Answer: Good news: You are already homeschooling your child. Very young children come programmed to absorb knowledge like little sponges. Just think of all the things your child has learned already without formal instruction: walking, talking, the names of countless people and household objects, how to make all sorts of mischief about the house... the list goes on.

While prepackaged curriculums for the very young do exist, many homeschooling families have found that a more relaxed approach works extremely well for their unpreschoolers. It may help to see yourself less as a "teacher" and more as a "facilitator." Your job is to provide the right opportunities for learning, then sit back and watch the learning take place.

If you still feel the need for a little structure in your early homeschooling experience, try the following time-tested, mother-approved recipe for unpreschooling success:

• One or more stacks of attractive, interesting children's books on the subjects of your choice
• A generous assortment of art supplies (crayons, markers, playdough, finger paint, glitter, paper, etc.)
• Numerous opportunities for creative play (dolls, trucks, building toys, dress-up stuff, play foods, puppets, large cardboard boxes, musical instruments, etc.)
• Several handfuls of objects to count, sort, and classify
• Animals, plants, insects, rocks, stars, sand, water, and soil (seasonal varieties are best)
• One or more places to climb, jump, slide, dance, swing, and run around
• Music to taste

• Two or three similarly-aged children
• Several older and/or younger children for additional flavor
• Several adults doing interesting things
• Several interesting places outside the home

• Your own personal homeschooling philosophy
• Your own personal discipline strategies

Combine all ingredients in house or apartment-sized container. Mix well. Prepare and serve fresh daily until child reaches age five or later. Recipe may be adjusted to accommodate different tastes and abilities. Serves an indefinite number of children.