What You Need to Know in Homeschooling Toddlers and Preschoolers

June 1, 2020 is the start of enrollment (in public schools) for school year 2020-2021 in the Philippines, as per the Department of Education (DepEd). And just like every parent with a child during a pandemic (esp. of a 3-year old like mine) who are supposed to be enrolled soon, the safety and welfare of their children is their utmost priority. That is why, perhaps, many parents are now considering homeschooling instead of sending them physically to schools. But before we go further, let us first define homeschooling.

What is Homeschooling

Homeschooling is a progressive movement around the country and the world, in which parents educate their children at home instead of sending them to a traditional public or private school. Families choose to homeschool for a variety of reasons, including dissatisfaction with the educational options available, different religious or educational philosophies, and the belief that children are not progressing within the traditional school structure. (Source: What is Homeschooling? A Guide for Parents and Students)

On this blog, what I will share would be for moms who have children as my child’s (5 and below).

Here is a post that I made a week ago. I was considering homeschooling our 3-year-old daughter, Savia but still clueless of where and how to start.

I really appreciate my mom friends who commented on my post, messaged me, tagged me to different possible resources about my questions on homeschooling. Some of them even offered to refer me to the online summer schools of their children and get a free trial for Savia. One of the many reasons I love being a mom in this day and age–I feel so blessed for you.

Now, the next question is, where and how am I going to enroll my child? Must I enroll my child to begin with?

And just recently, I have watched an FB live video exclusively streamed in one of the mommy communities I’m in (BBmommas Community).

Speakers were seasoned homeschool mommies and fellow mom bloggers, Tina Rodriguez of Truly Rich & Blessed and Ley Almeda-Reinares of Mommy Planner Ley and actress, Jan Marini Alano. They addressed the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Homeschooling which pretty much covered all my questions earlier. (Thanks, mommies!)

Here are some of my key takeaways about homeschooling a todder / preschooler.

1. Children below 5 are not required to enroll and acquire a Learning Reference Number (LRN).**You can allocate your budget in buying some materials that you would need for homeschooling instead.
2. Materials suggested to be used that are simple yet effective:
   1. coloring books
   2. clay (can be home-made)
   3. building blocks
   4. other open-ended toys (if you’re also gearing towards montessori method of learning)
   5. printable and downloadable materials available online that we can get for FREE (such as tracing lines, letters, images, etc.). Check out Commons PH, a Facebook community with 1.2M members who generously share online materials for our children to use.
3. Note that being resourceful is key. Our child’s existing toys can also be tools in learning. Materials do not necessarily come from Homeschool providers.
4. As much as possible, introduction to (use of) gadgets should be delayed.
5. Even simple activities such as singing, reading aloud, dancing, playing puzzles, arts & crafts, and the list goes on…are considered homeschooling activities because it us, their parents who are helping them learn and learning goes beyond what could be learned inside a typical classroom and more.
6. To moms who gear towards applying montessori learning in homeschooling like me, here is the link to a helpful article on Suggested Homeschool Providers for Montessori Families in the Philippines by Mommy Karen Pacia of Momtessori PH.

I hope this blog entry was able to help you as what my takeaways have helped me be enlightened by the concept of homeschooling my toddler daughter. Now, we are ready  and excited to take on the fun (and will continue what we’ve been doing) as well as the responsibility to be her teachers/facilitators, not just in the academics but more so in this classroom called, life.😊

If there’s anything I missed out or you want to add something, feel free to comment down below. We’d also love to learn from your experience as we take on this new journey as parents.

 

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