Why I Started School With My 4 Year Old & What I Expect Her To Learn + Free ABC Cards!

I laid in bed, thinking about her. Only a couple more minutes until midnight. Only a few more moments and she would be 4. I should've given her one more good night kiss when we tucked her in.

This little girlie who is growing so fast. I smiled as I thought of her birthday gift waiting for her out in the garage. Was she really old enough to be partially responsible for taking care of 2 little bunnies?

And then I thought of the day she was born. 4-5 weeks early, weighing in at 4lbs 10 oz. But she was brimful of life and spunk from the very first breath she took. She didn't like to be coddled. She wanted to hold her head up, she wanted to see what was happening around her. Her eyes held a spark of daring in them from the first moment.

And now she was 4. I had started preschool with her the week before. Now I started second-guessing myself. 

What if she's too young?

Am I pushing her too hard?

Shouldn't she just be enjoying her carefree life, without schedules and learning?

But in my heart I know - this is exactly what she needs in this stage of her life.

Why? Because she is still just the same as she was 4 years ago. Full of energy and spunk and just a little sass, with a hungry little mind that never stops striving to grow and learn more and more and more.

Do you have a child like this? They can be slightly high maintenance, strong willed and very determined. They can also be a little distracted and want to try to learn how to do everything at once.

And I have decided that the best way to channel her energy is to fill that hungry mind up with food that is healthy and will gently guide her into a future love for school.

Now before you think I'm trying to turn her in to the next Einstein or that I am being mean by chaining her to school books all day, every day, let me share a little bit of our school schedule.

We only spend about an hour on it a day, and it fills up that little quality time love cup of hers that can be neglected because she is always "doing". And a big part of her school is simply hands on things that make her sit still and concentrate on problem solving and/or creating things.

So, this is our "curriculum" 

•  A book about shapes that teaches tracing & coloring skills {I bought it for $2 at Michael's craft store.
• An alphabet book that also teaches coloring & tracing skills, also bought at Michael's craft store.
• A coloring/activity book that also has some art projects at the back that I found at Sam's Club.

That's it for books, and we don't always do all 3 every day. Then we have several fun hands on projects and educational movies we sprinkle throughout the week.
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• Haba Brain Builder Peg Set {Amazing for concentration and problem solving!}
• Farmland Math Mat Bundle 
• Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game
• Puzzles
• Leapfrog Scribble & Write {GREAT for tracing skills!}
• Leapfrog Letter Factory DVD
• Jim Henson's Animal Show Series
• Signing Time

Toddlers & Preschoolers are so much fun because you can turn almost anything into a learning experience. We use the Sneaky Snacky Squirrel game to reinforce colors with our 2 year old and teach counting to both of our kids - plus they learn about taking turns and being a good sport!

Am I planning on our 4 year old learning to read this year? Not really. If she does, that would be great!

But what I really want her to learn is the ability to concentrate on a problem until she can fix it.

I want her to learn a little self-discipline because she has to finish what she starts.

I want her to learn to ask questions with meaning behind them, and not just for the sake of asking a question.

And I want to foster a real love for learning in her little heart.

We're on our 3rd week right now and so far we are both loving it - and I'm planning to keep it that way! :)

One of our favorite things that we can all 3 do together {2 year old brother included!} is going through our alphabet cards. I didn't want to spend on any right now and I wanted ones that taught the actual sounds {like not I Ice-cream, but I Insect.}

So...I ended up creating some myself and I would like to share them with you! They are 4x6 size so you can take them with you anywhere you go. I think your kids will love the animal theme - my kids sure do! :) 

abc_cards.pdf
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So, should every child be doing preschool as soon as they turn 4? Not necessarily. I think it is so important to know what your child needs and then to purposefully give it to them! Will I do school with our 2nd child when he's 4? I'm not really sure yet! Right now he's having fun learning along with his sister when he can, but I don't know that he will need the structure and the mind food as much as she does.

Every child is different, they learn different, they have different needs and it's up to us as Moms to figure out what they need and to embrace it and give it to them! <3

Now it's your turn - I would really love to hear your thoughts! When do your kids start school?

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