First, here is the homework grid for my preschooler.
This week, I wanted to focus on my three-year-old and share a few simple things we do that have genuinely supported his development, especially with language, early learning, and confidence.
None of this is extreme. None of it is rigid. And most importantly, you are not late if you’re not doing any of this yet. Some days we do all of this. Some days we don't. Both are fine.
1. Reading One Book a Day (and Talking About It)
From when he was a baby until now, we’ve read at least one book a day.
At first, it was simply me reading aloud while he listened. As he got older, it became more interactive. He sits in front of me, we talk about what’s on the page, and I ask questions like:
What can you see?
Can you point to the cat?
Who do you think this character is?
If he can’t name something, I do. If I say a word or a name, I ask him to point to it in the book. This gentle back-and-forth has really helped build his vocabulary and curiosity without pressure.
One of the biggest lessons I learned from my older child is that sounds matter more than alphabet names at this stage.
We’ve been using phonics sounds in the order provided by Oxford Owl, which aligns well with UK early years expectations and alongside their printable tracing sheets. This has helped massively with:
Pencil control
Sound recognition
Early writing confidence
I’m honestly not worried about whether he can name every letter yet. From experience, the letter names come later. The sounds are what support reading and spelling, and everything else catches up naturally.
If Oxford Owl isn’t for you, YouTube can also be helpful; there are lots of phonics-based videos available. I would just recommend staying with your child while they watch, for safety and focus. We also use Duolingo ABC.
3. IXL (Reception-Level Maths & English)
Although my younger child is still in preschool, we use IXL Maths and English at the Reception level.
Reception and preschool learning overlap quite a lot, so this mainly reinforces what he’s already doing at nursery. His nursery reports have reflected this too, especially in maths.
He enjoys Maths the most
English is hit-and-miss (which is normal!)
Science is a favourite, especially shapes and identifying objects
Some English tasks require recognising uppercase and lowercase letters, which he sometimes enjoys and sometimes doesn’t, and that’s okay. We don’t force it.
4. Play, Exploration & Imagination
Outside of structured learning, we let him play freely at home.
Right now, he loves paw patrol and imaginative play, so we’ve leaned into that. He also spends time playing with his older brother after school, even 30 minutes together makes a difference.
He learns so much just by watching his brother. When his brother sits down to study, he often says, “Mummy, can I do mine too?”
That sibling modelling has been one of the most powerful tools we didn’t plan for.
5. Confidence, Growth & Nursery Feedback
One of my proudest moments came from nursery feedback.
They shared that during a school day, he created a picnic activity, organised his friends, laid out the mats, brought out the cups, and served everyone tea. That level of confidence, organisation, and imagination really stood out.
There have also been repeated comments about his pencil control and engagement,and while I know home support plays a role, I truly believe it’s the balance that matters.
A Gentle Reminder for Parents
If your child is three (or older) and you haven’t started any of this yet, you are not late.
I can categorically tell you this: with my older child, reading was the only consistent thing we did early on. We didn’t properly structure learning until Reception, and he’s doing exceptionally well now.
Start small.
Sounds
Reading together
Tracing sheets
Short, pressure-free sessions
You don’t need to do everything. You don’t need to copy anyone else. And you can absolutely start where you are.
PS. The links are highlighted in pink within the text.
With Love,
Ayo ♡
Comments
Post a Comment