If you are wondering, “Homeschool your two-year-old? That can’t be right!” then you are correct. It isn’t completely right.
You see, two-year-olds don’t need to be homeschooled. They need lots of love, attention, help, creative play, and encouragement! But as a future homeschool mom, I found myself looking for ways to still encourage my two-year-old daughter towards school prep.
If you are like me, you often have to stop yourself and remember that to homeschool your two-year-old all you need to do is enjoy the current season you are both in! Nobody needs a curriculum for preschoolers or younger.
So, what do I do with my two-year-old when I “homeschool” her? I cuddle her, answer her questions, play games, read books, bake bread, fold laundry, sing songs, plant the garden, read Bible stories, make playdough, draw with chalk, go on outings, make mudpies, and more. I do life with her! That’s all you need to do to homeschool your two-year-old.
Children are learning a tremendous number of things by just going through each day with us, by our side. They need structure in their day and they need the freedom to explore. And they just need us parents to be present and cherish these years with them!
While these things that I do with my two-year-old are not necessarily homeschooling her, they are what I do each day to get her excited to learn all about the world we live in!
Here’s some more detail on those daily things…
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No Curriculum Just Read Together
As I said, children preschool age and younger do not need a curriculum. They need a mother and father to be there with them, answering their questions as they make sense of the world.
Forcing a child to learn flashcards or read quickly will backfire. The child will lose all desire to discover the skill on their own and resist it. Don’t try to force your child into anything they are not ready to do. There is no award for how soon your child knows a certain skill.
My two-year-old daughter is almost three and she does not know her colors. Yet some of her peers have had their colors mastered for almost a year. There is no reason for me to worry about this! Each child develops differently. Comparison only makes it worse (unless there truly is a learning disability notably present).
Instead, one of the best things you can focus on is just reading together! There is so much evidence that reading together for just 15 minutes a day helps a child learn in so many ways. Check out Read Aloud 15 Minutes and 1000 Books Before Kindergarten for more research behind this.
I simply make it a goal to read with my children for at least 15 minutes every single day. It is one of the best parts of our day! We also pray together, sing together, listen to audiobooks, and more.
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Daily Routine
Another thing I focus on as a future homeschool mom is our daily routine. By having a consistent routine with expectations for my two-year-old I am laying the groundwork for our future homeschool years where a more structured learning environment will be present.
We stay home often and follow a daily rhythm. My daughter has various tasks, not quite chores yet, that she performs. It is habitual and expected of her. We practice skills like eating properly, sitting still, listening without interrupting, and staying on task.
These all help her learn about the world and give her stability in her life! There is always a balance between structure and the flexibility of creative free play each day. It is important when you homeschool your two-year-old that you have both in balance.
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Unstructured And Creative Play
When we complete the structured things of our day like daily tasks, we also enjoy free play. This involves minimal to no screen time. There is truly no need for children two and under to be in front of a screen and lots of evidence to back this up.
It also involves lots of open-ended toys! Minimal toys are also extremely important to independent free play. Focus on taking your children to experiences over buying lots of toys for them.
However, I truly believe that the best gift you can give your child from creative play is a sibling! I am so blessed that my two-year-old daughter has a sister only 13 months younger than her. They play together all day long!
This also involves lots of time outside. The outdoors is a huge learning environment for our children and allows them to explore the world for themselves. Living on a large homestead makes it a bit easier for us to spend time outside. For you, it might require a bit more intentionality like driving to nature parks, but it is so worth the effort!
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Obedience Training
With more of a true homeschool schedule on the horizon, it is important to lay the groundwork now for things when it comes to obedience. We do this, as parents, by being consistent.
Staying consistent with our commands, following through on what we say, and implementing appropriate consequences not only trains our two-year-old to obey but also helps us stay on top of everything!
Also, with her tasks, or chores, she does begin to teach her responsibility. As she is able, she slowly gets more responsibility and independence. It builds on itself as she grows. Teaching those skills now when they are young is how to homeschool your two-year-old appropriately.
If you focus on obedience now, in a few years they will be able to sit still, listen to directions, and then follow through on those instructions. Learning also involves these basic principles in the future so start teaching them now.
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Other Fun Things To Do
Paint and color together. Cook together. Feed and walk the dog. Do puzzles and games. Have conversations! Listen to audiobooks and music. Go on outside adventures often.
There is no need to stress about how to homeschool your two-year-old! Enjoy life and they will enjoy life with you. Children truly are a blessing and joy to be around when we give them our undivided attention, bring them alongside us, and teach them every life skill we know naturally!
What do you think about how to homeschool your two-year-old? Let me know in the comments below!
Kelsey at GoodPointGrandma
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