Homeschool Preschool Character Building

My former preschoolers are now young men, and THE most important homeschool preschool advice I can give is two-fold:

1. Don't let your preschooler rule the house. YOU have the God-given authority.

If you whine, he'll whine. If you are sarcastic, he'll be sarcastic. Model respect and command respect, whether you are relating to your spouse in front of your child, or communicating with the child himself.

If you are exhausted and the child is demanding, invest that last bit of energy to determine what the child needs...a nap himself, a treat, a quiet activity (Keep a box of these for just such a time), etc.

Make it clear that you need some "alone" time and that he is NOT going to throw a tantrum about it. Get him settled, then invest time in resting yourself.

2. Be on the same page with your spouse about discipline, scheduling, etc.

If your spouse and you cannot come to agreement or one of you is undermining the other, seek marriage counseling NOW!!

A child has a free will, but if his parents model chaos rather than peace, respect, etc., you can expect chaos all your years of home education and a bumpy entry into young adulthood.

Love your children enough to do the relational work. It is more important than any academic subject you could ever teach!

If you discipline yourself to learn to play an instrument or a sport, you will be free to play to your heart's content.

If you discipline yourself to model good character and discipline, your children will develop good character as well. With discipline comes freedom and fun! And, you'll be less tired in the long run!

Best wishes for a great adventure with your family!