The Joy of a Charlotte Mason Preschool
Confession. When my daughter was 21 months old I parked her little diapered tush in a chair, handed her a balloon and sign, and took her first first day of school picture. Friend, I can not reiterated the fact that this child was a literal baby.
We started homeschooling for a couple of reasons. The first was that preschool was expensive and we couldn’t afford it. As a single income family, in order to afford preschool I would have had to return to work full time. At the time I was dealing with an autoimmune disease that I had surgery for. Paying for preschool wasn’t an option.
Another reason was the fact that I was bored. I love being a mom, my children are the joy of my life. But being home all day long with a toddler who doesn’t nap and we didn’t do screens…I needed routine to my day and I found that through doing “tot school”. About a year later I was introduced to Charlotte Mason and began implementing aspects of her philosophy into our homeschool preschool.
As you may or may not know, Charlotte Mason was a 19th-century British educator and had a refreshingly gentle philosophy for the early years (birth to age 6). Instead of formal lessons, she believed young children should spend these years exploring the world around them, developing good habits, and nurturing a sense of wonder. All of this was contrast to what I was doing with laminated themed activities based around various books we enjoyed reading.
As I started to implement changes I reflected on what Charlotte Mason really thought about those early years. When my son came along, we had the chance to “Charlotte Mason” from the beginning.
So, what does Charlotte Mason-inspired preschool looks like in real life. Here’s what you don’t need: workbooks, busywork, or hours of structured lessons. Instead, you’ll focus on the natural learning that happens through play, rich experiences, and meaningful time together.
What Should a Child Know at Six?
Charlotte Mason included a beautiful list of what a child should attain by age six. There are some discrepancies about whether this is by the child’s first compulsory year of schooling or once they’ve finished first grade. Regardless, its a beautiful list that we’ve used to guide our way.
To recite, beautifully, six easy poems and hymns.
To recite, perfectly and beautifully, a parable and a psalm.
To add and subtract numbers up to ten, with dominoes or counters.
To read — what and how much, will depend on what we are told of the child; children vary much in their power of reading.
To copy in print- hand from a book.
To know the points of the compass with relation to their own home, where the sun rises and sets, and the way the wind blows.
To describe the boundaries of their own home.
To describe any lake, river, pond, island, &c, within easy reach.
To tell quite accurately (however shortly) three stories from Bible history, three from early English, and three from early Roman history.
To be able to describe three walks and three views.
To mount in a scrap book a dozen common wild flowers, with leaves (one every week); to name these, describe them in their own words, and say where they found them.
To do the same with the leaves and flowers of six forest trees.
To know six birds, by song, colour, and shape.
To send in certain Kindergarten or other handiwork, as directed.
To tell three stories about their own “pets” — rabbit, dog, or cat.
To name twenty common objects in French, and say a dozen little sentences.
To sing one hymn, one French song, and one English song.
To keep a caterpillar, and tell the life story of a butterfly from his own observations.
So how do we foster these attainments in our preschoolers? Here’s what a typical Charlotte Mason preschool might include:
1. Hours of Outdoor Play
One of the most important parts of early childhood education is time outside. Let them climb trees, stomp in puddles, dig in the dirt, and collect treasures. Encourage them to notice the birds, the changing seasons, and the tiny creatures in the grass. You might bring along a nature basket, filled with magnifying glasses, watercolor supplies, and field guides. Part of this requires the diligent attention of the mother. You also have to know the birds of the air and flowers of the field in order to tell your children. Attention to nature also grows your child’s habit of attention that they will need for formal lessons. During this time, have a nature journal in which your child can draw in and dictate to you what they saw.
2. Living Books & Storytelling
Instead of relying on dull early readers, fill your days with living books—stories that are beautifully written and spark the imagination. Read Blueberries for Sal, Make Way for Ducklings, or classic fairy tales. Let your child narrate back in their own words what they remember, it’s the beginning of language development and comprehension.Narration at this age is entirely optional but if you are homeschooling an older child, the younger one may want to narrate too.
3. Gentle Habit Training
Charlotte Mason believed that "The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days." At this age, habit formation is key. Simple habits like putting away toys, saying “please” and “thank you,” and listening when spoken to lay a foundation for later learning. Charlotte Mason believed the two habits to train first are the habit of attention and the habit of obedience. How families choose to go about this is entire up to their preferred parenting methods.
4. Art, Music, and Poetry
Expose your child to beauty from an early age. Even the youngest children can delight in things like poetry, music, and art. Listen to classical music while playing with blocks, read a short poem at breakfast, or let them observe beautiful paintings like Starry Night. A child who grows up surrounded by beauty will naturally grow to appreciate it.
5. Handicrafts and Practical Life Skills
Spending time each week immersed in handicrafts is truly a worthy investment of time. Simple skills like finger knitting, folding laundry, cutting fruit, or kneading dough are not only enjoyable but help develop fine motor skills and confidence.They also help fingers and hands grow their strength and dexterity which prepares them for handwriting skills.
Final Thoughts
The preschool years can be so joyful. By giving your child a rich environment filled with stories, nature, beauty, and loving guidance, you are laying the foundation for a lifelong love of learning.
Little Wanderers Preschool:
When it was time for my son to begin preschool I knew exactly what I wanted, so I wrote it!
Our preschool program is meant to be a literacy based program, sprinkled with play and intentional time together. In the early years, children should spend more time in connection with their families, playing, and exploring instead of sitting down to work. We also know that there are very motivated learners out there who may want the time to learn, especially with their older siblings. This preschool program is meant to be less than an hour a day, with the majority of time spent learning through play.
You can find Little Wanderers Preschool here!
