Homeschool foreign language curriculum for preschool: a year-long plan

What a preschool language curriculum should look like

For children aged roughly 3 to 6, a foreign language curriculum looks very different from a high school one. There are no verb tables or spelling tests. Instead, the curriculum is a sequence of themes that match a young child's world: saying hello, counting, colors, animals, family, the body, food, clothes and feelings.

Each theme gives you a small set of words and phrases, a few songs, some games and a handful of ways to use the words in everyday life. Over the year, the themes build on each other. Numbers come back when you count animals; colors come back when you talk about clothes; greetings never go away.

This approach works whether or not you speak the language yourself. If you don't, you'll be learning alongside your child, which is a perfectly good model. See how to teach your child Spanish when you don't speak it for practical tips that apply to any language.

Choosing your language

If you're not sure which language to pick, our guide on how to choose a language for your child walks through the main factors: family heritage, local community, future school options and your own interest. The plan below works for any language. We offer songs in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Portugal) and Dutch.

A 36-week scope and sequence

This plan fits a typical homeschool year. Most themes get one or two weeks, with review weeks built in. It mirrors the 20 themed units in our song library, but you can use it with any resources.

Don't worry if you fall behind. Spending three weeks on animals because your child loves them is better than rushing to stay on schedule. The plan is a guide, not a contract.

A weekly lesson template

Use the same structure every week so planning takes minutes, not hours. Aim for 10–20 minutes a day, four or five days a week.

Alongside the formal lessons, use the theme words in routines all week: colors while getting dressed, numbers while setting the table. This informal use is often where words really click. Our guide to daily routines that build a second language has ideas.

Activities that work for preschoolers

Rotate through these so lessons stay fresh:

• Songs with actions. The backbone of a preschool language curriculum. Repetition, rhythm and movement help meaning stick.
• Total physical response. Give simple commands in the new language (jump, sit down, touch your nose) and act them out.
• Picture cards and real objects. Name, sort and match. Use actual toys and food whenever possible.
• Scavenger hunts. Find something red, find three spoons, find the cat.
• Simple crafts. Draw a family, paint a rainbow, make paper animals, naming everything as you go.
• Story time. Bilingual picture books or simple books in the target language.
• Pretend play. A play shop, a pretend café or a doctor's office uses food, numbers and body words naturally.
• Outdoor time. Nature walks for weather, colors, animals and plants.

Assessment by observation

Preschoolers shouldn't take language tests. Instead, observe and note what you see. A simple three-level scale works well for each theme:

1. Understands. Responds to the word or phrase (points to the right picture, follows the instruction) even if they don't say it.
2. Joins in. Sings along, repeats after you, says the word when prompted.
3. Uses independently. Says the word or phrase on their own in a natural moment.

For example, at the end of the colors theme you might note: "Understands all six colors. Joins in with the song. Uses rojo and azul on her own." That's a clear, honest record of progress.

Expect understanding to run well ahead of speaking. Many children have a quiet period where they take in a lot before producing much. That's normal.

Record-keeping for homeschoolers

If you need records (for your own planning, a co-op or local requirements), keep it simple:

• A theme log. Date, theme, songs used, books read, activities done.
• A word list. Add words as your child starts using them independently. It's motivating to watch it grow.
• Observation notes. A sentence or two per theme using the three-level scale above.
• Samples. Photos of crafts, a short audio clip of your child singing, a drawing labelled with words.

Check your local homeschool regulations for what's actually required; requirements vary widely by state and country.

Combining resources

No single resource does everything. A balanced preschool language program usually combines:

• A structured core that provides consistent audio and sequenced themes, such as a song library, a video series or a curriculum book with audio.
• Books in the target language or bilingual books.
• Hands-on play using your own toys and household objects.
• Real speakers where possible: a class, a story time at the library, a babysitter, family members or video calls.

Our song library can serve as the structured core. Each of the 80+ songs per language is a bilingual call-and-response song, organized into 20 themed units that line up with the plan above, and every line shows its meaning on screen so parents can follow along without speaking the language. Progress tracking lets you see which songs your child has finished. The first unit (6 songs) is free; Premium covers all 6 languages.

Keeping it joyful

The biggest risk with any homeschool curriculum is that it starts to feel like work. For preschoolers, a language should feel like a game and a song, not a subject. If your child resists, shorten the lessons, lean on songs and games, and follow their interests. A child who loves trucks will learn the words for transport faster than any plan can predict.

For more on why music is so central at this age, see why songs help kids learn languages.