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I have been pondering on whether or not to start LHFHG with my ds who will be 5 or 6 at the beginning of either school year. From what I am hearing Kindergarten is usually started at 5? I want to make sure that he is able to do the work, but just not sure which year would be better to start this?
When did you start this with your boys, and how did they do with it?

LeAnna

Hi LeAnna! I know you're doing Little Hands to Heaven, but could you refresh my memory with which dc you are doing it with and where you are in that program? I have 3 sons. With my oldest we started LHFHG when he was almost 5 yo. He did very well with it, but he was a typical firstborn - enjoying a challenge and ready to leap at anything he could do to learn more! With my second ds, we started LHFHG when he was almost 5 years old (because he was dying to do school like big brother ) and went half-speed for around 4 months or so, then we sped it up to full-speed. He went right into BLHFHG full-speed now, and he's really enjoying it. We only do school 4 days a week and take time off in the summer. So, by the time he finishes BLHFHG, he'll be ready to begin Bigger Hearts. We obviously are on the very young end of the programs. The reason was I was very gung-ho to start homeschooling and prove to my dh that it was a good thing our dc would thrive with doing. Because of that, I taught LHTH early, and I also taught them to read and write quite early. My oldest even did the Emerging Reader's Set during the middle to end portion of LHFHG. I know this is not for everyone though - and it's certainly not the one right way to go about it - it's just what our family has gotten into!

I have learned it works well for us to just go into the next HOD program whenever we finish the previous one. We sometimes do it half-speed, sometimes full-speed - sometimes 4 days a week, and sometimes 5 days a week; depending on the year (and whether I've been expecting and usually on bedrest ). So, I think whenever you finish LHTH, you could just start LHFHG, either half-speed or full-speed, for however many days a week you think it works well for you and your overall goals for your dc. The HOD guides really do prepare dc well for the next guide coming, so that has been what's worked for me. I'm a firm believer in "growing into a guide". In other words, some things should be easy for my dc when first starting a guide, BUT some things should also be a challenge and stretch them a bit so they grow into the guide as the year progresses. You will know what is best for your dc, for sure though. I know they'll be other moms that chime in here with seasoned advice - but that's just my 2 cents.

In Christ,
Julie

Well, I orginally started LHTH with my youngest who was 2 1/2 at the time, but he really wasn't able to do the cutting or anything. So, I am going to do it again. I wanted him to move from LHTH right into LHFHG, and not have any gaps. So, he's 3 right now, but I am thinking next year when he is 4, I will do LHTH with him and then move into LHFHG. How did your young ones do with handwriting? Were they able to do it?
That's the plan, I hope, but I just wasn't sure if I should start him when he's 5 or 6.

Right now, I am doing LHFHG with my 5 year old and 6 year old... they are only 13 months apart, so it works great!!

LeAnna

LeAnna wrote:Well, I orginally started LHTH with my youngest who was 2 1/2 at the time, but he really wasn't able to do the cutting or anything. So, I am going to do it again. I wanted him to move from LHTH right into LHFHG, and not have any gaps. So, he's 3 right now, but I am thinking next year when he is 4, I will do LHTH with him and then move into LHFHG. How did your young ones do with handwriting? Were they able to do it?
That's the plan, I hope, but I just wasn't sure if I should start him when he's 5 or 6.

Right now, I am doing LHFHG with my 5 year old and 6 year old... they are only 13 months apart, so it works great!!

LeAnna

Thanks LeAnna! I think if you do LHTH with him next year, you'll be able to start LHFHG right after that. You can start LHFHG at half-speed, left side of plans first day, then right side of plans next day, etc. for awhile, or even all year if that pace is suiting your ds well. Our dc did fine with the writing in LHFHG. I did have them practice tracing their names, and the names of our family members toward the end of LHTH, just to start getting them ready for HW. I also had them scribble/color in coloring books to strengthen those muscles. We did A Reason for HW "K" which is the easier HW suggestion for LHFHG, and that eased them into it so nicely. Here's a link to a post about something that helped me teach my ds to write on the lines:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2459&hilit=my+son%2 ... +the+lines

It sounds like you have a super plan, LeAnna!

In Christ,
Julie

Thanks Julie! That helped a lot! I believe I have a plan now!

LeAnna

A mom with a plan is my favorite thing!! So glad to be of any small help that I may have been - may God bless you for all the careful time and thought you put into how best to homeschool.

In Christ,
Julie