Episode Details

Is your five-year-old refusing to do their letters, or is your seven-year-old melting down over a single phonics page? In Part 1 of the Smooth Homeschool Days series, homeschool expert Christy-Faith explains why most of what looks like a behavior problem in kids ages 4 to 7 is really brain development — and how to homeschool pre-K to 2nd grade without constant battles.

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In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why most “behavior problems” in kids ages 4–7 are really brain development
• Attention span by age — how long young kids can really focus on assigned work
• Why a 4-year-old can only hold about two pieces of information at once (and how to give instructions that stick)
• The “yesterday vs. today” problem — and what’s really behind it
• Why young kids need to move while they learn, plus the “upside-down kid” test
• Co-regulation: why young kids can’t calm themselves down yet
• Refusal vs. meltdown — a 60-second protocol and the 3 types of meltdowns
• How long to homeschool each day from pre-K to 2nd grade

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Resources mentioned:

• The Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly businesses and providers
• Thrive Homeschool Community — Christy-Faith’s membership community for homeschool moms
• Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University — Research on executive function, including attention, working memory, and self-control
• Wiley Blevins — Early literacy expert and author of A Fresh Look at Phonics
• ⭐ New to homeschooling? Start with Episode 101 — the New Homeschooler Series is the best place to begin.

Connect with Christy-Faith:

• Instagram: @christy_faith_
• TikTok: @christy_faith
• Website: christy-faith.com