Close Ages and Combining Studies

[CindyPTN]

As I've been reviewing ideas and looking into starting Homeschooling, I have a question about combining my children's education.

My son is 3 1/2 and my daughter 13 months behind him. They tend to do everything together and I've noticed that my daughter tries to do everything her brother does.

I think of this stage as more for fun and setting up work habits. As I begin to put together his Pre-K lessons/Playtime, should I focus on teaching both of them together and as we progress make changes according to their levels?

This seems to be the way to go, but I wanted to see what some of you have experienced with children so close together in age.

Thank you.

[Sue G in PA]

My one son is 5 and his younger sister is 2 1/2. He is just beginning My Father's World Kindergarten, just learning his letters, ABC song, numbers, etc. Dd2 knows her ABC song, most of her letters/sounds, can count to 15 w/out mistakes, etc. She sits in on the K lessons and does most of what ds5 does. Sure, there are some aspects she doesn't do. Handwriting for one. I do let her try, but don't expect from her what I do from ds5. With dc that close in age...it is entirely possible to combine for most subjects if you start them together now, KWIM? Teach them both on the same level now...reading/phonics, alphabet, early math/counting skills, handwriting, etc. and it is entirely possible that they will share a grade for quite a while.

[chiguirre]

For kids that are close in age, it's a great idea to combine for read-alouds, science, history, geography, etc. For math, reading and handwriting it depends on each dc's individual skill level. At your kids' ages you could combine everything since you probably won't be doing any formal sit down work for a year or two.

We enjoyed Before Five in a Row when ds was 4 and dd was 2. Right now we're enjoying Sonlight Core A and B. SL A just came out a few months ago or we would have used it earlier. You might enjoy these programs if you need some structure to get you started (or if you're a curriculum junkie in the making:D)

[kdeno]

If you are looking for a Christian resource Little Hands to Heaven would be great for their age.

Kari

[prairiegirl]

I have three children (8,7,5) I had intended to combine my two oldest for the content subjects and then fold in my youngest when she was school-age. As it has turned out, though, my ds, the 7 yr. old, cannot handle doing the same things that my oldest is doing in terms of history and science. To sum it all up, my ds could care less about doing anything academic. He just isn't ready.

My youngest, on the other hand, is a little firecracker when it comes to learning. She is begging to do school and to learn how to read. When my youngest is in gr. 1, my oldest will be in Gr.5. We will start the history and science cycle over again. I will keep the my ds and youngest dd together for the content subjects. My oldest dd will be learning the same content but will be using different curriclum. I think this will work out much better. This is hoping, though, that a lightbulb will go on for my ds and he will show more interest in school-related topics ;)

Julia
mom of 3 (8,7,5)

[WTMindy]

you start them together. My kids are 18 months apart, and we do almost every subject together. My dd is a little ahead in math because we started her sooner, and I do make some modifications for ds, but we do the same level on all subjects except math. It has been wonderful. I havn't ever noticed any competition at all. It has just always been what we do, so they think it is normal.

It sure simplifies my life, especially since I only have 2 kids, to have them together.

[WTMCassandra]

We are in a similar situation to WTMindy. My two are 23 months apart. My DD is a late bloomer and my DS is somewhat advanced, so I would say that academically he's really only about six months behind. We do most subjects together. I used to do phonics separately, but now that they are in grammar, they are together. The only subject where DS is officially "behind" is math. So they do math separately. But they've always been together and have never known anything else. I used to compensate and not make DS write as much as DD, but he can basically keep up with her now.

[mooooom]

and she has always done everything that they do (they say girls are 9 mo ahead of boys developmentally anyway, if true, they are practically the same age). The only thing that was ever an issue was that her handwriting skills were lagging for awhile (dressing Barbie dolls had her catch up within a few months).

She actually learned to read a little faster than they did (I would recommend one-on-one reading instruction) and I held her hand and we wrote together for awhile. She has also consistently been better at concentrating than them - and consequently usually finishes work more quickly (at age 13, the boys are finally catching up).

I now worry about what we will do when she graduates at 16... But not such a terrible thing to worry about.

[Jami]

This is exactly the situation here. My first two are 14 months apart boy/girl and my son is about .5 a year a head in math because he started sooner, I don't think he's even cognitively ahead anymore. My daughter is probably a bit more gifted, though *I* think they're both brilliant of course ;). But because of their invidual strengths and weaknesses, they really are at about the same level in reading and writing. Literature, history, memory work, etc. it's easy to keep them together and makes for a nice "group" dynamic. :)

Jami

[Jennifer in MI]

Echoing the others here . . . my older two are 18 months apart. They do everything together except math and science. I also expect a bit more from the older one. If your younger one can keep up, then, by all means, do it!!! But, they are SO young. If they balk at all, slow down. Keep the lessons fun!

I have to add, that my 7 yo is currently working on FLL. My just-turned-2-yo can do all the pronouns!! Of course, she doesn't know what it means yet. But, I hope when she's 7, it will make it easier for her.

Have fun!!!

[CindyPTN]

Thank you for the ideas. I'll check into those programs. I'm hoping not to become too big of a curriculum junkie, but I have a feeling that I'm destined to be!

[6packofun]

Our oldest two are 11 months apart and they do all of their studies except math together. Our next two, ages 10 and 8, do their schoolwork together as well, but that's mainly because my 10y is average/sometimes struggles and the 8yo is slightly advanced. So it works out well that I can combine for these 2 sets of kids!! The 6yo does some science and history with the 8 and 10yo, too. :)