How to Make a Preschool Focus Board for Circle Time (Perfect for Homeschooling with Multiple Ages)
- kindlittleexplorer
- Sep 4, 2021
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 22
Homeschooling a third grader with a curious and energetic preschooler in the mix? That was my daily challenge—and it’s what inspired me to create our Preschool Focus Board.
When I was trying to balance quality lessons for my 3rd grader while also including my 4-year-old, I realized the key was involving them both in the same activities—just in different ways. Our solution? Short, structured circle time that included foundational preschool skills and gave big brother a chance to reinforce what he already knew.
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Why I Created a Preschool Focus Board
My 4-year-old loved sitting in for science, history, and reading—but I knew he needed more age-appropriate learning too. That’s when I introduced a short, daily circle time with a DIY focus board. We set aside 10–15 minutes to go over:
The letter and number of the week
Counting practice
Days of the week & months of the year
Shapes and alphabet review
The best part? Even my 3rd grader joined in. He didn’t mind that it was “preschool time” — it became a sweet moment for both kids to bond and learn together.
Materials to Make a Preschool Focus Board
Here’s what I used to make our board:
Velcro tabs for interchangeable pieces
Printed & laminated visuals (days, months, shapes, numbers, etc.)
Educational cutouts (letters, numbers, geometric shapes)
I made two focus boards—one in English and one in Spanish—to support our bilingual homeschool routine.
Why a Tri-Fold Board?
Instead of hanging everything on a wall or using a bulky bulletin board, I went with a tri-fold display board. It’s:
Portable and easy to store
Great for small spaces
Reusable year after year
Drill-free — perfect for renters or temporary setups
What We Included on Our Board
We focused on weekly rotating content, so I made sure everything could be swapped out easily with velcro tabs. Here’s what we display:
Alphabet Letter of the Week
Large colorful letters
Optional: Add pictures that start with the week’s letter
Number of the Week
Colorful number cutouts
Counting practice up to that number
Shape of the Week
Talk about real-life examples of the shape
Calendar Concepts
Days of the week (Yesterday / Today / Tomorrow)
Months of the year
Weather tracking (optional)
For the “yesterday / today / tomorrow” section, I made labels, laminated them, and attached them to mini hanger clips—an easy way to rotate daily.
DIY Display Tips
Print your own visuals or find free printables online
Laminate everything for durability
Use velcro or magnetic dots to easily switch out pieces
Customize with colors, languages, or seasonal themes
Bonus: How This Helped Our Homeschool Routine
This small, intentional activity each day created structure without overwhelm. It gave my preschooler a sense of participation and independence, while also reinforcing routine and review for my older child.
Best of all? It’s a screen-free, hands-on learning tool that can grow with your kids.
Want to Try It Yourself?
Download my free preschool focus board printables here — or grab the same supplies I used
Click here for a FREE download