Dear Parent,

Thank you for your question!

Because your daughter is still at a very young age, I would recommend keeping her at home instead of enrolling her into a pre-school program. I think that the skills she would be learning in the pre-school program can just as easily be taught in the home setting by you. In addition, if enrolled into the pre-school program, she will need time to adjust to her new surroundings. She won't need this transition time, if taught at home, because she is already familiar with her surroundings. It is common for children to start preschool around the age of four or five. It is important that your daughter be ready for preschool not only academically, but also emotionally and physically.

While homeschooling, I like to focus less on the age of the child and more on his/her readiness. If you feel your daughter is ready to read, and excited about it, I see no problem in beginning to teach her phonics. Little Stories for Little Folks is a great program for any age and it provides a solid base in phonics that would help your daughter learn to read. Be sure to give sufficient time to each step in this parent's guide. At this age children are also learning through example. In addition to LSLF, I would recommend that you read to her [which you probably already do], and begin introducing picture books, and simple stories.

In the area of math, your daughter should learn through using blocks, cubes, sand, water and other manipulative tools. When counting and sorting, it is important for her to use hands-on materials. A lot of math consists of relating the abstract, such as the number 3, with the concrete, such as three blocks.

At this stage, I would not recommend using any worksheets or paperwork. She needs time to grow and develop small motor control first. It is important right now that she not be overwhelmed with school work. You can gently and easily incorporate learning into your day, without your daughter feeling that she has to learn. More importantly, this is a good time for you and your daughter to enjoy each other's company in a relaxed environment. Also, when the new baby arrives, it will be important to spend time together as a family, and your daughter will learn the joys of being an older sister.

God bless you and your family!

Laura Nicholson