Preschool at home: what to teach at 3, 4 and 5

What should a 3-year-old learn at home?

The CDC's checklist for 3 years says most children by then:

• talk with you in a conversation of at least two back-and-forth turns;
• ask "who", "what", "where" or "why" questions;
• say what's happening in a picture or book when asked ("running", "eating");
• draw a circle when you show them how, and string large beads or macaroni;
• notice other children and join them to play.

So a 3-year-old's "school" is talk. Read picture books every day and ask what's happening. Count stairs, spoons and socks out loud. Sing the same songs again and again. Let them pour, sort, stack, string and scribble. Five minutes of anything is a good stretch at this age.

What should a 4-year-old learn?

The CDC's checklist for 4 years says most children by then:

• say sentences of four or more words, and some words from a song, story or nursery rhyme;
• name a few colors and tell what comes next in a well-known story;
• draw a person with three or more body parts;
• hold a crayon or pencil between fingers and thumb, not in a fist;
• pretend during play, and like to be a "helper".

Add sound play: "What rhymes with cat?", "What does sun start with?". These are listening games, done by ear, before letters on paper. Count real things to 10, sort them by color and size, and name shapes on walks. Puzzles, playdough and child-safe scissors build the hand muscles that writing needs later.

What should a 5-year-old learn before kindergarten?

The CDC's checklist for 5 years says most children by then:

• count to 10 and name some numbers between 1 and 5 when you point to them;
• name some letters when you point to them, and write some letters in their name;
• use or recognize simple rhymes (bat, cat);
• tell a story with at least two events, and answer simple questions about a book you read;
• pay attention for 5 to 10 minutes during activities, and take turns in games.

A 5-year-old who is ready can start letter sounds a few at a time and blending them into tiny words (s-a-t, sat). Peabody's level 0 books are made for exactly this: a picture on every page and only a few words. If your child isn't ready, keep reading aloud and playing sound games; there's no rush.

What does a preschool day at home look like?

One rhythm that works for many families. Change the times to fit your child's naps and your own day.

That's about 20 to 30 minutes of "lessons", and most of it is a grown-up reading. Stop any piece early if it isn't working. A good day is one where your child was read to, talked with and played.

Is preschool required?

No state Peabody has checked makes school compulsory before age 5, and homeschool rules are written for children of compulsory school age. As your child nears that age, the kindergarten page shows when it starts in your state and links to your state's law page, which says what to file and when.

How much screen time should a preschooler have?

The World Health Organization's 2019 guideline says that for children aged 3 and 4, "sedentary screen time should be no more than 1 hour; less is better". It also asks for at least 180 minutes of varied physical activity spread through the day, and 10 to 13 hours of good sleep, which may include a nap. Peabody's preschool games use short rounds for this reason; one or two rounds is plenty.

What if my child isn't doing these things yet?

Children grow at different speeds, and the CDC lists what most children can do, not all. The CDC says not to wait: if your child isn't meeting one or more milestones, has lost skills, or you're worried, talk with your child's doctor and ask about developmental screening. Homeschooling doesn't change that.

Free things to use

• Preschool learning games, rhyming games and counting games.
• Memory match, patterns, shadow match and dot-to-dot to print, each with an easy size.
• Top 25 books for a Pre-K child and books for a child who isn't into books yet, for the library list.
• No-bake recipes to make together, and coloring pages.
• Reading aloud by age, on Peabody Parents.