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We've just started LHTH with my 3.5 year old and it has been way too easy for her. She is wanting to practice writing and reading but the activities for letters in LHTH are so simple. She is also ready to start doing simple math but LHTH seems to just go over counting so I've been adding in math lessons too. She also loves read alouds so I have added books from Sonlight's list plus other books she chooses from the library. Should I return it and try the next level of HOD?

Welcome to the HOD Board - I think this is your first post! It is nice to meet you. It sounds like your 3.5 yo has some good LA skills, which is wonderful! All 3 of our sons actually knew all of their letters and most of their sounds at 3.5 yo when they did LHTH as well. LHTH is about much more than LA skills! It is about teaching Biblical history in chronological order, asking comprehension questions after you read the Biblical history, discussing devotional topics from the devotions, enjoying hands-on activities such as the art and the fingerplays, practicing large gross motor skills, etc. There is more to the math further into the guide. These skills are covered so nicely with LHTH's hands-on skills...
1 - patterns and colors
2 - patterns and counting
3 - sequencing letters and numbers (names and phone numbers)
4 - general measurement: comparing distances
5 - money: coin recognition
6 - counting steps
7 - comparing: few/many, once/more than once, tall/short
8 - ordinal numbers: first, second, third
9 - counting to 10: one to one correspondance
10 - patterns, shapes, counting
11 - general weight measurement: light/heavy
12 - auditory patterns
13 - comparing sizes: smallest/largest
14 - general length measurement: ordering longest to shortest
15 - matching and ordering by size: smallest to largest
16 - sorting and classifying
17 - counting, early addition/subtraction, zero
18 - counting, spatial terms, inside/outside
19 - duplicating patterns, spatial terms: away from
20 - counting and making sets
21 - tracing or copying designs and finding shapes
22 - counting: one to one correspondance
23 - comparing numbers: more than/less than/equal to
24 - counting and addition combinations that equal 5
25 - general measurement: area
26 - nonstandard measurement: “feet”
27 - sorting, counting, and graphing sets
28 - money: coin recognition, value, counting
29 - general time: yesterday, today, tomorrow
30 - number sense: more than 1 and counting forward/backward
31 - counting forward/backward and early addition
32 - general fractions: whole vs. part
33 - sorting and classifying: color, size, and shape

I would not do all of LHFHG with a 3.5 yo. However, to challenge your dd's LA skills, you can use the K LA resources from LHFHG right now. This is fun and easy to do. Your dd can start phonics, maybe The Reading Lesson, as it does not require much writing. She can also start handwriting, using A Reason for HW K, or Italic A. If you are not using "The New Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes" for your Bible history in LHTH, I'd suggest using that for your dd rather than "A Child's First Bible." It has oral comprehension questions in it that are excellent to discuss. Either devotional in LHTH provides good reading and discussions - even our older dc enjoyed chiming in on their thoughts on the discussion questions or stories. You can certainly do both devotionals if you are wanting even more discussion. As far as read alouds, we just read aloud to our dc like you are doing. I'd not do LHFHG's Storytime yet, as the skills taught after the readings are appropriate for K or first grade. One other thing you can do is teach 2 LHTH lessons each day, one in the morning, and one in the afternoon. Then, when your dd finishes, she will be well prepared for LHFHG, and she will have had a super start to her homeschooling with LHTH! HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

Hello! Julie gave you some great info, but I just wanted to encourage you that you're not alone. My son is 3 yrs 8 mos and LHTH is too easy for him too. But...we're still doing it. Why? Because he loves it. As we go along I may add more stuff in, but at the same time I don't want to rush. His fine motor is coming along nicely but is not yet beyond just writing uppercase letters. He can all but read, but I'm not adding that in yet, either. I'd like him to be at least a year older before we start LHFHG. By then, after doing all the Get Ready for the Code books, he'll probably have taught himself to read. But there's a lot of great stuff in Little Hands I don't want to miss.

One thing I've learned from the ladies here since we've started: it's better to go slower than too fast.

I also have a 5-year-old daughter doing 1st grade so I know how fast these girls can be! Whatever your decision, I hope you find the right placement for your daughter We are loving HOD and my daughter (then 6) will be switched over into Beyond Little Hearts in the fall. Welcome to the board!

Thank you so much for your help!
RestinHim-What do you mean by "Get Ready for the Code books"?

My daughter does really like LHTH so I guess we'll stick with it. If we stay on track we'll finish by Christmas and then she'll be starting the Kindergarten program at 4.5.

LHTH is also "too easy" for my current 3.5yo. However we are still doing it I'm going to actually start over from the beginning when she turns 4 (a month from today actually!) and do it all again, but adding in the K level fine motor skills books from LHFHG. We supplement outside of school. She watches khan academy videos and plays other educational video games. She joins in with her sisters whenever she feels like it (until she starts pointing out answers ) and we read random books. We play games with her that are above her level (in other words, games that focus for older children, 6+ and 8+) and just point out anything she wants to know. She writes daily and does school with her stuffed animals. She teaches Penelope some things like colors and shapes... this really helps her grow!

LHTH prepares them very well for LHFHG, but the thing you have to watch out for is as they get farther on down the road. Whereas my 3.5 year old could sit through LHFHG and learn from it and do well, she would NOT be ready for the content of Preparing at 7 (and that's if we take a whole year to get through the guides). So we are going to continue as we are with LHTH and added workbooks to gain time....

School Specialty makes a series of books called 'Explode the Code', which are simple, fun phonics workbooks. My daughter did some in K and has continued with them simply because she likes them, and she learns while doing them.

For preschool, there is a simpler series called 'Get Ready for the Code', 'Get Set for the Code', and "Go for the Code', which have simple writing activities while teaching the look and sound of lowercase consonants. My son can't wait to do his page every day! I have to limit him or he would sit right there and do the whole book

Did I mention that we are a family that loves workbooks? I am in love with HOD, but I couldn't give up on workbooks entirely. I love them and my kids love to do them. Anyway, you can get Explode the Code workbooks through pretty much any homeschooling resource. Feel free to PM me if you have any more detailed questions

LHTH prepares them very well for LHFHG, but the thing you have to watch out for is as they get farther on down the road. Whereas my 3.5 year old could sit through LHFHG and learn from it and do well, she would NOT be ready for the content of Preparing at 7 (and that's if we take a whole year to get through the guides). So we are going to continue as we are with LHTH and added workbooks to gain time....

This, exactly. I know my 1st grader could do Bigger next year, and I know my preschooler could do pretty much everything in LHFHG...but at what point down the road would we hit a wall? I think that could be very frustrating for both the kids and I. Besides, LHTH is so much fun! It has me sitting down and playing with the kids in ways I haven't done in a long time!

Thanks everyone

LHTH is really fun. I have found worksheets and stuff online to add because my daughter really likes them. She also does ABCmouse.com and learning activities on her Leap Pad. It does make sense to take things a little slow because really, what's the hurry?

It does make sense to take things a little slow because really, what's the hurry?

So true. But so hard to do sometimes I am the kind of person who would say, "If they can do it, why not?" But I am learning to become a person who understands this: "Just because they can, doesn't mean it's the best thing."

But I am still learning LHTH helps me because it makes me see how precious these times are before we dive into 'real' school. Have a great night!

I'm in sort of the same boat with my recently turned 4-year-old. I have been adding in R&S workbooks, and cheap dollar workbooks.
I am not wanting to go too fast because I want us to enjoy it, and also not get to LHFHG too soon. Despite wanting more school, and doing well with it,
my dc is not wanting to read just yet. A plus for us. I think others gave you great advice. Now to figure out how they could apply to my situation.
For us, I would prefer not to use any of LHFHG's resources. I want to save that until my dc is fully ready for K. I don't want that to be too early.
I was really hoping to stretch out LHTH until July of 2014. At this rate that is not happening.
Sorry, for rambling a bit. Sounds like you got a lot of direction. Best wishes to you. Enjoy your guide!

Mikki