LHTH or LHFHG

[rni'smommy]

I thought I had this all worked out in my head but here I go again. I am just finishing up with LHTH with my newly turned 5 year old and also newly turned 3 year old who has been tagging along this year. My plan was to repeat LHTH and add in the kindergarten handwriting, math, and phonics, from LHFHG for my 5 yr old, because I thought it wouldn't hurt to repeat the Bible portions with him and dd definitely should do the complete program at some point (this year or next). The problem is that if I do repeat this year then she would be starting LHFGH at 4yr and subsequently starting everything early. I think she would be ready for it because ds is definitely ready for it after completeing LHTH but she would be really young. So then I started thinking well I could just go ahead with LHFGH this year with ds and not do a program with dd and then do LHTH next year with her at 4, but I think she would miss not doing anything and I think she would enjoy doing LHTH this year and is ready for it. Also of the ages that LHTH is listed for is it better at 3 or 4 or 5 so they get the most out of it? HELP please .

[pollo_la]

I did LHTH (just the first few units) with my dd just after she turned 3. She LOVED it and got a ton from it. I was a very new homeschooler and was anxious to explore everything out there, however, so we abandoned it for a bit. Now I am looking to start LHTH back up with her again (she is almost 5). I know that she will still love it and get even more from it now. Honestly, I think it is great for 3, 4, and 5 year olds! My 2 year old also kind of tags along. She has fun, but does not really "get" much from it. At 2, as long as she is having fun, then that's great! I honestly don't know how to help you though... just thought I'd give input into ages for the program and such.

[rni'smommy]

Anyone else?

[pollo_la]

Okay, I've thought about it a bit more for you. I would go ahead with LHFHG for your 5 year old and do it as written. Let your 3 year old participate in some parts too (like rhymes in motion and some of the crafts and science type stuff). Then, for your 3 year old, take a break from LHTH this year. Get some read aloud books from the library and maybe some Kumon books for cutting and pasting and such. Next year, do LHTH with your then 4 year old and do Beyond with your then 6 year old. I think this will be the best option for you! Maybe others will chime in with some thoughts on this as well.

[my3sons]

Okay, I've thought about it a bit more for you. I would go ahead with LHFHG for your 5 year old and do it as written. Let your 3 year old participate in some parts too (like rhymes in motion and some of the crafts and science type stuff). Then, for your 3 year old, take a break from LHTH this year. Get some read aloud books from the library and maybe some Kumon books for cutting and pasting and such. Next year, do LHTH with your then 4 year old and do Beyond with your then 6 year old. I think this will be the best option for you! Maybe others will chime in with some thoughts on this as well.

I like this plan! I think it meets your dc's needs so well, and I've done this myself. We have loved being on this type of rotation (LHTH and Beyond; LHFHG and Bigger; Beyond and PHFHG; etc.). Just as the little one is needing more of me, my time is freed up for him because my older one is getting more independent with the older HOD guides. I think you'd enjoy this too!

In Christ,
Julie

[WigglesMom]

I am doing LHTH with my 2 1/2 yr. old this year and he is definitely getting a lot from it. We are going slow and only doing it on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. My plan is to do it again in a year with the older options. This is just a thought, but could you do LHTH with the younger options for your 3 yr old this time around (it wouldn't take that long to do the younger with her and the older with the 5 yr old) and then next year do the LHTH with the older options for your then 4 yr. old with the right side of LHFHG.
2009-2010 5 yr old LHTH (older options) with right side of LHFHG (kindergarten options), 3 yr old LHTH with younger options
2010-2011 6yr old LHFHG with 1st grade options, 4 yr old LHTH (older options) with right side of LHFHG
2011-2012 7 yr old BLHFHG, 5 yr old LHFHG with 1st grade options
Then maybe do the program 4 days a week (2011-2012) so your youngest will be a little bit older by the time your little one is ready to move to BLHFHG.
Maybe at some point you could combine them in BHFHG or PHFHG when they are closer in abilities and maturity.
That is what I am going to do with my 2 1/2 yr old except I plan to draw out our younger options year to closer to 1 1/2 to 2 years by only doing it on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and he will always be in his own program (he is 4-6 years younger than my other kids).
Val

[rni'smommy]

If I LHFGH with ds this year and then do LHTH with dd next year do you think she will still enjoy it at that age even after having learned alot of the info presented. She paid alot of attention this year so I know she will pick up the rest of her letters and sounds, colors, shapes, numbers ect. from ds this year with or with out LHTH. So even if she learns all that do think she will still be interested in it at 4? It is such a wonderful program I just don't want to miss out on the window of opportunity where it will really be fun for her. I want to do it at the best time for her. I thought about doing it this year and then taking next year off with just reading books and maybe doing a workbook or two for her.

[pollo_la]

I just started LHFHG with my 4, soon to be 5, year old in March. She is doing well with it, but some of the content is a bit "deep" for her. This summer, since we do "lighter" school in the summer, I will be doing LHTH with her (since we never finished it when she was 3... only the first few units). Anyway, my dd is way past the learning her letters stage. She is reading at a second grade level in fact. However, there is so much more to LHTH then just learning letters (as I'm sure you know). My plan is to do LHTH with her this summer along with her regular "learning to read" program. This will give her a bit more time to mature, so some of the content of LHFHG is easier for her to absorb in the fall. Anyway, to make a long story short. I know my dd will still have a blast with LHTH this summer. LHTH fit my dd very well when she was 3, however, some of the activities that were just a bit too advanced for her then (such as counting by 2s) are a perfect fit for her now. The dramas and science activities are still a lot of fun and help cement the lessons from the Bible stories. Also, several of the activities are designed to help develop fine motor skills. Even though my dd does fairly well with handwriting for her age, it never hurts to have more "activities" to help develop this control. I hope my rambling helps you out. Anyway, you do need to do what you feel is best for your kids. If you do decide to do LHTH with your 3 year old this year, I would actually encourage you to use it for your 5 year old again as well (but add in math and phonics). Then, a year later I would start LHFHG with both of them, but go at half speed so that you take two years and get to Beyond with your youngest is 6 and your older is 8. If you do that, you should be able to keep them together nicely through all the guides. I guess it is just a matter of figuring out how close together (or far apart) you feel your two children are skillwise right now. Would it be better to keep them together or have them in seperate guides?

[Carrie]

The ladies are doing such a good job of helping you sort through your options with an eye for your long-term plan. I would lean toward having your 3 year old do LHTH this year, either with your 5 year old or without. You could take 2 years to do LHTH with her, doing it several days a week. Or, you could do it 4 days a week and go into the next year to finish it, beginning LHFHG after that. LHTH is such an easy program to slide into your day, as it only takes 30 min. It's fun to do when you can see those little ones are ready. I'm beginning my 3 year old with it this year planning to do it 3 days a week.

Blessings,
Carrie