I KNOW I'm overthinking...

[MomtoJGJE]

But Evie has really shocked me the past couple of days. She'll be 3 in April. I was planning on waiting and starting LHTH a year from now (so when she'll be almost 4) and working through it slowly.

However, she has decided that NOW is a good time to learn her colors, numbers, and letters. So she knows those now. We haven't worked with her, she's just picked it up, lucky 4th child So I really don't know that it'll be good to wait for LHTH for another year. Seems like she'll already know all that stuff and get "bored" with it.

So, how does it sound that now while she's excited about learning these things I slowly work with her over the next year on LHTH as written, then go through it again, but don't do the "fine motor skill" work and sub the right side of LHFHG? Like go through the Bible stories and Count On Me pages and the letter work, etc between now and when she's 4. Then when we get done with that, do the Bible stories again, but do the K level FMS books instead of the other things.

Then when we get to LHFHG we'd do 1st FMS, K math, and storytime with LHFHG?

Do you think that would work? I know with Julianna we did LHTH with additional FMS books, and now K level LHFHG half speed. I'd probably do LHTH half speed with E for a while, just give her something to do while she really wants to know colors/letters/shapes/numbers etc.

Like I said, I KNOW I'm overthinking it, and probably in another two weeks she'll move on to something else...

[MelInKansas]

It seems like you could certainly do that, especially if you find a good way to work it into your school day. I am planning on starting LHTH very slowly with my 3rd sometime next summer/fall when she will be just barely 3. She is already learning colors and shapes, I think letters are just around the corner though so far she hasn't been interested in those. The fine motor parts will be harder for her of course, I will just take it slowly.

I did LHTH when my older 2 were 4 1/2 and 2 1/2. My oldest already knew letters, sounds, colors, numbers, shapes, etc. I guess she might have had a few gaps with numbers, for some reason those came later than letters. But LHTH was still great for her, the Bible, the activities, the structure to the day (less of an issue with youngers who already know the homeschool routine because of their older sibs). She learned a lot that year, even already having a lot of the basics down. So I don't think it would hurt to wait either and go with your original plan of starting it at 4.

I think if it were me, the main factor would be whether I felt like adding another thing to the day was beneficial for everyone in the family or not, and how to work it in. I know this will be a big challenge for me next summer/fall. But the Lord of course gives that wisdom and even the ability to do it!

[MomtoJGJE]

See... I'm not even sure the fine motor skills will be overly difficult for her. She was literally holding a pencil correctly and "writing" with it at 9mo. This past week she's been intentionally drawing letters, numbers, and shapes. She drew a star, and then drew a dog inside of it. She has talent in fine motor skills. There are talented drawing artists (is there a name for that? people who do art by drawing? anyway) in my family for several generations, so I'm guessing she could have a gene for it... definitely didn't get it from her dad or me! Anyway, I don't think it'll add more than 30 minutes, and it'll definitely be fine for me to add it in! OOOHHHH, and Jayden or Grace could read the Bible story to her and Julianna could help her do the letter activity!

I think when she turns 3 we'll start, with maybe 2 or 3 days a week.

[MelInKansas]

It sounds like she is more than ready and interested, especially if you can take it slow and make sure she's not too far over her head. What do you think about her comprehension of the Bible stories or the activities that go along with those? That's fun that your older kids can help her with it, I know my oldest would get really into that too (as long as the little one would sit still and listen, which she doesn't always want to do, especially for her sister). I may have to try that too when I get there.

The fine motor in LHTH is stuff like scissors and tracing letters. It sounds like the tracing will be pretty do-able, what about scissors? Those can be tough.

[MomtoJGJE]

She can do scissors too... ask my sheets how I know

The Bible stories and comprehension is the part I'm NOT sure she will do. BUT it will lay a foundation for going through it again with K FMS from LHFHG right?

[MelInKansas]

I would say try it and see. I don't know exactly what you mean by FMS with LHFHG, but the stories in LHFHG do have tougher comprehension. I think starting LHTH with a 3YO, I would just plan on it taking 2 years and do it slowly, that way you know she will probably catch up in comprehension before LHFHG where it does get more challenging. All the activities in LHTH will really help her retain and comprehend the readings, so I'm sure she will do great!

[MomtoJGJE]

FMS = Fine motor skills The Do It Carefully/Finding the Answers and K handwriting

[my3sons]

...So, how does it sound that now while she's excited about learning these things I slowly work with her over the next year on LHTH as written, then go through it again, but don't do the "fine motor skill" work and sub the right side of LHFHG? Like go through the Bible stories and Count On Me pages and the letter work, etc between now and when she's 4. Then when we get done with that, do the Bible stories again, but do the K level FMS books instead of the other things. Then when we get to LHFHG we'd do 1st FMS, K math, and storytime with LHFHG?

It sounds like what you have here is the rare little one who actually has strong fine motor skills intact, but of course you want the balance of the skills in all of the other subject areas too. I think you have an interesting idea here, that could work quite well for your little sweetie! Doing LHTH as it is written now, with the younger Bible and devotional, seems to fit her current needs well.

Doing LHTH again the following year, with the older Bible and devotional, and adding in the LHFHG K FMS books, seems to be a great plan for her. Then, it makes total sense to move into LHFHG the next year, and do the 1st FMS, K math, and Storytime. This is just one more example of how you can customize the LA and math in HOD to fit dc's needs individually. I think your plan here fits your dd's needs very well. Good idea! I hope it goes great!

In Christ,
Julie