When I first started home schooling my last three girls, two were in third grade and one was just starting preschool. It was a challenge wondering how I would present the lessons when there was such an obvious age gap between the older girls and the youngest.
Being able to home school our kids allows us a lot of freedom though. Kids don’t have to be pushed ahead when they aren’t ready or held back when they are. What I did was to offer the same exact assignment for all of my girls, always at the age level of the older girls. In order for my youngest to keep up, I would have separate math classes at first, and taught her to read while the older girls were reading from their books.
She was able to understand the art, history, science, and any other lesson we were having at the time. Naturally, I would explain it on her level whenever needed or would have her do the same assignment but within her capabilities. For example, when we did creative writing the older girls would write a story and illustrate it, but my youngest would just draw pictures or narrate the story to me and I would write it for her. Even from the beginning I would have her help clean up at the end of the school day and organize things for the following day.
For the first couple of years she did need a bit more help and guidance, but I truly feel that by having her keep up with her older sisters, it allowed her to excel at a rate that many children—especially those in public school—wouldn’t have. She has drive and determination that I admire, and if she wants something badly enough she knows if she applies herself she can do it.
By the time she was seven she was reading at a high school level. Now at the age of sixteen she’s in college and has a very bright future ahead. Never worry about pushing kids just a bit beyond their comfort zones. In the end it can help them tremendously.