Starting homeschooling

I've been lurking here for a while since we decided homeschooling is the best option for us. My oldest turned 4 yesterday and we'd like to start doing some more structured homeschool preK stuff soon. I've been collecting a few different preschool workbooks and things like that but I'm having trouble with a schedule/structure to start with. Where do you start? How long to spend each day? How do you keep them engaged and focused? My son can already identify the full alphabet and count up into the 40s (through identifying numbers, he can't go that high counting objects), and knows about a third of letter sounds and has applied that to seeing words written out a few times just on his own (trying to sound out simple words with the letters he knows the sounds of.) We haven't really done anything super structured to teach that, he's just picked it all up through play. He's really reluctant to write things himself for some reason so I know writing is something we'll have to work a lot on, and focusing is not his strong suit 😂 He's a very smart but very high energy kid and stubborn when it comes to wanting to do what he wants to do. What kind of structure or schedule would be best? What have you guys done?

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It sounds like he's already pretty ahead of the curve! Lol I wouldn't worry too much about an actual schedule at this point. Sounds like you guys are already doing a great job of schooling him!

At 4, most academics should be done through playing. Do things that will strengthen his hands (play doh, puzzles, cutting paper, drawing in sand, etc.)

@Becki Do you know of ways to help with getting him interested in doing things like that himself? He's good with puzzles but anything like drawing/writing or play doh type things he just won't do himself. He loves to watch other people do it and he'll ask you to make/draw something for him, and he likes to give instructions and kinda lead other people, but I can barely get him to actually try to do it himself. He's just not that interested

@Lacy Not sure maybe just give him play doh and maybe give him a simple task to do with it (like make small balls) and be like I want to see how many you can make

At this point, the structure is for you. Try to add structured activities onto other parts of your day. For instance, one in the morning and one after lunch. Take regular trips to the library and read plenty of books. Choose a song or two each week and do an art project. Plan a field trip. You don't have to do workbooks if your kid would rather run an alphabet relay or dive for letters in the swimming pool, or put letters or your magnet tiles and build word houses. It's the beauty of homeschool 🌻

@Lacy sounds like you have a little ceo out sourcing the work lol.

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