Ideas for Homeschooling a Preschooler or Kindergartener

Photo Credit: https://onlinestudyaustralia.com

Three to six is so young! The name of the game is to keep it fun and simple.  Here is what I suggest for preschool and Kindergarten activities.

Below are some links for pre-writing activity worksheets, information on pencil grips, scissor skills, crossing mid-line activities, and hand strengthening exercises. Maybe do one per day. It depends on your child but the hand strength and hand-eye (visual motor) coordination needs to be there or a lot of one-on-one help will be required. If you are concerned about handwriting talk to your Occupational Therapist. They should be able to help with hand strength, grip, and/or special tools to help handwriting.


http://www.kidzone.ws/prek_wrksht/dynamic.htm

https://www.pinterest.com/elmorekt/ot-kids-pre-writing/

http://teachingmama.org/prewriting-activities-for-preschoolers/

https://childdevelopment.com.au/areas-of-concern/writing/writing-readiness-pre-writing-skills/

https://www.yourkidsot.com/blog/should-i-get-a-pencil-grip

http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/miscellaneous/scissor_skills.htm

https://www.myteachingstation.com/worksheets/kindergarten/scissor-skills

http://www.ot-mom-learning-activities.com/activities-for-crossing-the-midline.html

https://www.growinghandsonkids.com/crossing-midline-exercises-for-kids.html

https://theinspiredtreehouse.com/hand-strength-35-fun-activities-for-kids/

Work on colors and numbers. This can be done by watching TV shows like Team Umizoomi, Blues Clues, Peg + Cat, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Super Why, Word World, Veggie Tales and other educational shows. I HIGHLY recommend letting them watch TV IF it's educational. We use PBS and stream TV. To stream TV you can use a laptop connected to your TV via HDMI cable, have a smart TV, or use a device like a ROKU. We use ROKU and have for about 10 years. Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon have a TON of appropriate kid programming with little to no commercials. YouTube can be good source also but you have to monitor it. There is a KidsTube app that's more appropriate for private viewing.


https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/youtube-kids/id936971630?mt=8

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.youtube.kids&hl=en

There are songs for learning....
This is a good site for ANY teaching song.
http://www.songsforteaching.com/preschoolkindergarten.htm

https://www.pinterest.com/explore/preschool-songs/

http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/preschool_kindergarten_videos.html

Apps

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/best-preschool-apps

http://coolmomtech.com/2014/08/best-educational-apps-for-preschoolers-back-to-school-tech-guide-2014/

http://www.icanteachmychild.com/the-10-best-iphoneipad-apps-for-preschoolers/

Therapy apps

http://nspt4kids.com/parenting/our-10-favorite-speech-and-language-apps-for-kids/

http://www.smartappsforkids.com/2013/08/top-free-apps-for-language-therapy.html

https://www.webpt.com/blog/post/ipad-and-tablet-apps-pediatric-occupational-therapist

https://www.pinterest.com/rarollston/ot-therapy-apps/

http://www.aota.org/practice/manage/apps.aspx

http://dexteria.net/

https://www.webpt.com/physical-therapy-apps

https://www.pinterest.com/lasenders/gross-motorptpe-apps/

For PE/physical therapy we use this YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga

I hope this gives you some ideas. More likely than not special needs kids will needs LOTS of repetition to be able to acquire new information and to shift it to long term memory for storage. The name of the game is to switch stuff up, keep it fun, and to teach them without them knowing. I hope this has been a help. Please leave comments below. Thanks!