The Built Brains blog
Teaching little ones at home, made simple
Straight answers to what parents of 2 to 9 year olds ask us most, from the team behind the Built Brains curriculum.
Homeschool curriculum
1st grade homeschool curriculum: what to teach, how long, and how to choose
A practical 1st grade homeschool curriculum guide: what first graders learn, how long each day takes, a sample week, free options and how to choose.
Oct 1, 2026 · 9 min read
Homeschool curriculum
2nd grade homeschool curriculum: what to teach and how to choose one
A 2nd grade homeschool curriculum guide: what second graders learn, daily time, a sample week, spelling and math scope, and how to choose a secular one.
Oct 1, 2026 · 9 min read
Homeschool curriculum
3rd grade homeschool curriculum: what to teach, how long it takes and how to choose
A practical 3rd grade homeschool curriculum guide: what third graders learn in reading, math and writing, a weekly plan, secular options and free vs paid.
Oct 1, 2026 · 10 min read
Reading & writing
Alphabet tracing done right - when to start, how to form each letter and what to fix first
Alphabet tracing tips for preschoolers: when to start, top-down letter formation with start dots, capitals or lowercase first, grip and common mistakes.
Oct 1, 2026 · 9 min read
Play & quiet time
30 busy book ideas for toddlers and preschoolers (and how to make one)
30 busy book ideas for ages 2 to 5, sorted by skill and age, plus how to make a DIY printable busy book with laminated pages, Velcro dots and binder rings.
Oct 1, 2026 · 9 min read
Seasonal activities
30+ Christmas Activities for Toddlers (Ages 1–3) That Are Simple, Safe and Low-Mess
Christmas activities for toddlers ages 1–3: low-mess crafts, sensory play, music, books, kitchen jobs, a toddler countdown and holiday safety tips.
Oct 1, 2026 · 10 min read
Gift guides
Christmas gifts for preschoolers: ideas for ages 3 to 5 (and for a whole class)
Christmas gifts for preschoolers ages 3 to 5: toy and non-toy ideas, December activity kits, budgets, and cheap gifts for a whole preschool class.
Oct 1, 2026 · 8 min read
Reading & writing
CVC words list: 170 words by short vowel, and how to teach them
A full CVC words list grouped by short vowel and word family, plus the best teaching order, blending games and common mistakes for kindergarten.
Oct 1, 2026 · 10 min read
Gift guides
Educational gifts for 4 year olds, and the skill each one builds
The best educational gifts for 4 year olds, sorted by the skill each builds: letters, numbers, fine motor, thinking and pretend play, plus pre-K picks.
Oct 1, 2026 · 8 min read
Gift guides
30 gifts for 3 year olds that aren't toys (and actually get used)
Gifts for 3 year olds that aren't toys: experiences, books, art supplies, printable activity books and gift cards, sorted by budget, with why each works.
Oct 1, 2026 · 9 min read
Homeschool curriculum
Homeschool kindergarten supply list: what you need (and what you can skip)
A practical homeschool kindergarten supply list: essentials vs nice-to-haves with price ranges, printer and laminator tips, storage and a $50 setup.
Oct 1, 2026 · 10 min read
Learning at home
How to choose a homeschool preschool curriculum (an honest buyer’s guide)
How to choose a homeschool preschool curriculum: what it should include, the main types, minutes a day, free vs paid, a checklist and a sample week.
Oct 1, 2026 · 9 min read
Gift guides
Last minute Christmas gifts for kids: printable gifts you can make tonight
Last minute Christmas gifts for kids you can print tonight: instant download activity kits, gift cards, coupon books, and how to bind and wrap them well.
Oct 1, 2026 · 10 min read
Learning at home
35 learning activities for toddlers you can do at home today
35 easy learning activities for toddlers aged 18 months to 3, grouped by skill, with materials, simple steps, focus times and a daily rhythm.
Oct 1, 2026 · 10 min read
Reading & writing
30 letter recognition activities for preschoolers (and how to teach letters in the right order)
Letter recognition activities for preschoolers: 30 hands-on games, which letters to teach first, typical ages, and a 10-minute weekly routine to copy.
Oct 1, 2026 · 10 min read
Reading & writing
Kindergarten morning work that takes 10 minutes and sets up the whole day
Morning work for kindergarten made simple: what to put on the page, month by month ideas, and how to run it at home or in a classroom in about 10 minutes.
Oct 1, 2026 · 8 min read
Math & play
Number tracing 1 to 20 - formation rhymes, fixing reversals and a 4-week plan
Number tracing 1-20 made easy: formation rhymes for 0 to 9, how to fix reversals, linking each numeral to real counting, and a 4-week plan to copy.
Oct 1, 2026 · 10 min read
Reading & writing
Phonics phases explained, from Phase 1 to Phase 6 (a UK parent's guide)
Phonics phases explained for parents: what's taught in phases 1–6, example sounds and tricky words, year groups, and the Year 1 screening check.
Oct 1, 2026 · 10 min read
Homeschool curriculum
Pre-K curriculum at home: what to teach, a sample week and free vs paid
A plain guide to a pre k curriculum at home: what pre-K covers vs preschool and kindergarten, a sample week, free vs paid options and 20-minute days.
Oct 1, 2026 · 8 min read
Homeschool curriculum
Printable vs boxed homeschool curriculum: an honest cost and fit comparison
Printable homeschool curriculum vs boxed, online and library-based: what each costs, real printing math per page, and when boxed is the better choice.
Oct 1, 2026 · 9 min read
Reading & writing
27 rhyming activities for preschoolers, with words to say out loud
Rhyming activities for preschoolers and kindergarten: 27 easy games with scripts, how to teach rhyming step by step, and what to do if a child can't rhyme.
Oct 1, 2026 · 9 min read
Play & quiet time
40+ Screen-Free Activities for Toddlers, Sorted by the Moment You Need Them
Screen free activities for toddlers and 3 year olds, sorted by situation: while you cook, rainy days, the car, restaurants, calm-down time and siblings.
Oct 1, 2026 · 9 min read
Homeschool curriculum
Secular kindergarten homeschool curriculum: what to look for and how to choose
How to choose a secular kindergarten homeschool curriculum: what secular means, what K should cover, phonics order, math scope, time per day and prep.
Oct 1, 2026 · 10 min read
Play & quiet time
24 sensory bin ideas for toddlers, plus safe fillers and less mess
24 sensory bin ideas for toddlers and preschoolers, with safe fillers by age, seasonal bins, setup tips to contain the mess and easy ways to add learning.
Oct 1, 2026 · 9 min read
Reading & writing
Sight words worksheets that actually work (and how to use them without the tears)
Sight words worksheets for kindergarten and grade 1: the 8 page types that build real reading, how to avoid drill fatigue, and a 4-week plan to copy.
Oct 1, 2026 · 10 min read
Gift guides
35 stocking stuffers for toddlers (safe, non-candy and mostly under $10)
35 stocking stuffers for toddlers: safe for under-3s, non-candy and mostly under $10, with choking and button battery checks and printable wrapping ideas.
Oct 1, 2026 · 8 min read
Homeschool curriculum
Toddler curriculum at home: a 12-month theme list and 10-minute ideas
Is a toddler curriculum right for your 2 year old? A play-based approach, 10-minute days and 12 months of toddler curriculum themes with weekly ideas.
Oct 1, 2026 · 8 min read
Learning at home
What should a 3 year old know? An honest checklist for parents
What should a 3 year old know academically? An honest age-3 checklist for language, letters, numbers, fine motor and feelings, plus 10-minute play ideas.
Oct 1, 2026 · 10 min read
Learning at home
What should a 4 year old know? A checklist for kindergarten and reception
What should a 4 year old know academically? A clear checklist for pre-K, kindergarten and UK reception, what matters most and how to practice at home.
Oct 1, 2026 · 10 min read
Homeschool curriculum
What to teach in 1st grade at home, month by month
What to teach in 1st grade at home: a month-by-month scope and sequence for reading, phonics, writing, math and science, plus a skills checklist.
Oct 1, 2026 · 10 min read
Homeschool curriculum
What to teach in kindergarten: a month-by-month scope and sequence for home
What to teach in kindergarten, month by month: a simple scope and sequence for reading, math, writing and science, plus a skills checklist for home.
Oct 1, 2026 · 8 min read
Seasonal activities
35+ Winter Activities for Preschoolers, Indoors and Out (Plus a 5-Day Winter Theme)
Winter activities for preschoolers: snow play, indoor snow-day ideas, ice science, hibernation, winter math and literacy, crafts and a 5-day theme plan.
Oct 1, 2026 · 9 min read
Seasonal activities
40+ Christmas Activities for Kids to Fill December (Without the Stress)
Christmas activities for kids ages 3–8: easy crafts, a 24-day countdown, holiday math and reading, kindness ideas and a screen-free winter break plan.
Sep 29, 2026 · 8 min read
Reading & writing
How to teach your child to write their name, step by step
How to teach a child to write their name: readiness signs, pre-writing strokes, tracing to independent writing, grip tips and what to expect at 3, 4 and 5.
Sep 29, 2026 · 9 min read
Math & play
32 easy math activities for preschoolers you can do at home
Hands-on math activities for preschoolers ages 3–5: counting, numbers, shapes, patterns, sorting, measuring and early adding, plus the skill each builds.
Sep 29, 2026 · 8 min read
Seasonal activities
30 Thanksgiving Activities for Kids (That Also Keep the Day Calm)
Easy Thanksgiving activities for kids ages 3–7: gratitude ideas, turkey crafts, counting, reading, kitchen jobs and table games to keep the whole day calm.
Sep 29, 2026 · 8 min read
Seasonal activities
34 Fall Activities for Preschoolers (and What Each One Teaches)
34 easy fall activities for preschoolers: leaf crafts, apple and pumpkin learning, counting, sensory bins and nature walks, with the skill each one builds.
Sep 28, 2026 · 7 min read
Reading & writing
Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers: Easy Ideas to Build Strong Hands for Writing
Fine motor activities for preschoolers that build pencil grip, scissor skills and hand strength, plus what to expect by age and when to get advice.
Sep 28, 2026 · 8 min read
Learning at home
How to Homeschool Kindergarten (Without Burning Out Either of You)
How to homeschool kindergarten in about an hour a day: what to teach, a sample daily and weekly rhythm, choosing a curriculum, records and state rules.
Sep 28, 2026 · 8 min read
Reading & writing
How to Teach Letter Sounds to Your Child (Step by Step)
How to teach letter sounds at home: start with listening games, teach s a t p i n first, say pure sounds, then blend into CVC words. Games and tips by age.
Sep 28, 2026 · 8 min read
Learning at home
Kindergarten Readiness Checklist: What Your Child Really Needs Before Day One
A practical kindergarten readiness checklist by skill area, what matters most and what doesn’t, plus 10-minute ways to practice at home this year.
Sep 28, 2026 · 8 min read
Reading & writing
Kindergarten Sight Words: A List of 40 Words and How to Teach Them in 5 Minutes a Day
A kindergarten sight words list of 40 common words in 4 groups, plus a 5-minute daily routine, games and the heart words method that pairs with phonics.
Sep 28, 2026 · 7 min read
Learning at home
A simple preschool at home schedule that actually works
A realistic preschool at home schedule for ages 3–5: a sample daily routine, a weekly plan, how long lessons should be and what to teach first.
Sep 28, 2026 · 6 min read
Play & quiet time
Quiet Time Activities for Preschoolers: How to Replace the Nap (and Keep Your Afternoon)
Quiet time activities for preschoolers who've dropped the nap: how to set up quiet-time boxes, how long it should last, and 25 ideas kids can do alone.
Sep 28, 2026 · 8 min read
Play & quiet time
How Much Screen Time for Toddlers? The Guidelines, and What to Do Instead
How much screen time for toddlers is OK? What the AAP and WHO advise for ages 2–5, plus screen-free swaps, scripts for switching off, and phone tips.
Sep 28, 2026 · 8 min read