All School Should Start with Homeschool

Homeschool vs. Public School vs. Private School vs. Charter School - and the list of opportunities for your child's education can go on and on. Is one better than the other in regards to your child's education? 

As a teacher, I could argue points as to why a public school education could benefit your child. After working in the private (Catholic) sector for the last 5 years I could give you pointers as to why you would want to go this route. As a parent to three young children and observing family members who have decided to homeschool, I can explain the benefits there as well. The debate could go on forever, egos would be bruised, countless points would be proven and yet the decision still remains in the hands of the parents.

For today, we are going to set aside our differences in opinion and discuss the most important education of your child's life- the formative years before school; before they are able to read or write; before they can find the circumference of a circle. Those years belong to you, the parent.

You, {believe it or not} the parent, are your child's first educator...................

Regardless if you are aware of your role or not, your child is a sponge soaking up information that you share. When you announce to your child "Now, roll me the red ball!" You are not only interacting with your child, you are also teaching him in countless ways. First, you are giving him a lesson on how to take turns and illustrating cause and effect by rolling the ball back and forth. Secondly, by describing the "red" ball, you are also teaching your child colors.

The human child's mind is literally a sponge; soaking in and processing new information each day. When children are young they are not only willing but capable of learning various concepts that we present to them. Then why don't more parents put the cap and gown on their children and send them off to Harvard by age 3? 

Right now their main job is simple- to play. Play can provide so many great experiences- learning how to share and relate to one another, imagination and creativity, not to mention physical exercise. Teaching your young child does not have to be done by workbooks, flashcards or other formal learning systems. Young children learn best through self-exploration and play.

".....preschoolers learn differently from school-age children: play is essential to early learning. Play is the main way children learn and develop ideas about the world. It helps them build the skills necessary for critical thinking and leadership. It’s how they learn to solve problems and to feel good about their ability to learn." (Source)

Games, puzzles, books, crafts, free play and life experiences should all encompass your child's early education. Make each moment special as you interact with your child- remembering that is quality and not quantity that matters.

Don't forget that teaching the basics also include learning your address, phone number, full name, birth date, and manners aside from their ABC's and 123's!

The education that you chose for your child for their formal school years is solely based on what works for you and your family. Regardless of what educational path you chose, all school should start with your young child being homeschooled by you, his parent. You can provide your child with the ability to succeed, the self-esteem to conquer obstacles and the drive and determination to help them live out their dreams.

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Classified: Mom suggests (but not limited to) fun learning products:
Books that teach letters, numbers, colors, shapes, etc.:


Board Games:


Puzzles:





Also, make sure to visit my Arts and Crafts and Resource Page for some learning craft and activities!

Guest Post: Music on the Brain

A child’s senses are stimulated to the fullest when he or she grows up listening to music, singing songs, or dancing to music. A child’s early development is positively impacted through exposure to music, as it works to strength the neurological pathways between brain cells. An early introduction to music is crucial for jump-starting childhood learning processes whether it be in day care, at home, or homeschool. Incorporating music into early childhood education strengthens cognitive abilities like memory and spatial reasoning skills. More over, research has proven that creating an educational environment that engages the five senses, with particular attention to hearing can positively affect a child’s mind and physical development. The Nemours Foundation, a nongovernmental organization dedicated to the health of children, produced a report concluding that children who actively listen to, play, or perform music related activities excel in math and reading, have higher self-esteem, are more focused, and are more likely to play and explore with their peers. 

Music makes the greatest educational and neurological impact on children when they actively experience it. Active listening can be defined as clapping, singing, tapping, or keeping the beat to music.  Further more allowing a child to create his or her own music will prove to be priceless. Passive music participation (listening to music) is also beneficial to a child but does not work to engage and develop neurological pathways as deeply. If you would like your child to experience the benefits of music on early childhood education and development, begin simply.

1. Teach your child basic nursery rhymes and songs. The Itsy Bitsy Spider, This Little Piggy Went to Market, and The Wheels on The Bus are nursery rhymes that have accompanying hand motions. The synthesis of music and movement enhances a child’s memory by linking the memorization of words with hand motions. This method also works to strengthen a child’s ability to do more than one thing at a time.

2. An upset child can be comforted by music. Playing certain types of music for a sad or angry child provides stability and repetition as the child learns to cope with new feelings and emotions.

3. Use any available opportunity to share music with your child. Play music when riding in the car or before bedtime! Researchers say that tones and notes characteristic of jazz and classical music work best to stimulate neurological pathways.

4. Play music for your child then ask he or she to distinguish the different instruments present in the music. This game works to sharpen your child’s divided, shifted, focused, and sustained attention. Each type of attention is crucial to the healthy development and functioning of your child. Divided attention can be defined as performing two or more tasks at once. Shifted attention is moving back and forth between multiple tasks without forgetting the rules and instructions particular to each task. Focused attention is concentrating on one task. Sustained attention is concentrating on one specific task for a long period of time.

The benefits of playing music and encouraging participation in making music can be huge. The developmental, emotional, and educational affects yielded from exposing your child to and encouraging your child toward a musical life are invaluable.

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Co-written by Emily Patterson and Kathleen Thomas

Emily and Kathleen are Communications Coordinators for the Atlanta day care facility, a member of the AdvancED® accredited family of Primrose Schools (located in 16 states throughout the U.S.) and part of the network of day care preschools delivering progressive, early childhood, Balanced Learning® curriculum.