IDEAS FOR HOMESCHOOLING TODDLERS
from the Homeschooler's Notebook
Encouragement and Advice for Homeschool Families

From Melonie: I have an incredibly independent 17 month old who sometimes has me frazzled with the same problem! The worst part is that we live in the Pacific Northwest and I personally prefer to stay indoors fall through spring due to our weather changes. My suggestion is two-fold. First of all, if you have a room like a family room that you can spare, turn it into a playroom. We were saving up for "nice" furniture for all the rooms until my little one started to crawl and I realized how much easier it was since we'd gotten rid of our old coffee table and had not yet replaced it. I ordered a super long baby gate from One Step Ahead's catalog to block off the area between our kitchen nook and family room, then got a doorway gate to block off the stairwell area. The gate I got for the stair area even has a "remote" button that sits up above for one handed use, handy not only when I'm bogged down with toddler, laundry, etc, but when our 6 year old wants to go upstairs...we put the button where she can reach it but the little one can't! We then saved up for a Little Tikes play set with a swing, slide and min i"club house". This allows her to swing, slide, crawl, and hide on the rainy days or the super hot days, and since it's made out of sturdy molded plastic it can actually stay inside or go outside. (We got a regular "big kid" swing set for outside for the older kids, too, after more saving...but it's not as necessary for my 17 month old.)

From Lisa: We lived in a small apartment also with no outside playing space. The only place to play was the front parking lot. I have 4 children now, age 4, 3, 18 months, and newborn. In addition to going to the park and lots of McDonald's play land (I would just buy a small drink - we didn't have $ to eat there all the time), here is what we did:

We played outdoor games inside sometimes.
You can play hide and seek inside.
Also Ring around the Rosy, etc. in the living room.
Since they were toddlers, I don't "officially" homeschool with books and curricula. Instead, I would try to make basic preschool learning more active. For example, learning colors: I would put 2 or 3 different color cars on the floor, and across the room place construction paper in corresponding colors. They would zoom the cars across the room to the matching color. I made an indoor sandbox, using a plastic shoe box and uncooked rice (I use rice, cheerios or oatmeal because they are non toxic and vacuum up easily). Bury several objects in the "sand", challenge your child to find 3 objects, or 5 objects, etc. Or just give them some kitchen utensils and let them play in their sandbox. We also filled large bowls with water, placed it on a towel on the kitchen floor, and let them play. Give them tongs and challenge them to "fish" objects out of the water (great for fine motor skills). We learned about animals from their story books and hopped like frogs, prowled like lions, and stomped like elephants up and down the hall. And don't forget the fun of a homemade tent, made from a sheet thrown over the kitchen table! Or sofa cushion forts.

From Tanis: Depending on your study approach, have you considered doing some work outside at a park picnic table at less crowded times of the day? Reading out of doors has its challenges to keeping attention but if the older children understand what is expected before you go (surprise style is not recommended, at least at first) then they can help watch the two year old while you work with another child. I have jealously guarded nap times as my own, but realize some of them need to be used for important lessons of the non-interruptible type. You can set aside one or two days a week for nap time teaching and one at least for you to catch up or rest up or fill up on an interesting hobby. If nap time is limited or non-existent, do train for a short quiet time and extend as self control grows. Besides doing inside play together like bowling pins in the hallway, etc., I have started insisting that my older children pick books geared to their younger sisters that they will read to them during waiting times (while I work with the other) before they choose for themselves. I approve their selections just before check out time. Drills can be done outside too. Bouncing a ball back and forth or playing catch to go over formulas or facts of all kinds and even memory work if you think outside the box. It will likely feel awkward at first, but if you know ahead what may work and do what you can in a new way, you'll likely find more benefits than if you didn't try. If you have a yard and you just haven't fenced it yet, pray for provision and creative intuition for a fence. Could you & kids construct a make-shift fence out of donated or found materials. Whether you use a nearby park or creatively make do with the yard you have, or both , the less intricate lessons can be done in less traditional ways. Start with one day or lesson done different and keep trying until you find what works for you. Perhaps trading child care with another preschooler challenged family for one half day per week or every other week might help. Since most don't go all five days all day, you'll likely find someone who's schedule would mesh nicely with yours. Don't limit yourself to playmate arrangements, either. If you can find an adoptable grandparent or "auntie" or friend to take your child out once a week in exchange for a dozen muffins, go for it. ( The baking can be a project your active one can help out with as well as your older ones to help thank them !) A mix of all of these, wherever possible will put new wind in our sails.

From Brandi: I have an almost 7, almost 4, and almost 2 year olds. Actually we do a lot of unschooling. Actually though I worried about my little one and actually he joins right in (so to say). If my older ones are at the table doing art, my little one will come up and try his best to do the same. It is all in what you look at as schooling. I would not recommend trying to do school at home with this little of one around to keep entertained as well as school. Maybe try using nap time as more "structured" time.

• Water play J***** will play at the sink for an hour, a quarter filled with warm, soapy water, and a supply of plastic tubs and spoons. Or she also likes a very thin stream of water running, which I cringe at sometimes as "wasting" water, but if it lets us get school done.
  
• Play-Doh


• Bubbles, special toys that she can only play with while we do lessons.


• Paint, markers, etc. We let J***** do this at the same table we're working at, and call it her lessons. Granted, it can be a bit messy, but we use washable supplies and a smock.


• We got J***** a plastic "school" desk, with the flip over writing surface. She has her own notebook and pens to go with it.


• Be flexible. If the toddler really needs your attention, just put school off for a while.


• Last resort: do school when she's sleeping, or let her watch a half hour video. Your one year old may be too young for TV watching, but then again may still take long naps.

Good luck, and it will get better!

From Carna: I have been homeschooling for 5 years now, always with at least 1 preschooler. I have found that the schedule that works best for me is a unit study approach in the morning, hopefully with some activities that the preschooler can join. Then right after lunch it's nap time for the youngest and I spend one-on-one time with the older ones, working on Math and Language Arts for 1 - 1 1/2 hours. Then I send everyone for an hour Quiet Time - and enjoy some myself!

Once I got past the "but everyone else has school in the morning" myth, I really enjoy being able to spend uninterrupted time with the older ones, working on those subjects that require more concentration.

From Melissa: Here are a few of my ways of dealing with my younger ones.

• 1. I try each day to spend about 15 minutes each morning before school with my younger ones doing something with just him/her. Usually its a story, but maybe its playing with dolls or coloring. This seems to help with the "I need attention" syndrome. I find most of the time they bug us is just because I am not giving them the love and attention they need.


• 2. When we cover a subject as a family (i.e. Bible time or History which is always a good historical book read by me) everyone is included. I know even the 2 year olds are learning about Moses or Christopher Columbus. I find this to be the biggest help, just letting them follow along with us.


• 3. When they are naughty I just send them to their rooms until I finish up what I am helping another child with. Then I go to them and deal with whatever the problem is. They need to learn they cannot always have my undivided attention, and that others need to come first.


• 4. I occasionally use a video as a last resort, usually on days when we have a lot of work to cover or need a longer space of time than usual.

From Carol: We have a 14 year old homeschooled daughter and a 2 year old daughter. We have set up a special cupboard of quiet activities like play-doh, puzzles, washable markers, washable rubber stamps. construction paper, glitter pens and even an etch a sketch. As you have mentioned the toddlers really want to be included and will continue to pester and bother until they get some attention. Our 2 year old does her quiet "homework" at the table while our older daughter does her work requiring help. The 2 year old knows if she is loud she must leave the table and cannot play with the "homework" items again for the day. We can always get 45 min. of quiet study time from this activity. We also use the toddlers nap time for more difficult work like math. I have found having a toddler has given my older daughter a greater sense of responsibility and we have added "home economics" to our curriculum where the 14 year old plays with the toddler, feeds her and bathes her while I have time to do record keeping, grade papers and set up assignments. It is a day long process but we find so many great rewards!

From Lois: I have 4 children, ages 5, 3, 16 months& 2 months. I include the three year old by copying the coloring sheets from big brothers curriculum so he can color the same picture. Sometimes the 16-month- old joins us as well, but she just colors on a plain piece of paper taped to her high chair tray. I also have 2 write on wipe off books that teach prewriting skills that he loves to trace over & over. I also have discovered I can make my own write on/wipe off pages by backing something w/ card stock and covering with clear contact paper. Crayola makes a washable wipe off marker that doesn't have the horrid odor that the regular kind does. Also the regular kind are impossible to get out of clothing :) Yes, I know from experience :)

From Susan: On the issue of "how to homeschool" with little ones around...well, I have a 12, 9, 4 and 20 mo. old. Teaching the older two is SO hard because the 20 mo. old is maniacal! She is usually literally dancing on the table top as we try to do "school". I'm resigned to the fact that, you are right, babyhood only lasts a short time....so I live with it. But I ALSO tell my older two boys (when they are complaining about her banging something on the table or dancing around or screaming--as she does much of the time) that we all need to learn to work even when other things are going around us. I tell them that when they get a job it won't always be perfectly quiet so they can think. I try to stress that this teaches them how to focus.....now, I don't know that they buy much of this....but it is true. The 4 year old goes back and forth between doing his "school" work and playing quietly. But the little ones also feed off each other. it's generally a zoo around here in the mornings but somehow my boys have managed to learn. They are on queue with where they "need" to be academically. I have many friends with 6, 7 and 8 children each! I've watched their older ones grow up, "graduate" and go on to graduate college....so I know IT CAN BE DONE! THIS gives me inspiration....more than they know!

From Anne Marie: Here are a couple things I've done to keep my little ones occupied:

• put plastic on the floor and give them a bowl of water, a funnel and a few containers. Or use the kitchen sink with a chair scooted up close. This is great on a hot day when it doesn't matter if they get wet or not.


• give them a pan of rice (or beans), a funnel and a few containers for pouring with and into. This is really nice on cold winter days when I don't want them to get themselves and everything else wet.

From Jennie:We have an almost three year old, "active" daughter that we need to entertain (educate) while we are having school with our 9 year old son. We have chosen to make the old high chair the "teacher's chair" and she is only allowed to sit in it while we are in school. She has a chalkboard, special Wonder Color set and books that are only available during school. It seems to keep her in tow for a small time while we conquer MATH!

From Dawn: In a way, you are fortunate that your oldest two are so young. At these ages, keep formal schooling to a minimum. Forget about "desk work" and grade books.

While your 1-year-old is napping, do the one-on-one teaching that requires the most quiet and concentration. This may be phonics or fun math. Use cheap manipulatives to teach math. Give some to your one-year old to
distract him. I've found a box of poker chips for 25 cents at the local thrift store. I use these for math computations. You could also collect milk caps or other jar lids. I would concentrate my efforts on reading
wonderful books and magazines together. This can usually be done while your toddler is playing on the floor. Perhaps buy him or make him some special toys that he/she can use during this time. Lego Duplos can often be found at yard sales and thrift stores cheap. Janbrett.com has some wonderful activities that can be printed and laminated at your local office/copy store. I also print coloring pages from sites like Thomas, Maisy, Bob the Builder, etc. and let my little one color. Other sites with wonderful ideas to keep toddlers busy can be found at:

Preschool
http://www.pbs.org/kids/sesame/html/alphapbs.htm
http://www.homeschoolchristian.com/Features/Preschoolers.html
http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/preschool_activities.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/mo/sasschool/preschoolers.html
http://www.geocities.com/heartland/forest/2468/
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/3446/keeplittleones.html
http://members.aol.com/skygazr888/plyhs.html
http://www.toys2wish4.com/creativetoy/shapcolpat.html
http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/
http://www.abcteach.com/Shape%20books/SHAPEmenu.htm
http://daycare.about.com/mbody.htm
http://www.preschooleducation.com/
http://www.totcity.com/
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/alphabet_and_number_strips.htm
http://www-personal.engin.umich.edu/~ajdrake/toddler/open.htm
http://homeschooling.about.com/library/blcsp.htm
http://www.smarterkids.com/rescenter/library/articles.asp?article=1704&linkID=home_r03c
http://geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/8004/preschool.html
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/early_learning_at_home/50010

As for great books and magazines to look for:

BOOKS:
There are great biographies and stories for history and science in the following reading series. They are categorized in different grade levels so that the younger ones can be used for early reading. Use your library!

Hello Reader! by Scholastic, STEP into Reading by Random House, Eyewitness Readers by DK

MAGAZINES:
A science unit can be built around "Your Big Backyard" and "Ranger Rick" magazines. YBBY is for your children's age group. These magazines also
come with teaching guides and hands-on activities.

HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES

While we're on the subject, make all of these experiences real by using your hands. Set up bird feeders and baths and learn about the birds that venture into your yard. Even my 2-year old grabs his binoculars and is learning the names of common birds. Plant a garden together. Go to museums and story time. Your little one will love this.

Homeschooling can be so wonderful and fun! Enjoy learning as much as possible, even with your youngest underfoot, and you will be affecting their lives more than you'll ever know!

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