The transition from Pre-K to homeschooling Kindergarten is one of the biggest ones we have experienced in our homeschool scholastic career. It’s easy to stress out thinking about all the different things they will have to learn as they move from Pre-K up to Kindergarten. Those little sponge brains are so ready to be filled and it’s our responsibility as a home school teacher to fill them. I won’t lie and say it was a breeze for me because nothing about home school has been a breeze. I am going to share some of the things I have learned from our experience transitioning from Pre-K to Kindergarten that maybe can help your experience go a little smoother.

Tips For a Smooth transition from Pre-K to Kindergarten
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How long should homeschool kindergarten take daily?

This can all depend on the curriculum that you’re covering, but a good rule of thumb is that it shouldn’t take any more than 3-4 hours per day.

How much does it cost to homeschool?

Again, this can depend on the type of curriculum that you’re looking for. You can find a ton of online resources that are free and just have to supplement with a few items here and there. And if you’re wanting to have the entire year outlined for you, there are a lot of Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum to choose from.

No matter what you decide to do, remember these helpful tips as you make that homeschooling transition.

Why you don’t need to stress as you transition from Pre-K to homeschooling kindergarten

The biggest advice I can give is to not stress out. I wanted so badly to make sure I did everything right that I overdid everything. In the end, I was burnt and my daughter was over it. She started fighting “school” before she even got out of bed. It wasn’t working. I decided it was time for a change.

The first thing I did was slow things down.

I stopped thinking that everything had to be perfect and started spending more quality time with my kindergartner. Instead of being her teacher I became her guide to the world. Some days we would spend our time observing weather changes or counting the crayons. We laughed more and fought less… guess what… she learned so much more.

Tips For a Smooth transition from Pre-K to Kindergarten

Kids are natural learners.

Kids want to learn new things and crave those opportunities to use their senses to explore new things. They will naturally seek out things that are different or unusual to them. I love to encourage this natural wonder because even as adults we do better when we are mentally involved. Find out what your kindergartner is into and expand their homeschooling curriculum and knowledge on that.

Plan ahead but be flexible when homeschooling.

Planning is always a good thing. Having a plan doesn’t mean that things will go as planned. These kids of ours may look like little copies of us but they are in fact their own people and they are just finding out who that person is. Give them space to explore that unique personality. Give them input on the planning. If you give a child choices they are more likely to do what they decide.

Research what you want to teach in your homeschool classroom!

Not all curriculum works with every child. You know your child and what they are capable or willing to do a different curriculum and teaching methods as you transition from Pre-K to Kindergarten. What worked in Pre-K might not work in Kindergarten. Test ideas out. Don’t think everything has to be set in stone and be willing to admit when something isn’t working. Just because it worked with one of your older children or another child you know doesn’t mean it is what is best for this child.

Take advantage of wonderful free resources online

You can also find so many free resources online to help you in your journey. I’m going to share one to get you started. For more options check out Pinterest or social media. Google is also a home school teachers best friend so be sure to use it any time you have a question. More than likely there is someone out there that has asked the same question. Know yourself and use your natural instincts.

Homeschool Freebies Zone - Hundreds of free printables and free trials for homeschoolers. Homeschool Freebies | Free Homeschool Printables | Homeschool For Free | Free printables for homeschool

Just keep in mind as you transition from Pre-K to Homeschooling Kindergarten, it’s going to be okay.

As mentioned I am going to start you off with your kindergarten resource collecting with this fun Winter Flip Book. It’s a fun book to help practice things like counting, ten frames, colors, shapes, and the alphabet in a take-along printable book.

If you like this homeschooling kindergarten post, check out these other posts

Download this free homeschooling PDF

Transitioning from Pre-k to kindergarten homeschooling doesn’t have to be stressful. Simply take the time to understand the needs of you and your child and you’ll find a better way to learn and educate one another in the process!

Thanks to Rebecca at Miniature Masterminds for this wonderful guest post!

Do you have any tips for a parent who is interested in transitioning into Homeschooling Kindergarten?

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About Ana Willis

Ana is the unhurried homeschool mom of 3, wife, and homeschool blogger. She loves to encourage, inspire and empower moms to go from stressed to blessed by providing them with the tips, strategies, and resources they need to succeed. Ana is the founder of They Call Me Blessed and the creator of: Hebrew for Homeschoolers, Charlotte Mason Online Conference, The Homeschool Sisterhood, and the Beyond Blessed Life Planner. She leads a vibrant free community for homeschool moms on Facebook and you can connect with her at www.facebook.com/theycallmeblessedblog.