The start of every homeschool year feels fresh, new, and exciting. Part of the beauty of homeschooling preschoolers is that learning is both intentional AND playful — we’re building skills, but we’re also soaking up these little years together.
I thought it would be fun (and hopefully helpful) to share what we’re doing for homeschool this year with my 3-turning 4 year old. This isn’t a checklist of “must-dos,” but a snapshot of what’s working for our family right now.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a small commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Learning to Read
This year we’ve started Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. We’re taking it slow and steady — no rush, no pressure. Some days we breeze through a lesson, other days we repeat or pause so my daughter can fully master a skill before moving on. It’s been exciting to watch her confidence grow as she starts to recognize words and sounds in everyday life.
Language Arts & Math
For our core language arts and math, we’re using The Good and the Beautiful free preschool and kindergarten curriculum. I love that it’s open-and-go (just print the lessons and teach!) because it saves me from spending hours on prep. The lessons are short, gentle, and beautifully illustrated — perfect for keeping a toddler’s attention.
Science & History
For science and history, we’re planning to start dipping into the free Core Knowledge curriculum. If you haven’t had a chance to check out this website, it is a wealth of free curriculum! It is a little less intuitive than The Good and The Beautiful, but still has a lot of great options.
Unit Studies Based on Interests
One of my favorite parts of homeschooling is following my toddler’s interests and diving into learning together. We do unit studies that blend reading, crafts, physical movement, and multimedia resources. For example:
- Themed yoga with Cosmic Kids Yoga (This is a subscription that feels 100% worth it for our family)
- Podcasts designed for kids
- Weekly library trips to find books related to our topic
- YouTube videos and short educational clips
- Simple crafts or sensory activities tied to the theme (sensory bins are a favorite)
This approach keeps learning fun and lets us go as deep as we want into a topic before moving on.
Daily Calendar Time
Each morning, we spend a few minutes reviewing the date, year, and season. We also practice important life skills like reciting our phone number and address, and we say the Pledge of Allegiance together. It’s amazing how quickly toddlers absorb these little daily habits.
Read-Aloud Time
Reading aloud is a non-negotiable in our day. Whether it’s part of our morning basket, an afternoon cuddle, or bedtime wind-down, these moments are where so much learning happens naturally. We build vocabulary, imagination, and connection all at once. I’m working on a post about my favorite read-alouds for toddlers, so I’ll link it here once it’s ready. For now, if you’re looking for ideas to encourage early language skills, check out my list of best toys to help toddlers talk.
Wrapping It Up
So that’s our homeschool plan for this year! It’s a mix of structure and flexibility — a blend of curriculum and interest-led learning. Some days go exactly as planned; other days we follow a rabbit trail of curiosity and end up learning something completely different.
That’s the beauty of homeschooling at this age: it’s about building a love for learning, not just ticking boxes. If you’re curious about getting started with toddler homeschool, I have a full Toddler Homeschool Guide with tips, routines, and activity ideas to help you feel confident in your own journey.
More Posts You Might Like:
Toddler Homeschool: A Complete Guide to Preschool
Leave a Reply