I don't home-preschool my kids but my first thought would be to make sure your kids are still finding ways to socialize. For me, I think this is one of the most important aspects of preschool. The children learn to treat one another with respect, they begin to learn compassion and they build friendships. I would make sure that you can someone join a weekly play group and maybe invest in a class or two (gym, soccer, dance... something to keep them active and with other children, their age). Good luck and please let us know how it goes!

i've preschooled my daughter so far and it is rough. for distractions from home and workbooks, we have enrolled her into a creative movement class and go to all the local storytimes. it sounds like you've got lots of good ideas already, just don't push too hard because it will get really frustrating. at least it is for me. but it's doable.

If you are going to do pre-school time at home, you need to set aside a cirtain time every day so it is a routine, and set up your activities in a cirtain order so that it is a routine. Children at this age thrive on routine. This is my suggestion, what I do.

Start with breakfast at a cirtain time what ever works for your family.

Books and puzzle time. About a 1/2 hour. They have a choice of you reading them a book or they can work on a puzzle.

Work book time. About a half hour. I make my own "work book" for each child, so I can help them learn using things that they are interrested in. I just makes learning more fun for them.

Then "free play". I play with them, it gives us a great connection. Again I follow their lead, play whatever they want to play, incourage them to use thier imagination.

Lunch is the end of pre-school time for us.

OOPS! I forgot to add, during "free-play" I find whatever opportunity I can to teatch colors, letters, numbers, counting, shapes, etc. It makes learning fun and effortless for them.

Wow, BeckyK - you are great! I'm just about to pull my son out of 5 days to 3 days in preschool, and this was a great thread to hit. I'd add - check out your local museums - most have free days once a week. They can be crowded w/ school groups, so if you can afford a membership, do that instead of trying free days. And many have reciprocity - in LA, the Natural History Museum membership includes the Page Museum (tar pits) and one other one. Also - the library is a goldmine for not just books but also for story times, arts and crafts activities, ....

I have 2 children, ages 4.5 & 18 months. I babysit one child (3.5), 3 times a week. The only real schedule I stick to is when breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks & nap time is. Otherwise, I change it up every day. Some days we paint, other's we color, other's we watch a kid movie (Cars, Chicken Little, etc.). Every day is different. Keeps me & the kids from getting bored from same old, same old. We always read & we always get some outdoor time.

OH! & I got this big magnetic dry erase board at Target. Got tons of magnets (even gear one's that are battery operated from a toy store), markers & an eraser. Ever since I got that, the kids love to draw on it, erase, draw again, over & over. & the gear magnets are always fun. I'm getting some letter magnets for my little one. For my oldest, I sit with her & the boy I watch, while my youngest is napping, & we practice writing our letters & numbers. With my oldest, she's already learned how to write her name without help, write nearly all her letters & numbers up to 20. All I had to do was write them out across the top & she would try to write them herself. Now she can do it without the letters across the top!

I just took my 4 yr old out of preschool for the same reason. We do "School" every morning Mon - Fri for 30 mins. We go over spelling her name. Sound out the letters and put them in order. We sound out our vowels, practice our numbers, shapes, colors and practice writing. At the end of school we always do art. I involve one of the letters or numbers with a picture. This is one week in. I'm still coming up with ideas. Put so far so good!

Hi, Becky!
Love your advice for a schedule here!
We have a block a few blocks away from home. We make sure to go three mornings a week, to ensure socialization time. And while I'm there, I usually bring things so that it isn't just all free play (altho they think it is). I bring the stuff to teach him, but make sure I design lessons so that they can be used in a group setting -- since usually there are at least 3-6 other kids who want to get into the action (which is great: more like a classroom setting). We've explored colors, counting, bouyancy, gravity, letters, anatomy (bones and muscles), nutrition, listening to instructions, turn-taking, recycling, gardening, etc. etc.

We also are lucky enough to live in a community that offers amazing affordable classes thru the city. My son just turned 3, but we're currently taking a ceramics class, one 3-hr day of "school", a "balls, balls, balls" class. There's actually A LOT out there for kids that you can use as teachable experiences.

Also, this is a wonderful time to teach them how to participate in the daily work of the household, which gives them confidence and a sense that they are an important, respected member of the household. My son is in charge of watering all our dwarf fruit trees on the balcony, and feeding the dog and a couple of other things. We do a lot of those things together and have a running conversation about both what's involved and why we're doing it.