considering LHTH

[PoppyD]

Hi ladies,
I'm new to the HOD board. We aren't users yet but are super excited to start next year with our 3 girls. I plan to use LHFHG, Bigger, and CTC. I am quickly realizing that my 4 year old really wants a "curriculum." When I showed her the HOD and SL catalogs tonight with preschool stuff, she just grinned and kept hugging me. Then she kept walking around the house saying that she and Mommy were having a big talk about HER homeschool "stuff." It's not that we don't do things now, but she just wants something formal. And honestly, I think she wants to see a teacher's guide with boxes to check.
But here's the thing...........I don't pressure her AT ALL to read or do math, etc......but she is already reading CVC words, knows pretty much all the letter sounds, writes VERY well for her age - meaning letter formation and such, and does easy addition. (of course using her fingers!) She also counts to 100. She does Reading Eggs for about 15 minutes a day and has done remarkably well. I use that when I'm having to spend intense time with my other 2. I'm not saying this to "show off" my kid. Just to clarify that the child is motivated and her older sisters teach her so much during their "free" time. So I'm trying to decide if Little Hands will be beneficial for her. I don't think she's ready for LHFHG yet. But since there's nothing in between, I wonder if I should just get Sonlight's Core P4/5. Any suggestions for this?
Thanks,
Poppy

PS - i also want to mention that while this little girl is quite bright, i definitely don't want her to be always head down doing "work." i want her to still be a 4 year old and do 4 year old things. If it were up to me, she would just play most of the time. And she does play. But she just really wants some "real school." I guess it's hard to see your older sisters doing work and not want to have some too. Thanks!

[StephanieU]

We have done parts of LHTH the past two years. My oldest still enjoys LHTH in terms of the Bible lesson and the parts that are related directly to that. I think the Bible portion is fine even for a 5-6yo. There might be parts you skip. like some of the letter, number and color things, but you can use the Bible for sure even with an advanced 4yo.

[MelInKansas]

My DD (now 5) was a lot like you describe when she was 4. She is bright and learned a lot of things because of her older sisters. I did LHTH with her over 2 years, and at the end added math and handwriting, but you could easily use it with her and then add on reading, handwriting, or math, maybe alternating those things so she does one "extra" per day. Or continue using Reading Eggs for reading practice and phonics, and add a handwriting book. I think if they are interested in and practicing handwriting it's important to get them started with proper letter formation. LHTH has this too, just very very light as the children aren't expected to begin writing on their own yet. It's write in cornmeal, chocolate syrup, dish soap, things like that once a week. Large motor walk/skip/dance on the letter taped on the floor once a week. The phonics introduction in LHTH will be "too easy" but that's OK. The rhymes make it really fun and will cement her learning. It's a great way to spend a year even if your child is "ahead." and will not push her into serious learning too early.

Now there is the caution about back-to-back guides. So you may want to slow it down, either take LHTH slowly or once she gets to LHFHG slow it down so she doesn't jump ahead too quickly. The goal is to not be doing Bigger and Preparing at the same time because both of those guides are very teacher-intensive. It can be done, but is recommended to avoid if you can. (says the woman who in a week or so will be doing Bigger and Preparing, but the overlap will only be about 8 weeks).

[hs.mama07]

Your DD sounds a lot like my DS at that age. We went ahead and did LHTH and I'm glad for it. Even though much of it was easy for him, he enjoyed it a lot and it helped get him ready for the next guide. We did add lots of library books during school time and bought a few workbooks to go through. Now that I'm doing LHTH again, he still enjoys sitting in and does most all the activities and finger plays and such. It's a very fun, sweet program and there's a lot more packed in it than we first realized.

[PoppyD]

I just ordered!!! Yay!!!

[MelInKansas]

You could even add in LHFHG math if you want, it sounds like she would be ready for that. You could do it together with the one doing LHFHG. Of course that means you need another set of workbooks

I held off on starting my 5YO with LHFHG math until she started LHFHG and it was kind of a mistake. She was far ahead by the time we got there, I should've just started it because I knew she was ready for it and then I wouldn't have spent time doing something else and ended up skipping the A book in LHFHG.