My fourth and last child turns three today. Happy Birthday to my Little Boo Bear. Today she is officially a preschooler. It is a sad and joyous day. Sad because my home will no longer have any babies or toddlers to bring that special spark they always bring. Joyous because it is great fun to watch her grow and become a little person of her own. The past three years have gone by so fast on one hand and so slow on the other. Someone once told me that with babies and toddlers the days are long but the years are short. So true.
As we enter year three and her first official year as a preschooler we have definite goals and fun in store. She will officially be entered into my homeschool as a student. While, her studies will not consist of ancient history, logic and algebra, she will be learning important things for a little person. She will learn a more routine way of conducting her day and more formal lessons.
Routine:
A three year old is ready for consistent chores, habit training and character training. The lessons are small but what is learned is great. She will have to help her big sister do the dishes. Believe me this is not chore for my water lover. She will feed the dog consistently. At three she is now responsible for putting her toys and shoes away. While a two year old can manage this task I never formally put her name on a chore chart. Three is a big age as it comes with real responsibility and expectations. Keep in mind when I say responsibility it only means feeding the dog, brushing her teeth and picking up a few toys. Expectations refer to character training. At two she was instructed to share but may not have understood the concept. At three I will begin teaching these concepts more indepthly. She will be asked what she thinks is the proper response on such social matters. I do not expect her to give me the right answer and frankly she may not answer at all. However, by asking I am setting the stage for critical thinking.
Education:
There is much she knows but now she will have a real place at the school table. She has her own school crate with her name on it along with a few workbooks, foam letters and numbers, and some fun blocks. She will learn her letter sounds and how to write. My goal is to cultivate a curiosity about the world around her so fun messy science and living books are on the schedule. No grades. No pressure. No good if it is no fun. She is a sponge and I will allow her to absorb at her own rate no matter how fast or slow. She is simply being introduced into a world of learning.
Do you have a three year old? What fun things to you plan on doing this year?