Such a great resource for keeping my little family on track!
This is my 4th year homeschooling, I have used a blend of CM, literature based, and interest led history and science curriculum in the past. I have a 2nd grader who is using the Kind Kingdom, and preschoolers who are participating at times.
I thought it would be a good fit but once I started planning out the year this summer I was disappointed. I could tell it wasn’t what I thought it would be. I am leaving this review after 6 weeks of using it.
It’s full of a lot of unnecessary things (like suggestions for math and reading when it’s clear you need a separate curriculum anyway) and seriously lacking in other important parts. The only helpful part of history is the booklist, but even then it is not complete. There are not instructions for many of the projects or timeline card suggestions, leaving the parent to figure it out before they can teach the child. (Which is fine, just don’t call it a complete curriculum then). The things we are doing that work best for history are from my own brain, not anything they have provided so it feels like a waste of money. The topics given in science are fine, but they’re only included in about 1/3 of the weeks and often the topics weren’t included in the book list. Or projects aren’t correctly placed in seasons so they don’t make sense. None of the hymn selections are common or familiar or easy to sing so we’re making our own selections. The poetry and art descriptions are sparse and not very interesting to look at. My kids have liked the baking projects, but a number of them have required several hours and aren’t easy for younger children to participate in. The copy work selections are helpful, but honestly I can make and print my own for free.
History - ⭐️
Science - ⭐️
Art/Poetry/Baking - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Copy work - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bible / Hymns - ⭐️⭐️
We just started using this nature study and so far we love it. Very hands on and encourages lots of time outside which is great. The only thing I found odd is that the pages aren’t numbered so if they get misplaced while printing you really have to spend time trying to figure out how to put them back in order. Other than that we love the content, book recommendations and activities in this nature study.
I had originally started this with my daughter when she was 2.5 but a lot of the phonics stuff was a bit over her head so we ended up pausing it middle of last year.
This year I started my 3.5 year old on a different preschool program and though there were things we really enjoyed about it, it got repetitive and stale after a few weeks. I was lacking in motivation to continue and whenever I asked my daughter if she wanted to do Preschool together she'd say Yes! ask what we were doing and then say "Actually no" and ask if we could paint or do something else instead. I knew it wasn't working.
We came back to this program and I've already noticed a HUGE change in her attitude and how excited she is again. She will initiate asking for Preschool before I ask her most days. This is definitely the program for us! While we were making glitter glue "K" cards the other day, my daughter looked over at me and said "This is the best, and you're the best mommy!" My heart was filled to the brim.
The activities are not only educational but engaging and provide connection time. This is soo important to me, as I have 2 (soon to be 3) other kids. It's manageable while homeschooling my 2nd & 3rd grader as well which not all Preschool programs seem to be.
I love the activity suggestions and the accompanying readalouds. We don't necessarily follow it as is, but use it more for inspiration. Only change I would suggest is for the weekly themes to match up with the seasons, assuming the school year starts in September. E.g. A - apples, B - bees, C - Corn, D - dry leaves etc