🌱 HOMESCHOOLING PATHWAY FOR NIC (AGE 2–7)
🌼 STAGE 1: AGE 2–3 (Toddler Foundation)
(Current stage — already detailed earlier)
🌟 Main theme: “Imitation, rhythm, and security”
- Focus: Building trust, rhythm, sensory exploration
- Learning mode: Learning by doing and imitating
- Goal: Establish deep emotional grounding, independence, and motor development
Curriculum focus: Practical life, language, nature observation, sensory art, movement, songs
Key milestone: Secure attachment → curiosity → basic self-help
🌿 STAGE 2: AGE 3–4 (Early Preschool)
🌟 Main theme: “Expanding the circle — rhythm & imagination”
- Developmental shift: From parallel play → associative play
- Goal: Build imagination, rhythm, and emotional language
1. Goals
| Domain | Goal |
|---|---|
| Physical | Balance, coordination, climbing, early hand control |
| Emotional | Self-expression, naming emotions, calm transitions |
| Cognitive | Cause-effect thinking, storytelling imagination |
| Language | Full sentences, imaginative storytelling |
| Social | Cooperative play beginnings, empathy |
| Spiritual | Sense of wonder and gratitude |
2. Curriculum
| Area | Focus | Example Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Practical Life | Care for self and home | Dressing, folding laundry, watering plants |
| Art | Process art | Wet-on-wet watercolor, beeswax figures, finger painting |
| Language | Storytelling & song | Short fairy tales, folk tales, role play |
| Movement | Rhythm & coordination | Circle time, skipping, jumping, dancing |
| Nature | Seasons & cycles | Gardening, collecting natural items, weather chart |
| Math readiness | Sensory counting | Counting nature treasures (1–5), sorting, comparing sizes |
3. Activities
-
Daily: Outdoor play, art, story, household task, free play
-
Weekly:
- Mon: Nature walk
- Tue: Painting
- Wed: Baking
- Thu: Music circle
- Fri: Craft or sensory play
- Sat: Family field day
- Sun: Rest & gratitude
4. Evaluation
- Observation of language use
- Attention span during story
- Ability to follow a short rhythm (song, circle)
- Comfort with transitions
5. Community
- Small group nature playdates
- Parent-child workshops or seasonal festivals
🌻 STAGE 3: AGE 4–5 (Preschool Core)
🌟 Main theme: “Imagination in motion”
- Developmental shift: Rich inner world, fantasy play, story absorption
- Goal: Deepen imagination, rhythm, and early responsibility
1. Goals
| Domain | Goal |
|---|---|
| Physical | Refined hand control (for future writing), coordination |
| Emotional | Inner calm, resilience, empathy |
| Cognitive | Symbolic thinking through play |
| Language | Retelling stories, longer songs, early rhymes |
| Social | Team play, sharing roles, taking turns |
| Spiritual | Joy in repetition and seasonal rhythm |
2. Curriculum
| Area | Focus | Example Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Storytelling & Drama | Oral tales, puppet plays | “The Three Billy Goats Gruff”, “The Turnip” |
| Art & Handwork | Forming & modeling | Finger knitting, beeswax, watercolor blending |
| Practical Life | Care of home | Cooking with mom, folding napkins, dusting |
| Nature & Science | Observation | Growing beans, learning about rain |
| Pre-Math | Rhythm & sequence | Clapping patterns, sorting, matching |
| Language | Poetry, rhymes, songs | Nursery rhymes, repeating verses |
| Movement | Circle games, rhythm dances | Jumping, galloping, skipping games |
3. Schedule (example)
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:00 | Morning routine & song |
| 8:30 | Outdoor time |
| 10:00 | Snack & circle |
| 10:30 | Art or handwork |
| 11:30 | Storytime |
| 12:00 | Lunch & rest |
| 15:00 | Free play |
| 17:00 | Evening walk & music |
| 19:00 | Bedtime story |
4. Evaluation
- Can he narrate part of a story?
- Can he maintain a 10–15 min focused activity?
- Can he handle waiting/sharing?
5. Community
- Join parent co-op or Steiner family network
- Start helping in small group singing or plays
🌞 STAGE 4: AGE 5–6 (Kindergarten Readiness)
🌟 Main theme: “Preparing for structured rhythm — imagination meets responsibility”
- Goal: Social readiness, inner discipline, and love of learning
- Transition: From free exploration → guided rhythm
1. Goals
| Domain | Goal |
|---|---|
| Physical | Strength, stamina, pencil grip, balance |
| Emotional | Independence, self-soothing, pride in work |
| Cognitive | Early logical patterns, story sequence understanding |
| Language | Retelling long stories, vocabulary explosion |
| Social | Cooperation in small groups |
| Spiritual | Respect for nature, joy in creation |
2. Curriculum
| Area | Focus | Example Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Handwork | Coordination & patience | Finger knitting, threading, simple sewing |
| Art | Precision & observation | Drawing with block crayons, watercolor painting |
| Storytelling | Sequential thinking | Fairy tales with morals, daily storytelling |
| Nature & Science | Living cycles | Observe insects, composting, seed-to-flower life cycle |
| Math readiness | Natural patterns | Sorting, matching, rhythmic counting to 10 |
| Language | Story recall, rhyming games | Retell, act out |
| Movement | Balance & rhythm | Obstacle course, yoga for kids |
3. Evaluation
- Emotional stability & confidence
- Coordination & focus
- Language richness & narrative ability
- Interest in symbols (letters, numbers) but not forced
4. Community
- Mixed-age playgroup
- Family craft day
- Begin gentle “helper roles” (passing napkins, tidying toys)
🌸 STAGE 5: AGE 6–7 (Transition to Formal Learning)
🌟 Main theme: “From imitation to imagination — awakening to ideas”
- Developmental shift: Cognitive “first awakening” (Steiner: 7-year change)
- Goal: Gentle introduction to symbolic learning (letters, numbers) through story and art
1. Goals
| Domain | Goal |
|---|---|
| Physical | Posture, fine motor readiness |
| Emotional | Patience, perseverance |
| Cognitive | Sequential & symbolic thinking |
| Language | Story comprehension → letter awareness |
| Math | Pattern, rhythm, simple counting & quantity |
| Social | Teamwork & empathy |
| Spiritual | Connection to rhythm of life & gratitude |
2. Curriculum
| Area | Focus | Example Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Language Arts | Letters through stories | Each letter introduced via fairy tale & drawing |
| Math | Numbers through nature | Counting shells, dividing bread, rhythm clapping |
| Art | Drawing & watercolor | Letter forms, seasons, story scenes |
| Nature Study | Observation journal | Weather, moon, garden cycle |
| Handwork | Skill & focus | Knitting, simple weaving |
| Music & Movement | Rhythm & harmony | Singing, pentatonic flutes, circle dances |
3. Evaluation
- Joyful curiosity
- Emotional maturity
- Readiness for symbolic learning (draws letters, counts naturally)
- Sustained focus (20–30 mins)
4. Community
- Local homeschool co-op or nature school collaboration
- Group festivals, storytelling circles, music gatherings
🌺 ITERATION PLAN (2–7 years)
| Review Period | Focus | What to Adjust |
|---|---|---|
| Every 3 months | Daily rhythm | Adjust sleep, playtime balance |
| Every 6 months | Developmental goals | Track new skills/interests |
| Every year | Curriculum direction | Introduce new stories, crafts, songs |
| At 7 years | Transition | Begin formal homeschooling plan (letters, numbers, art-based academics) |