By Swati Mehrotra
When you choose to homeschool in the preschool years, you're not just teaching ABCs and 123s—you’re setting the emotional, cognitive, and spiritual foundation for a lifelong journey of learning. These early years aren’t about racing ahead or achieving milestones first. They’re about slow, intentional steps that honor your child’s unique rhythm, personality, and wonder.
As a homeschooling twin mom, my approach is rooted in these five intentions that have helped guide our learning journey. Whether you're just starting out or already exploring homeschooling, I hope these intentions offer you clarity, courage, and confidence.
1. Protecting Childhood Wonder
The preschool years are full of magic—rain puddles, fluttering butterflies, clouds that look like dinosaurs. One of the most important intentions in homeschooling the early years is to protect and nurture that natural sense of awe and curiosity.
We create an environment where questions are welcomed, stories are told with wide eyes, and learning comes through discovery rather than instruction.
What it looks like:
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Open-ended play materials like wooden toys, nature finds, and sensory bins
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Lots of unstructured time to explore indoors and out
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Conversations that begin with "What do you think?" rather than "Here’s the answer"
2. Building Strong Attachment and Trust
At this age, the parent-child relationship is the most powerful tool for learning. A secure attachment builds emotional resilience, a love for learning, and a confident sense of self.
Homeschooling allows us to nurture this connection deeply, through daily rhythms, cuddles, shared activities, and mutual respect.
What it looks like:
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Morning snuggles with a story
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Co-creating daily rituals like snack prep or garden watering
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Active listening, empathy, and presence in each moment
3. Focusing on Life Skills and Independence
Preschool learning isn't only about literacy and numbers—it’s about preparing for life. Teaching our kids how to care for themselves, their space, and others builds confidence, competence, and responsibility.
Life skills are naturally woven into our day—no worksheets required.
What it looks like:
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Simple chores like folding laundry, watering plants, or setting the table
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Learning to dress independently, tidy toys, and pour their own water
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Encouraging problem-solving and patience in everyday routines
4. Following the Child’s Interests
One of the biggest gifts of homeschool is flexibility. We’re not bound by a set curriculum—we follow what lights up our children. Whether it's dinosaurs, outer space, baking, or bugs, we build learning units around their passions.
This keeps learning joyful and meaningful—and allows kids to feel seen and valued.
What it looks like:
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Creating unit studies around current fascinations
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Visiting farms, museums, or libraries based on their questions
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Reading, crafting, and exploring related to the topic of interest
5. Creating Rhythms, Not Routines
Children thrive on predictability, but rigid schedules can steal the joy from learning. We aim to create gentle rhythms—predictable flows to our day that allow space for spontaneity, rest, and real-life moments.
Rhythms bring a sense of safety and ease to both parents and children.
What it looks like:
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A soft daily flow like: Breakfast > Play > Story Time > Nature Walk > Quiet Time
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Weekly anchors like Baking Mondays, Library Thursdays, or Garden Fridays
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Seasonal rhythms to celebrate changes in nature and family traditions
Final Thoughts
Preschool homeschooling isn’t about replicating school at home. It’s about creating a learning lifestyle that values curiosity, connection, and character over checklists and competition.
These early years don’t need to be rushed—they need to be relished.
So take a deep breath, trust your instincts, and remember: you are your child’s first teacher, and you’re doing beautifully.
If you’d like a printable version of these five intentions or a sample preschool rhythm chart, feel free to drop a comment or DM me on Instagram @swalittwins.
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