How We Homeschool Preschool with Play & Nature

When my children were preschool age, I found myself questioning what they “should” be learning. Should we be doing phonics daily? Should we start handwriting worksheets? Should we follow a curriculum? And then I took a deep breath, stepped back, and remembered this: at age 3, 4, 5, and even 6, children learn best through play, connection, and curiosity. We didn’t need to recreate school at home. We needed to create a space where learning happened through everyday life. And honestly? It changed the way I thought about homeschooling and learning.

A Gentle Start: Why Less Structure Makes Sense

In many Scandinavian countries, formal education doesn’t begin until age 6 or 7. We have friends in Norway, and it always amazed me that their kids were still in nursery while mine would have been in year 1. And yet, these countries consistently rank among the highest for literacy, well-being, and lifelong learning. The early years are seen as a time for play, exploration, and growing social-emotional skills. It’s not about rushing into academics, it’s about building a strong foundation.

That approach resonated deeply with me, especially as a parent that was considering homeschooling and as an educator.

What Learning Looks Like at This Age

Here’s what our days often looked like:

• Long walks in nature, collecting treasures and asking questions we kept a nature table of our finds
• Reading together on the sofa (again and again and again) – see how we use books at home
• Playing pretend: shops, space travel, bug explorers
• Drawing, painting, cutting, gluing
• Watching shadows move, clouds shift, seeds sprout

Minimal worksheets. No strict timetable. Just a rhythm of living and learning together.

And you know what? So much learning happened.

They asked why the moon changes shape. They noticed patterns in leaves. They counted sticks. They wondered how water disappears from puddles.

Read Next: How to Build Curiosity Through Play With Young Kids

Science in the Early Years

As a scientist and science educator I was keen to explore the world and encourage scientific skills and thinking and it was so easy in the early years. It’s literally everywhere you just need to slow down enough to notice it.

That’s one of the reasons I’ve created the Rainy Day Science Book Club. It blends books, play, nature, and hands-on activities to help children explore the world with wonder. No prep pressure, no rigid lessons – just fun learning through connection.

If you’re curious, you can grab the free Starter Pack and see how simple and fun science can be at this age.

If you’re homeschooling a 3- to 6-year-old, know this:

• You don’t need to rush
• You don’t need to replicate school
• You don’t need to do it all

You are giving your child a beautiful gift: time, presence, and the freedom to grow at their own pace.

Play. Read. Explore. And trust the process.

You’re doing just fine.