VickiW,
Just wanted to say welcome! I noticed your post "getting lost", so I wanted to bring it back up so others have a chance to answer!
I am probably not the best source for placement since I have only used Little Hands To Heaven, and have just recently begun Little Hearts For His Glory. I can offer a review of why I like HOD however. I like the way Christ is at the center of this program. My daughter is receiving a rich education/foundation in Christ and is learning how He is at the center of all things. I feel that with HOD I am laying the perfect Godly foundation for her while adding a perfect balance of academics as well. She is incredibly engaged in all of the activities/lessons that are written into the program. As a result, all of the material that is covered is remembered by her, so the lessons are "sticking". Carrie, the author, truly has a gift for creating lessons that are Godly, appealing, fun, educational, and memorable for the child.
I also love the layout of the guides. Your "day" is easily viewed in the two-page format with each subject area contained in a "box-style" format. You simply read the lesson in each box and implement. You then check-off the box and move on to the next. There is no flipping of the guide to refer to some other tid-bit of information that needs to be looked up. It is absolutely, for certain, open-and-go. And with my level of impatience with having to wade through information or flip here and there, HOD is perfect! I do not feel stressed a bit trying to implement the program. I usually don't even need to preview the lesson until we are about to begin because the layout is so user friendly.
Another thing I appreciate is the activities/art lessons. Typically, if I know there is an art activity to be done with a lesson, I want to run as far as I can! I feel burdened knowing I have to collect stuff, prepare things, and then go through with some messy, drawn out activity that my daughter probably won't even learn from. Well, with HOD the art activities are wonderful! They are purposefully connected to the lesson that is being studied. They relate in a meaningful way that really engages the child and rounds out the main focus. Gathering items for the activities are a breeze. I don't think I have ever had to go out and buy something, it has been here at the house. I can honestly say that with HOD, I actually look forward to the art activities and I try to join in with my daughter and create whatever it is that she is creating. This has actually turned into a special time for us because my daughter sees me taking the time to sit with her and create with her and learn with her.
Really, I could go on and on about how wonderful I think HOD is. It just turned out to be a perfect fit for our family.
I hope that you will find some more answers here!
Candice
) called Future plans for a HOD four year history cycle? The bottom links have information that will help you see what will be available each coming year in HOD.