Ideas for a sweet 4 year old boy

[EmmaNZ]

My 4 year old is desperate to do some 'school'. The thing is, he isn't quite there yet I don't think - knows some numbers, but not really any letters, can colour nicely but can't copy his name. You get the idea. It is easy for him to get lost in the day (I have ds7, dd6, ds2 and I'm 34 weeks pregnant) and I wondered about some sort of literature-based program we can do. I do want something we can 'follow' because we have so much else going on, I don't want to have to use my brain too much!

 

 

So I'm wondering about Sonlight PK or FIAR for him? Is there anything else that might fit the bill? I want him to 'think' we're doing school, when really we're not - clear as mud?!

[MathGirl]

If you want a Christian curriculum, I recommend Heart of Dakota Little Hands to Heaven. It sounds like it would be just about right for him.

[edeemarie]

If he enjoys books Sonlight would probably be a good fit (and easy for you to do with a baby!). My almost 4 year old is really enjoying Rod & staff ABC series. He also really likes PAL reading, but that may be a little too much for life with a newborn (depending on how much time you have to spend). Or if you don't want a specific curriculum you could just read good books and do some math type games with manipulatives.

[EmmaNZ]

Thanks so much, we're not Christian but I'll have a look at it, I may be able to adapt it to suit our beliefs.

[EmmaNZ]

If he enjoys books Sonlight would probably be a good fit (and easy for you to do with a baby!). My almost 4 year old is really enjoying Rod & staff ABC series. He also really likes PAL reading, but that may be a little too much for life with a newborn (depending on how much time you have to spend). Or if you don't want a specific curriculum you could just read good books and do some math type games with manipulatives.

 

That's reassuring. I was worried that Sonlight might be a bit ambitious with so many other kiddos around. He does love books, which is why I thought it might work. It's just so expensive!

[edeemarie]

That's reassuring. I was worried that Sonlight might be a bit ambitious with so many other kiddos around. He does love books, which is why I thought it might work. It's just so expensive!

 

It is expensive. Another option is to collect a list of recommended books from companies like Memoria Press (they actually have read aloud lists for grades preK - 3rd), Veritas Press, and Sonlight and just get what you can from the library. That is what we have been doing lately and adding any good books I can pick up at Goodwill (50 cents a piece- you can't beat that!).

[Calynde]

I am in the same boat with my almost 4 year old. :001_smile:

 

I'm thinking about just using this:

http://books.coreknowledge.org/product.php?productid=16295&cat=364&page=1

 

and the activity books that go with it:

http://books.coreknowledge.org/product.php?productid=16296&cat=364&page=1

 

I just don't have tons of prep time for him and this looks like it might be easy enough to pick and choose activities from. I think They might be available on Amazon, too.

[blondeviolin]

I am in the same boat with my almost 4 year old. :001_smile:

 

I'm thinking about just using this:

http://books.coreknowledge.org/product.php?productid=16295&cat=364&page=1

 

and the activity books that go with it:

http://books.coreknowledge.org/product.php?productid=16296&cat=364&page=1

 

I just don't have tons of prep time for him and this looks like it might be easy enough to pick and choose activities from. I think They might be available on Amazon, too.

 

This! The cutouts and stickers in the back make it VERY open-and-go and still very fun. You can do it as-is and then add in some extra fun if and when you've got the time.

[Walking-Iris]

I am in the same boat with my almost 4 year old. :001_smile:

 

I'm thinking about just using this:

http://books.coreknowledge.org/product.php?productid=16295&cat=364&page=1

 

and the activity books that go with it:

http://books.coreknowledge.org/product.php?productid=16296&cat=364&page=1

 

I just don't have tons of prep time for him and this looks like it might be easy enough to pick and choose activities from. I think They might be available on Amazon, too.

 

I didn't realize there was an activity book with it! I have that book and I'll have to warn you there is not a math section and there's quite a bit of text in the back pro-preschool and how to pick a good preschool and why kids need to be in preschool. But it makes a decent read aloud anyway.

 

With my 4 year old (he'll be 5 next month) we worked through HWT preschool level and the first three ETC Get ready Set Go books. He's worked though most of Singapore Essential math K A book but we put it away. He needs a bit more time to mature into it. he did a few Kumon workbooks for numbers and scissor skills.

 

http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/sku/006425/62f3595ce4cbd7161992233b

 

I've also had a chance to look at these worksheets and I decided against them since my ds knew his letters and numbers etc. But if your ds needs some more practice these may be good.

 

Core Knowledge also has full lesson plans on their web page.

[Calynde]

I didn't realize there was an activity book with it! I have that book and I'll have to warn you there is not a math section

 

I think there is supposed to be some math component in the activity books...at least according to their website. :001_smile:

[MommaOfalotta]

First off, congrats:) Im 34 weeks too!

 

Second, I would just do a lot of read alouds and maybe get some of those big workbooks by age at Walmart, etc. My daughter got one at about 3-4 years old and she loved it. She asked to do "school" all the time. Its mostly fun but they do pick up a lot from it, and it helps motor skills :)

[Guest SingingPraises]

I love the Handwriting Without Tears preschool book. It's great for "doing school" with little ones. My 4 and 6 yr olds have also really enjoyed doing the Developing the Early Learner books that are part of the Sonlight curriculum and sold by Rainbow Resource, too. We did books 1 and 2 this year. To save on the expense of Sonlight PreK, look for some of the books from the library if you can. The schedule really isn't necessary, since you probably are just going to read the books through without any extra activities, right? (I have 2 older kids that I was schooling this year while being pg with #5, so school for #3 and 4 was "whatever was easiest"). Good luck!

[ChicoryChick]

I think you might find HOD LHTH too Bible centered, but maybe you could look at it for ideas. I think BFIAR would be perfect for what you are looking for. Maybe with some BETC books and Leapfrog DVDs

[SilverMoon]

My 4yo loved MEP's Reception year. It's number awareness and math preparation. It's free for the printing here. I just printed the teacher notes, and we pointed to the student pages on the screen. If there was one that required writing or tracing she would do it with her finger, or I'd cut and paste the image over to Paint and she'd draw on it with the computer mouse.

 

She also played on Starfall's level one area. http://www.starfall.com. Leapfrog's Letter Factory helped with letter recognition, and she began Phonics Pathways when she seemed ready to start putting sounds together.

[skeeterbug]

This Richard Scarry Big Busy Sticker & Activity Book is a favourite!

 

http://www.amazon.com/Richard-Scarrys-Busy-Sticker-Activity/dp/1402773145/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340512606&sr=8-1&keywords=richard+scarry+sticker

 

This is very easy to help him with while he sits at the school table with us. I cut out the stickers he needs for the page and give him instructions, he can sit next to me and complete it on his own. My 7yo wants one! (We love Richard Scarry at our house.) Also Kumon workbooks, he likes to work on his cutting, tracing, etc. These feel like school but aren't difficult. For literature we use SL P 3/4 & 4/5- I just use them as booklists, and I also have BFIAR which we use occasionally. When he's ready you can start with HWT, a gentle intro to writing.

[Five More Minutes]

Five in a Row is really beautiful at that age.

 

When I chose to do it with lapbooking, I found it more work (although there are some great, free resources for FIAR lapbooks). I finally switched to doing it mostly orally (except for the art parts), and those were equally wonderful lessons. All that to say that FIAR is definitely a good option, but it doesn't have to be complicated to be effective and memorable.

[bpskowski]

What about Peak with Books? I'm considering it for my two 4 year olds.

[kwg]

Wee Folk Curriculum is what we did last year. A lot of fun! We sort of lost momentum half way through but ds4 loved his lessons.

 

http://weefolkart.com/content/homeschool-companion-guides