Can I combine them?

[Steffy]

I really want combine the kids and I am not sure whether to do so with LHTH for LHFHG. They are 3 and 4 so they both fall into LHTH. However these are their strengths and weaknesses that make me unsure whether I can combine them, even though they are 11 months apart in age.

DS4 - startig to read CVC words such as cat, pen, jet, and so on.... also on his own has learned over 50 site words. He is halfway through pre-k math (MEP Reception) and has had no issues with it at all. He is writing, mostly tracing, but he can write (although only somewhat legibly). He listens well and can narrate a story back decently after hearing it once.

DD3 - knows all her letters (all capital and about half lowercase) and their sounds. She is a wiggly worm who has to be moving or doing something when read to, but does retain what she is hearing most of the time and can tell bits and pieces of it back (when she wants to). She is just understanding the concept of counting 1-5. She can say the numbers 1-20 but that is from memory. Speaking of memory, she can memorize a song, bible verse, or short poem after hearing it 3-4 times (not so short ones, too... like two verses of ba ba black sheep, jesus loves me, and so on). She does not like to color and therefore writing is nowhere in the near future.

As a note, we did try and different boxed curriculum for preschool ages 3-5. It had WAY too many crafts for both kids and when I removed them, there wasn't much left for them to do. It was way way below DS and he was learning nothing. DD isn't writing and so what was left was drawing and writing and it was.... ugh.... just a disaster. Since I can't sell it (per my purchase agreement) I was out a lot of money (plus the $200+ I spent on books to go with it) so I have them on Ambleside Yr 0 right now with DS doing Starfall and MEP math and throwing in habits, bible, and arts and crafts on my own. I know that Ambleside will not be feasible soon because our library is 24 miles roundtrip and when snow sets in, we may not get there all the time AND the library is super small and usually doesn't have what we want/need.

[Larissa]

Just lately I have been falling into a different way of thinking in regards to schooling. When I started with my oldest, he was already reading and I pushed him forward because it was all coming so easily to him. He bottomed out on me, however, so we went a completely different direction, which is why we now do HOD. While I wish that I had just waited until he was older to start, I will never regret that it lead us to HOD. Anyway, what I have discovered in my journey is that starting the children later ... even if they are advanced ... could actually be of great benefit. If a child is advanced, he or she will continue to be advanced no matter when you start him. I have also discovered that waiting until a child is 6 years old to start puts them into a different category as far as maturity and development. What may take a 4 or 5 year old quite some time to learn a concept, could potentially take a great deal less time for a 6 or 7 year old to learn.

So, having said that, if they were mine I would either not do anything at their ages or I would do LHTH. (as written)

Keep in mind that if you push them too far ahead in the guides ... it could get you in to trouble later. Meaning, if you have a long term plan to stay with HOD (which I super highly recommend!), and you start a 4yo in LHFHG, he will be doing Bigger at only 6 yo and Preparing at only 7 yo. (unless you took the guides at a super slow pace) LHFHG could quite possibly be attainable for some 4 year olds ... however, Preparing would be a bit much even for an advanced 7 yo.

I currently have an almost 3 year old and a 4 year old (about to be 5). I just have them play together, work puzzles, and do legos while we do school. I do spend about 20 - 30 minutes with them each day reading them lots and lots of books. (that's what we call school for them) They would sit and listen to me read books to them all day long!

[MelInKansas]

Do your kids not like doing crafts? I'm just curious why you took out the crafts from the program you bought. Were they requiring too many supplies? I would agree with the PP, I would put both your children in LHTH. Yes the "academic" part of it (letters, numbers, counting, skip counting, colors) is probably easy for your older one, and would be just reinforced for your 3YO even, it is fun, it is an introduction to having a structured school time in your day, and there is also introductory work for letter formation (so would be on par with the tracing work your 4YO is doing). LHTH has suggestions in each activity for a 2-3 year old vs a 4-5 year old, so you could tailor it to each one while you are still teaching them together. I did LHTH with my older 2 when they were 4.5 and 2.5 and it was a BLAST, and again was also a good introduction into the concept of school, and it left us enough time to do lots of other fun activities - gymnastics days, park days when the weather was nice, playgroup, and I feel like just for them to enjoy being kids (and me to enjoy not having more than 30-45 minutes of school each day... sigh). The added benefit of LHTH that I loved was the Bible time and how rich that is with all the activities that helped my children remember the Bible stories. And the crafts that were really easy and fun, and did work on their fine motor skills (cutting and pasting, etc). Scripture memory that we did each week. Our LHTH year was one where I really saw my oldest especially grow in her knowledge of the Bible, and in some deeper meaning behind some of the stories. I am really looking forward to doing it again with my 2YO when she is 3.

For your 4YO you could certainly continue light reading instruction (my 4.5YO is doing 1/2 lessons in a learn-to-read program this year) and tracing, if he wants to do that along with the LHTH, and if you have time. But don't push yourself or him too much would be my advice. I don't have the experience of having a child who is ahead in so many areas, but I too can see from having gone through LHFHG and Beyond that the expectation of them really grows quickly as you move through these guides, and even though a child might be quite capable of doing a lot of LHFHG at 4 years old, there is really no need for that much school work at that age IMO. I could see burnout coming at some point.

[Steffy]

Do your kids not like doing crafts? I'm just curious why you took out the crafts from the program you bought. Were they requiring too many supplies? I would agree with the PP, I would put both your children in LHTH. Yes the "academic" part of it (letters, numbers, counting, skip counting, colors) is probably easy for your older one, and would be just reinforced for your 3YO even, it is fun, it is an introduction to having a structured school time in your day, and there is also introductory work for letter formation (so would be on par with the tracing work your 4YO is doing). LHTH has suggestions in each activity for a 2-3 year old vs a 4-5 year old, so you could tailor it to each one while you are still teaching them together. I did LHTH with my older 2 when they were 4.5 and 2.5 and it was a BLAST, and again was also a good introduction into the concept of school, and it left us enough time to do lots of other fun activities - gymnastics days, park days when the weather was nice, playgroup, and I feel like just for them to enjoy being kids (and me to enjoy not having more than 30-45 minutes of school each day... sigh). The added benefit of LHTH that I loved was the Bible time and how rich that is with all the activities that helped my children remember the Bible stories. And the crafts that were really easy and fun, and did work on their fine motor skills (cutting and pasting, etc). Scripture memory that we did each week. Our LHTH year was one where I really saw my oldest especially grow in her knowledge of the Bible, and in some deeper meaning behind some of the stories. I am really looking forward to doing it again with my 2YO when she is 3.

For your 4YO you could certainly continue light reading instruction (my 4.5YO is doing 1/2 lessons in a learn-to-read program this year) and tracing, if he wants to do that along with the LHTH, and if you have time. But don't push yourself or him too much would be my advice. I don't have the experience of having a child who is ahead in so many areas, but I too can see from having gone through LHFHG and Beyond that the expectation of them really grows quickly as you move through these guides, and even though a child might be quite capable of doing a lot of LHFHG at 4 years old, there is really no need for that much school work at that age IMO. I could see burnout coming at some point.

They like crafts but this particular curriculum had one (or more) every day of the week.... and a lot of them had no purpose and a few had no ties in to the curriculum.

[blessedmomof4]

Agreeing with previous posters, Little Hands to Heaven would be wonderful to combine your kiddos. Each child would do the activities at the appropriate level (2/3 or 4/5), and you can add reading instruction and math if your older one is needing it. On the other hand, if the spread in their abilities becomes wider in a year, you may find that the older one is ready to move onto Little Hearts while the younger may benefit from another year of Little Hands. Only time will tell...but if you want to combine right now, Little Hands is a great choice. And the activities and crafts in HOD's guides are all purposeful, never overwhelming, and use common houshold items and school supplies Little Hands will only take about 30 minutes a day, so there is plenty of time left in the day for your kids to do other things, or just be kids One other option you have at this young age is to do the guide only 3 or 4 days a week, thereby extending the time you will use the guide, and possibly allowing the younger child to grow into readiness so they can continue to be combined in the future...just some options as you ponder!

[Mercy]

There is soooo much wisdom in what these seasoned women are saying. I know I didnt listen when others told me similar advice when my son was five. I didnt listen. I wish I would have seen that slow and steady wins the race! Honestly, I can see how it would be hard to feel like you are challenging your older when they are already beginning to read. I did parts of LHTH with my daughter at 3yo who already knew all her letters and sounds, but thats not the main goal necessarily. Like a previous poster said, just establishing "school time" each day is very important. LHTH is soo fun, ministers to hearts, and easy for mom to do. For your oldest you can add in The Reading Lesson at whatever pace needed and also add the handwriting book, if you feel its necessary, while you work through LHTH. 45 min to an hour of school time, faithfully done, is perfect! Spend the rest of the day working, playing and serving others. Take your time and enjoy your kiddos. Always remember to balance life! Homeschoolers can easily get too caught up in the "school" part of homeschool and forget the "home." We are mommy first, teacher second.

Hope something in this post resinates in your heart, because I know there are plenty of women who have walked down the road a little way and their heads are nodding as they read.

Let us know what you thoughts and we will help you in anyway we can to find the perfect placement.

[Heidi in AK]

I agree with all the PP's. It is so tempting to push ahead, but CM herself did not advocate formal schooling till at least 6. Enjoy LHTH with your kids, and know that your kids will be better for the time you played with them.

[MelInKansas]

They like crafts but this particular curriculum had one (or more) every day of the week.... and a lot of them had no purpose and a few had no ties in to the curriculum.

I think LHTH has crafts of some kind almost every day... well many things I would consider to be crafts. Cutting and pasting, drawing, getting out things like cooking oil, pudding, sand that they can practice writing their letter in, gluing something onto your letter of the week. Putting a tape letter on the floor (not so crafty, more gross/fine motor). I would not consider myself to be a crafty person, but these crafts were quick and easy, and almost all of them used things I already had on hand. I hope you aren't daunted or intimidated by the crafts!

[Carrie]

Steffy,

There is great advice in this thread! I agree that putting both kiddos in LHTH is a great plan. You can easily add whatever pieces from the 3R's as desired from LHFHG for your 4 year old to LHTH. This can range from adding The Reading Lesson or Reading Made Easy for phonics, adding the K level handwriting workbook for writing letters, adding Rod and Staff's Do It Carefully/Finding the Answers from LHFHG if needed, and possibly adding the Singapore Earlybird K math with hands-on lessons from LHFHG too.

To add phonics you will not need the LHFHG guide. If you add some of the other items, you may wish to purchase the LHFHG guide to just follow the daily schedule on the right side of the plans each day for which ever pieces you decide to use. You would only use the LHFHG guide for the 3R's. Then the next year, you could move the pair of kiddos into LHFHG together, having the younger child do the K options and your older child do the grade 1 options.

To allow your younger child to grow up a bit, you could do LHTH only 4 days a week (adding the 3R's from LHFHG for your older child) going over into the next school year 9 weeks to finish LHTH. Then, you could do LHFHG 4 days a week too, going over into the next school year to finish. After that they could likely travel together year after year through the guides.

Blessings,
Carrie

[my3sons]

Hi Steffy, and welcome to the HOD Board! I just wanted to chime in and agree that LHTH sounds like a great placement for your dc. I'm so glad they will get to do LHTH! It is excellent for teaching letters, sounds, numbers, etc. in a fun and exciting way - BUT, it is also excellent for teaching how to get into the routine of doing a balanced day of school. Each box is like a little training tool for each area of school, but just in a little nutshell. So, LHTH itself doesn't take long to do, but because of each little box of plans within each day, it is a smooth and easy transition to doing a little more within each skill area the next year in "Little Hearts for His Glory". We had so much fun doing LHTH, and it really taught my dc so much. My little guy is getting ready to turn 5 yo, and we are going to be finishing LHTH soon. In addition to all of the academic skills I wanted him to learn, it has taught him to have a balanced school day with work in each subject area. It has also taught him to do things like draw within a certain space, follow directions with 3 or 4 steps, cut/glue/trace/color, answer comprehension questions about the history readings and the devotional readings, skip count by 2's/3's/4's, and follow a model (me ) for actions and rhymes. He's even learned to skip, gallop, and somersault. These are just a few of the things I thought were especially nice "extras" that are taught. I did begin some phonics with him near the end of LHTH, because he was ready for it, but otherwise, we have just done LHTH and thoroughly enjoyed it. If your oldest child is ready for phonics or the K LA skills in LHFHG, they will be very easy to add at any point for her. Anyway, I think you will love LHTH too!

In Christ,
Julie

[KristinNitz]

Can I just say that I agree 100% with Larissa. I pushed my son WAY too hard at a WAY to young of an age to read and do math etc. With my daughter (6) I am taking it so much slower and she is enjoying school so much more then my son ever did at that age. I even slowed down with my son (9 almost 10) and he has finally started to enjoy school too and it is now much easier for him becasue he has matured! My daughter is just now learning how to read and do more complicated math except with the basics of counting and abc's she started learning at 4. And you know what, she is picking it up faster then my son did at his age of 4 when I was pushing him to read early!

Of course they both enjoy history and science etc. and we do them together, but as far as the academic, slow and steady wins the race!

There is plenty of time and we all know that these HS kids are not going to graduate from High School and not know how to read or add etc. Take it slow and enjoy their young childhood. Before we all know it they will be 10 then 15 then graduated!

Good luck to you!