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Considering Preschool at Home?
10 Things You Need to Know About Homeschooling a Preschooler
By Jacqueline Rupp
Maybe you don't think you are qualified to teach your child. But remember, you have been the person guiding your child through milestones since birth.
"Even public schools will tell you that you are your child's first and best teacher," says Loren Mavromati, board president for the California Homeschool Network in Los Angeles, Calif. She is also a mom to three children whom she has homeschooled since birth. "Consider how much you love that little person and what a privilege it is going to be to spend your days with them. The preschool years go by very quickly."
By understanding how your child learns you can be better equipped to help him through the discovery process. "When your toddler begins switching light switches on and off, he's a little scientist who is learning by experimenting," Curtis says. "Many parents don't encourage this." Curtis says that what many parents interpret as negative behavior is just curiosity. "There are many strategies parents can easily learn to help them encourage their children's natural love of learning," she says.
Preschool isn't a time to cover anything too complex. What's important is to introduce some basics and develop a love of learning.
"The importance of the preschool years was first realized by Marie Montessori," Curtis says. "She saw this time of life as a critical period when a child is wide open to learning. If you miss this sensitive period, children may see learning as a chore. That's why it's perfect for parents to home preschool during this important time."