What age to start Little Hands?

[Allison TX]

I never got a chance to use Little Hands with my older kids because we came to HOD just a little too late. So now I have a precious 2 year old boy, and would really like to try it, but am not sure what is the best age to start. He's 2 1/2, knows all colors, most letters, can count to 10, and likes longer story books(most of the time ). I would love to start it with him now, but would 3 be a better age? I really want something short and sweet and fun, mostly for some one on one time with him. Thanks!

Also, are there any story book suggestions in the Little Hands guide?

[mrsrandolph]

The problem is if you start LHTH too early, you don't have anything to do while waiting to start LHFHG. I recommend LHTH for K and then into LHFHG for 1st.

[Jennymommy]

You could always do the activities from the guide and use it for inspiration:-) Young kids don't mind repetition at all, so you could go through the early guides a couple times in a row, using more of the guide the second year around. There is not a book list in LHTH. We used the library a lot, with me pre-reading for content

[TrueGRIT]

We first started LHTH with a 2 yo & a 4 yo. Most days we did an in-between stage, but other days we split and did a younger option one day, then older option the next. We took a short break from it to start my K'er on his year before starting it up again with my (then) almost 4 yo. We did the older and sometimes younger options as well. By the end of the guide we needed to start adding to it skill wise - but dd never minded hearing the stories or rhymes again! My older one listened in and actually enjoyed it more the second time around.
All that to say - it's really up to you and your child. Two can be a very good age and it can be repeated later without it hurting anybody. Whatever way - have fun!!

[Samuel'sMommy]

The one problem with starting Little Hands now is that you will have a gap before LHFHG. However, there are ways around that. You can start Little Hands now using the younger bible, devotional, and on any activities choose the younger option. Then when you get done go through it again with the older bible, devotional, and do the older option on activities. When you get done with that just go right into LHFHG. Once you get there, you can evaluate whether or not you need to stretch out some of the other guides as well by doing LHFHG half speed, or doing the younger guides 4 days a week to add an extra year, or whatever else you feel works for your family at that time.

[StephanieU]

We just do LHTH a few days a week (if that), so we can spread it out over a few years. My son (5), has K level math and handwriting and is almost ready to begin phonics. We started last year, and then we re-started this year. You could just go through it twice, the first time without all of the "worksheet" things and then the next year with them (The worksheets are cutting, numbers, and letters - stuff my 5yo is almost beyond but my 3yo isn't always ready for).

[Allison TX]

Thanks so much, everyone. I really like the idea of repeating it later with the older level options . I'll plan on starting slowly, even spreading out one day into a few days at first and see how it goes.

[MomtoJGJE]

When I've started early with LHTH I'll go through it a couple of days a week, basically whenever the child brings me the book and says school That generally takes a couple of years. Then I'll go through it as written with the older options and may add in FMS from LHFHG to make it a 4K level program. Then I do a mix of K and 1st grade with LHFHG.

[MelInKansas]

It sounds like academically he is ready, but is he ready attention wise? It may be good to wait another 6 months or year just to give him time to mature. I started LHTH with my 5YO when she was 3 and it was good for her but we did it very slowly, 2 days a week. Then when she was 3 1/2 I started doing 4 days a week. She ended up with about 4 months of time between finishing LHTH and me being ready to start LHFHG with her and she just did some workbooks and started TRL and handwriting during that time. We started some math during that final year of LHTH. Anyway, it is very flexible. Add it in if you have time and see he is really ready. If not, don't worry about it.