Starting homeschool preschool doesn’t have to be complicated.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the curriculum options, supplies, and advice online, you’re not alone. The good news is that you don’t need a teaching degree or a perfectly organized homeschool room to give your child a meaningful early learning experience. You already know your child better than anyone else, which makes you uniquely equipped to support their learning at their own pace.
As a full-time work-from-home mom with very little formal teaching experience beyond dance choreography and a few years of college tutoring, I’m beginning this journey right alongside you. I’ll be homeschooling our almost 2-year-old a few days each week before or after work, keeping our lessons simple, flexible, and enjoyable.
Rather than recreating a traditional classroom, my goal is to create an inviting learning environment centered around play, literature, nature, hands-on activities, and meaningful family time. We’ll be using the Memoria Press Preschool curriculum (ages 2–3), a Classical Christian program, as the foundation for our preschool year.
Below, you’ll find the homeschool preschool essentials we’re purchasing to get started. Whether you’re just beginning to explore homeschooling or you’re getting ready for your first preschool year, I hope this list gives you practical ideas, saves you time, and encourages you to feel confident as you begin teaching your child.
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1. Montessori & Me Wooden Weather Board for Toddlers
The item I’m most excited about is this toddler weather board! It’s a simple way to make learning part of our everyday routine while introducing concepts like the weather, seasons, colors, months, and days of the week. I plan to start each homeschool lesson by updating the board together, giving us a consistent, interactive way to begin our day.
2. Dry Erase Board
Second on our list is a dry erase board, and I have a feeling we’ll use it every day. The Memoria Press curriculum includes daily Bible verse recitations, so I plan to write each day’s verse on the board for easy reference. It will also be a simple way to display the day’s topics, activities, or reminders, helping create a gentle, predictable rhythm for our homeschool days.
3. Dry Erase Markers
Naturally, you’ll need a set of dry erase markers to go with your board. We found an inexpensive pack on Amazon that’s perfect for daily use. You can find the ones we chose here
4. Water Color Paints
Watercolor painting is a wonderful way to build fine motor skills while giving little ones a chance to be creative. I love that this set comes with paintbrushes, so it’s ready to use right out of the box. You can find the set we purchased on Amazon here
5. Sidwalk Chalk
Sidewalk chalk is a simple, open-ended activity that helps strengthen fine motor skills while encouraging outdoor play. Try drawing a hopscotch board and asking your child to hop to different letters, numbers, or shapes they’re learning. It’s a fun, hands-on way to reinforce lessons through movement. You can find the sidewalk chalk we purchased on Amazon here
6. Sidewalk Chalk Holders
Sidewalk chalk holders aren’t essential, but they’re a great addition. They help keep little hands cleaner, reduce chalk marks on toddler clothes, and make it easier for young children to hold the chalk. You can find the ones we purchased here
7. Colored Pencils
Colored pencils are another great addition for strengthening fine motor skills through writing, drawing, and coloring activities. They’re a preschool staple that can be used for everything from early handwriting practice to creative art projects. You can find the colored pencils we use here
8. Safety Scissors
When I was looking for scissors to introduce to my toddler, safety was my top priority. These are colorful, easy for little hands to use, and designed with safety in mind, making them a great first pair for preschool. You can find the ones we chose here
9. Non Toxic Playdough
Choosing lower-tox materials is important to our family, so we opted for this play dough instead of traditional options. It’s a great alternative that still offers all the hands-on sensory play and fine motor practice preschoolers love. You can find the one we use here
10. Construction Paper
Construction paper is a must-have for preschool. It’s perfect for coloring, painting, cutting, and countless craft activities throughout the school year. You can find the pack we purchased on Amazon here
11. Alphabet & Numbers Posters
Alphabet and numbers posters are a fun way to make your homeschool space feel a little more like a classroom while reinforcing concepts throughout the day. We especially like that these alphabet posters display uppercase and lowercase letters side by side for easy letter recognition. The number posters also include both the numeral and the spelled-out number, making them a helpful visual reference for early learners
12. Rotating Supply Organizer
This rotating supply organizer is a great way to keep colored pencils, scissors, markers, and other preschool supplies organized and within reach. I love that it even has a handle, making it easy to move from room to room or bring along for different activities
13. Slow Down: 50 Mindful Moments in Nature
Since my child loves spending time outdoors, I want to incorporate nature study into our homeschool routine as an enrichment activity. This book is beautiful, with detailed illustrations that make learning about the natural world engaging for young children. I love that you can read about something together and then go outside to look for real-life examples. It’s a wonderful way to connect learning with hands-on exploration. Highly recommend!
14. Montessori Sand Tray
This Montessori-inspired sand tray is a fun, hands-on way to introduce letter practice and help your child build early writing skills. The sensory experience makes practicing letters feel more like play while helping strengthen fine motor skills and letter recognition
15. Learning Resources Math Link Cubes
These Learning Resources MathLink Cubes make learning math incredibly fun! They’re perfect for hands-on activities like counting, creating patterns, sorting colors, and exploring early math concepts through play.
Preschool at home doesn’t have to look like a classroom.
A few thoughtfully chosen materials, plenty of books, time outdoors, and opportunities for independent play can create a meaningful learning environment that grows alongside your child.
The best homeschool preschool is one that feels calm, flexible, and filled with opportunities to explore. Start simple and trust that the little things you do each day are building a strong foundation for a lifelong love of learning.