In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful
So today, we’re talking about preschool… Well, actually we’re talking about what to do when you’re choosing to delay academics and opt out of preschool. My little guy turned three at the beginning of this year…and people have been asking if he’s in school or when he’s going to school. So I’ve been thinking about preschool and what we’re actually going to be doing instead.
I think it is worth being frank and clear up front, with this topic and when we talk about delayed academics, flexible academics, or anything of that nature… we are NOT talking about stepping away from learning. It is a natural state, to be consistently learning. But we are talking about leaning into the natural development and stages our child is growing through, leaning into our family vision, and leaning into our child’s unique interests. We are honing on organic learning that simply comes as part of a child’s experience through playing and exploring and being a part of this world.
Now, I want to pause here and acknowledge that there’s not necessarily a right or wrong answer here. What works for me might not work for you. What is best for our family, might not be for you and yours. We’re not judging or shaming any families who have their kiddo in preschool. Today, we’re simply talking about some options for anyone who is not starting with any concrete schooling but still wants to make sure they are offering their children the best and helping them grow into well-rounded individuals.
Now let’s jump into these 9 things we can focus on, instead of preschool:
1. Build rhythm and routine.
People thrive on consistency, especially children. If you don’t already have set rhythms and routines within your home environment, now is a great time to get started with that. This not only helps the whole family flow smoothly, it allows more space to let your little one have more independence, and it helps solidify great habits. If you’re just getting started, waking up and bedtime routines are great places to start, meal times can be good as well…and as you get more comfortable, you can start to build around those.
2. Focus on character development.
Instead of preschool, this is a great time to really set a great foundation for your child’s heart. This includes helping your child build good character. Take a look at your core values as a family…and decide what are the top character traits that are in line with that. Start working on one at a time. Remember that good character is something we learn and we must practice. Be sure that, first and foremost, you are modeling the character traits you are expecting.
3. Explore the world.
Getting out in nature is so important – you guys already know that; we talk about it a lot around here. Go discover new places in your neighborhood. Travel to a new town. This is a perfect opportunity to simply explore and absorb. Remember, even things that feel so common or mundane for you…might be totally new for your child. Exploring the world can be as simple or as complex as you choose – but be intentional about it. We learn so many things just from engaging with the world around us.
4. Read, read, read.
Reading is crucial. And I absolutely don’t mean teaching your three year old to read. Look at books, listen to books…read books to your children. They learn so much…even how to read, simply from engaging with books on a regular basis. READ is the first command from the Qur’an. Make it a part of your family culture. Check out different topics, different authors, different kinds of books – all of it. Keep it alive, keep it fun.
5. Cultivate community.
Having a healthy sense of community is crucial for all of us, no less our little one’s. The way that our children may interact with others changes and develops from birth through the first few years …but the thing that remains constant is the need to have supportive connections. Yes, as parents we are incredibly important to our children – but it takes a village…and now is the time to start cultivating that for our child. Being part of a community teaches a wide variety of things including building a sense of self-identity, learning social skills, and learning to be a part of something bigger than one’s self.
6. Focus on naturally occurring skills.
While we are not currently focusing on specific academics, we are learning… These years are perfect for observing what skills naturally fit into your lifestyle and your families overall vision and focusing on those. This could look like basic life skills, incorporating more specific chores, or even learning a hobby that is part of your family culture.
7. Dabble in organic language and memory.
Those early years are superb for language development and memory. This is a perfect opportunity to start introducing a second language if that is important for you. It is a great idea to use this time to slowly ease into memory work as well – whether that be as simple as intentional time listening to Qu’ran or actually taking a 5-10 minute chunk of time to memorize a verse of Qur’an.
8. Explore with art.
Have fun with colors, shapes, textures…all the things. Let your little one explore artistic expression in as many forms as you’d like. This helps with building those tiny little muscles in hands and arms, helpful for writing later in life. It helps with creativity and expanding imagination. Art helps with emotional and social learning as well. Let’s remember that we’re focusing on the process here, not the final product. We’re simply having fun…and learning in the process.
9. Lots and lots of independent play.
Independent play has so many benefits. As the name suggests, this is where your little one is playing and exploring on their own, without direction or instruction. Not only does this provide opportunities for your child to explore a wide variety of interests in a variety of ways, they learn about themselves, they learn about boundaries… Play is the work of children. It is through play and living life that our little one’s have the best opportunity to learn.
This is just a list of 9 ideas to help you get started. There are so many options available – the world is your oyster, as they say. We want to keep an open mind and really check in with the needs of our child and our family. Our story won’t look like the family next door nor is it supposed to. Try one or two…see what works for you.
Question for the comments: Are you opting out of preschool for your kiddo? What do you envision that will look like for you and your family?
Thank you for stopping by ‘Nourishing Our Home’. Please be sure to pop in every Thursday for new posts. Also, if you found this to be relatable and beneficial, please help me out by sharing with your family and friends.If you’d like to see more about Nourishing Our Home, check us out on Facebook and Pinterest.