Design Your Own Preschool Curriculum

5. ADD A FEW FUN FIELD TRIPS
Find a few local points of interest to visit with your preschooler related to the theme, if possible. But if not, just get out once a week or so and take time exploring your community. See "Fast, Frugal Field Trips For Early Learners". Pencil these into your plan and write in reminders a day or two ahead to call to confirm your appointment.

6. MAKE LISTS
The final step to step, if you choose to do this, is to create "To Do" lists and "Materials Needed" and booklists to ensure that the supplies to do the crafts and activities are available when you need them. Don't do this until a few weeks before you will need them since your plans will probably change.

7. STOCKPILE BASIC SUPPLIES
We have a small stash of various craft supplies in our garage stored in clear plastic shoe boxes and stacked in a large bookcase. Basic art supplies such as glue, scissors, stickers, colored pencils, markers are stored on a low shelf of a linen closet for easy access.

Start saving and gathering supplies such as:

Cereal boxes (flattened for easy storage)
Small magnets
Oatmeal boxes
Plastic baskets from strawberries or tomatoes
Styrofoam trays from produce
Used white paper (for using back-sides)
Shoelaces
Plastic peanut butter jars
Colorful junk mail and catalogs
Frozen juice lids
Wallpaper scraps
Fabric scraps
Ribbon, yarn, string
Cotton balls
Clear contact paper
Old shirts for paint smocks
Old plastic tablecloth
Fly swatters (to use with bubble liquid outside)
Wire coat hangers
Freezer paper
Brown paper bags, large and small
Craft sticks
Plastic baby wipe boxes
Pipe cleaners or chenille stems
Used file folders
Used greeting cards
Cookie cutters
Metal brad fasteners
Various tape and glue
Boxes of various sizes
Coloring books
Rubber bands
Discarded socks

8. KEEP PERSPECTIVE AND ENJOY YOUR CHILD
Playing and discovering the world in a lighthearted way should take priority over any plans, so do not take this plan too seriously.

I received some good counsel when my son was an infant. A friend advised me to train him first in how to behave: good manners, helping with chores, not whining and complaining, getting along with others before emphasizing the academics. This strategy has worked well.

It is a complicated juggling act to have fun together and still maintain some control over a preschooler and a sense of order in the home. Boy, do I know. But effort expended to do this will have its reward in a cheerful, well-behaved and disciplined child. . .eventually. . . . well, most of the time, we hope.

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