Working with a Reluctant Preschooler

Working with a Reluctant Preschooler is a post from Shannen of Middle Way Mom:

When my oldest was in the preschool years, she was eager and willing to do workbooks, making it feel easy to teach her, and enjoyable for both of us. My second daughter? She’s basically not interested in following instructions. Trying to fill the day with intentional play takes a lot more planning when you have a reluctant preschooler!

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Reluctant preschoolers need prep

Unlike a child that’s happy with workbook after workbook, a child that wants games and hands-on activities require some amount of planning and preparation.

If you’re like me and you have other kids, activities, and frankly, things you’d rather do than prepping preschool work, finding options that require very little planning allows you to fill the day with beneficial activities rather than fluff. Ideally, I want to get in one activity a week that required prep work on my part. Beyond that, pick-up-and-go activities are necessary items in any preschool.

Know what makes them tick

My preschooler will do just about anything for a sticker, or a chance to help pour liquids, stir, or other activities that resemble cooking. She also wants to change activities pretty quickly (typical for any preschooler), and generally is not very fond of following specific instructions.

Learning what your child likes and doesn’t like comes with trial and error, but eventually, you can get into a nice flow, learning how to best complement each other’s strengths.

No-planning options

I like anything where I can just open it up and go. We thoroughly enjoy Kiwi Crate, a subscription service where two activities following a theme come in a box, including glue, tape, or anything else you might need. I consider this time where we work on art, creativity, following instructions, and fine motor skills. All the while she gets to create something she is proud of!

Little Passports is another subscription service, this time focusing more on geography. A friend of ours gets this for her elementary-aged daughters and they say it’s a wonderful addition to their homeschool, and they have three options for various ages.

There are a number of online options like PBS Kids, ABC Mouse, and others, but I’ve found that the online options we’ve tried aren’t absorbed as an educational resource as much as non-screen time activities. It’s still worth a try if you’re trying to find things your child will respond to positively.

Low planning options

My favorite early childhood curriculum book is Slow and Steady, Get Me Ready because it requires very few store-bought items. There are many activities that take very little preparation and are fun to do again and again.

Mudpies to Magnets is another homeschooler favorite with lots of low-prep science activities, and they are really fun and easy to do, plus they give age suggestions, helping to sort through the list of experiments and cutting down your prep time.

I’ve sorted through quite a few phonics programs, either trying them at home or sifting through their website and reviews to get a feel for how they work, and I think Jolly Phonics is one of the top choices out there for reluctant preschoolers and busy moms. There’s such a mix of activities from a short storyline, coloring pages, matching, stickers, and suggested activities that it keeps my little one going strong. On top of that, it’s still in a workbook style so it requires no planning on my part to get us going with a full-fledged phonics program.

Be spontaneous

Preschool doesn’t need to follow a specific scope and sequence. Heck, even as recent as when my teenager was a preschooler, we didn’t expect kids to be learning specific things before they started Kindergarten. Let your days flow as much as you can. Go to the park, library, local community center for open gym times, nature centers, etc. Do not feel the need to “school” your preschooler, no matter what others are doing. Click to tweet!

For the sake of both you and your reluctant preschooler, do not plan every hour of the day. It’s great to have activities planned so they don’t get too bored and act out, but they also need to have some spontaneity in their days. Balance is key.

Do you have a reluctant preschooler? How do you fit in intentional play into your busy day?

Other Preschool Topics You Might Enjoy:

• How to Homeschool Preschool
• Preschool Learning Games
• Printable Shapes Resources for Preschoolers