition.
Color recognition.
Matching and tracing.
Simple preschool activities.
I would often pick up inexpensive workbooks from places like Dollar Tree or Costco, or order a few online, like these from Amazon.
I didn't feel the need to purchase an entire curriculum. A few simple workbooks were enough to introduce some structure while keeping learning relaxed and enjoyable.
12. Starting Extracurricular Activities and Sports
Around age three, we also started exploring extracurricular activities.
One of the activities we eventually settled into was Taekwondo.
I wanted him to have opportunities to participate in a sport, develop physical skills, and spend time being active.
Taekwondo also introduced him to a group learning environment where he had to follow instructions, interact with other children, listen to an instructor, and practice discipline.
It was a fun way to develop skills outside the home.
Finding extracurricular activities for younger preschoolers can sometimes be a little tricky, especially when you're looking for something specifically designed for three-year-olds.
However, there are options available if you take some time to explore what's offered in your community.
13. Joining Homeschool Co-ops and Building Community
Something else we started exploring when he was around three was homeschool co-ops. If you're not familiar with co-ops, here's an article all about co-ops, and here's another about our personal experience in joining a co-op.
I'm really glad we started looking into them early because, although I knew I wanted to homeschool, I knew very little about the homeschooling community or what homeschooling would actually look like.
I started researching co-ops, reaching out to different groups, and learning about the opportunities available in our area.
Many of the groups I contacted had age requirements, and he was often too young to participate unless he had an older sibling.
Fortunately, I eventually found a co-op that allowed younger children to attend.
As he got older, we ended up participating in two different co-ops, one of which we attended consistently.
Through those experiences, I learned so much about homeschooling. I was introduced to curriculum recommendations, connected with other homeschooling families, and had opportunities to learn from parents who were further along in their homeschooling journeys.
My son also made friends, including some of his closest friends through one of the co-ops.
Looking back, joining a homeschool community early was one of the best things I could have done.
It gave us a support system, helped me become more familiar with homeschooling, and gave my son opportunities to build friendships and participate in group activities.
Homeschooling can sometimes feel lonely, especially when you're new to it. Finding a community early can make such a difference, even if your children are still preschool-aged.
These are just some of the things that filled our days during those early homeschooling years.
We didn't follow a strict schedule, and we certainly weren't doing formal lessons from morning until afternoon.
Instead, we focused on reading, playing, exploring interests, creating things, spending time outdoors, and finding opportunities to learn through everyday experiences.
I think it's important to remember that homeschooling preschoolers doesn't have to look like traditional school.
At ages three, four, and five, children have so many opportunities to learn through play, exploration, conversation, and hands-on experiences.
You don't necessarily need an expensive curriculum or a dedicated homeschool classroom to get started.
Sometimes, the best learning opportunities are already part of your everyday routine.
If you're a parent wondering what to do with your preschooler before officially starting kindergarten, I hope this gives you a few ideas and some encouragement.
Enjoy these early years, follow your child's interests, read lots of books, explore your community, and have fun learning together!
Hi, I'm Christal!
I'm a SAHM of 2 amazing kids, and I'm passionate about learning and sharing my experiences as a homeschool mom, homemaker, and home baker. If even one of my stories brings value to your life, this entire blog is worth it! Thanks for dropping by!
