The Layers of Learning Podcast with Karen and Michelle is here to help you get your whole family learning together in your homeschool. We are the sisters behind Layers of Learning. We love getting together to chat about homeschooling and this podcast is just a series of our chats. We’re inviting you to listen in on our conversations.

We both have big families, but we teach almost all of our school subjects to everyone at once. We want to help you find the joy in that too, so we talk a lot about family homeschooling. To see all of our episodes, visit our Layers of Learning Podcast Page. Join us as we explore how to have a happy, hands-on, family-style homeschool.

The Layers of Learning curriculum doesn’t begin until 1st grade, but Karen and Michelle get lots of questions about what to do for preschool. In this episode, you’ll hear ideas for preschoolers, how to help your little learners prepare for Layers of Learning and the rest of their homeschool experience, and also some tips for teaching your whole family, older kids and preschoolers alike.

Preschool doesn’t need to be a time of intense lesson-planning. Let learning begin to flow naturally in your home, with your little ones growing into your homeschool gently through reading, play, hands-on activities, and getting involved on their terms as they grow bigger. For this to work, you really need to limit screen time. A lot of what little ones learn can be taught in natural ways by your family interacting with each other. Academically, you can also teach colors, numbers, shapes, and the alphabet. As your little learners start to join in during your homeschool day

• Reading to your preschooler often, as well as talking about books, will help get your preschoolers more prepared for school than any other single activity you can do.
  
  
• Play is an overlooked way to learn. You don’t need to lesson plan for playtime, just let your kids engage in play of all kinds to develop physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and problem solving skills.
  
  
• Talk to your kids a lot. The constant chatter of little ones is a powerful learning tool.
  
  
• Involve them in the things that you’re doing – household chores, walks, getting the mail – have a kid at your side no matter what you’re doing.
  
  
• Speak to your kids in normal language, not baby talk, to help them with speaking, vocabulary, and grammar.
  
  
• Eat dinner together as a family and have meaningful conversations, giving everyone a chance to talk.
  
  
• Teach preschool academics in every day life. You can play things like “Find the Letter” on signs, grocery lists, and in books.
  
  
• Play games with letters, numbers, shapes, and colors.
  
  
• Have simple workbooks, puzzles, and preschool toys on hand for your little learners to stay busy with while your older kids are learning in your homeschool.
  
  
• Teach behaviors and socialization with clear expectations and consequences. Be 100% consistent and the lessons will be quickly learned and your homeschool life will be a lot easier for years to come.