LHFHG with Older Child & 2nd Thoughts on Placement

[HSMom03]

I am planning on starting Little Hearts with my son in the fall for 1st grade. He will be 6-3/4 yrs when we start and I am planning on adding the 1st grade options, as well as the math, spelling, ERs, and grammar from Beyond. I just really want him to have the fine motor skills in LHFHG as well as the creation to present day overview of history before starting the US history that is in Beyond. Am I crazy to do this? Is he going to be just way too old for this guide? I really hope not! Originally I was planning to combine him with his younger brother (4-3/4 yrs when we start in the fall) but now I am thinking I might just place the younger (my middle) in LHTH. Then I would need to do something else with him for a year before he can start LHFHG for 1st grade at 6.75yrs. Or should I just place them in LHTH and Beyond this coming fall and get over the history thing...? I really don't know. Thanks for your help!

[MelInKansas]

LHFHG could certainly work for a 6.75 year old (I guess 7.75 by the time you finish, approximately). There are many who have done that, even with kiddos who might place into Beyond. But I think you will be a LOT happier if you use the placement chart as your guide and not what history you want him to be learning. You could certainly read through the History for Little Pilgrims sometime before you start Beyond, if you want him to get that overview of history. Even without having done that history overview, I think your child could go right into Beyond with no problem. IF that is where he places solidly and he is ready for the copywork and the higher level of comprehension in Beyond. That's my advice. I love doing the guide with my child right where they are at. There are simple adjustments I have made, we never do the ER schedule quite as written and my oldest is ahead in math. But otherwise I love that for my children it is the right amount of challenge and they are growing and being challenged in the guide, and I don't have to plan out a lot day-to-day.

[tobiasmom]

My son is 6.25 and Little Hearts has been perfect for him this year. We are flying through the K math and then will start Singapore 1A. He LOVES the Burgess books and activities. We are still doing phonics but will be adding in emerging readers soon. Beyond is quite a big step up, and we are just in no real hurry

[agstefko]

I started Little hearts about 1/2 way through my dd K year and am finishing it up this year for her first grade year. She is 7 now and for her it is a great fit. The history readings pick up as you go through the guide too. I have done Beyond for 2nd grade with my oldest and we had a great year with that's. Just wanted to let you know LHFHG does make a great year for 1st even if your doc is on the older side.

[Samuel'sMommy]

There are many that have done LHFHG with children that age and it has been fine. If you think he needs more, there are several suggested books for each week in the back of the LHFHG guide. They are not required, but my son loved to read them. For the first few weeks, the books are more religious because you are doing Biblical history so we weren't able to find too many of them at our library, but we have several children's Bibles so we would just reread them from those. Later on as you get into more world history, I was able to find many of the books at our library and we weren't able to read all of them. Anyway, that would be one way to beef up LHFHG for him if you aren't ready to move to BLHFHG.

[jahall2000]

My son is first grade while we are doing Little Hearts and we love it. He was 6 years 4 months when we started. In a lot of ways he placed in Beyond, but my instincts told me that Little Hearts would be better and I don't regret the decision at all. Look at the placement chart and see where your son falls. But go with your gut on what your son needs. I wouldn't get too stuck on the type of history used. My son is way ahead in reading and is doing really well with math. But his handwriting skills were lacking for what would have been needed for Beyond. We also hadn't done a lot of longer chapter book readalouds, so I felt like the history and readalouds for Little Hearts would be more appropriate for him.

[my3sons]

Hi there! I would put the history consideration aside and place him in the guide that fits him best according to the placement chart. This will result in the best year to year progression for him. Here are a few posts for you to read that may help as you ponder this...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9339
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9340

HTH!
In Christ,
Julie