Taming the Toddler
Posted by Cindy on January 5, 2009
The time has come to keep the toddler busy during school. I’ve always had to keep him occupied, of course, but now I’m finding the need for an arsenal of ideas so that school can flow smoothly. Well, as smoothly as school can flow with a toddler in the house.
I hope you’ve noticed the toddler section I added to the far sidebar. I found all sorts of great ideas from the links that should keep my active and inquisitive two-year-old busy for at least a little while. Here are some of the things I’ve prepared.
A bookshelf full of books just for him. Board books, hardcovers and softcovers. Almost all of it living literature because there’s no sense in even reading twaddle to a toddler!
A list of fingerplays, nursery rhymes and songs posted on the wall so I’m not stuck when the time comes.
A CD player with preschool-friendly CD’s in the schoolroom.
Toddler activity bags and boxes ready to go at a moment’s notice. I’ve stashed them on a high shelf so he doesn’t have access to them. It’s partly to keep the activities fresh and partly to keep him from destroying them!
I’ll probably do an activity bag post soon. Remind me if I forget!
Imaginative toys. For the moment, they are placed around the room in “centers”, but I’m sure they’ll all be jumbled in one big mess before the first week of the new school year is over with. What sorts of imaginative centers could you put together for a two year old?
Easy dress up – hats, big shoes without heels, big shirts, old Halloween costumes
A toy barn with lots of animals and tractors (or any Little People set)
Toy cars with a little “town” to drive through
A play kitchen with pots, pans and play food
A wooden train set
Blocks of any sort – my favorite – foam blocks, wooden blocks and bristle blocks
A cheap toy electric piano and other simple instruments
Toddler-safe art supplies – including crayons, washable markers, finger paints, watercolors, paintbrushes, rollers, play dough & cookie cutters, safety scissors, glue sticks, lots of paper scraps, coloring books and two Christmas gifts her received that I’m very excited about – a Aquadoodle Wall Mat
Giggles computer games
I’ll be excited for you to add wonderful ideas to my list! Homeschooling with toddlers is challenging, but I’m not defeated (yet!)
No related posts.
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Penny
I think you have some of the best teaching ideas of any of the blogs I’ve read. I have a two year old and a three and a half year old, so our school is mostly chaotic play, but I hope they are learning something from what I’m trying to start teaching them. I truly appreciate your ideas. Penny
January 23 2009 -
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Cindy, A toddler is on the loose at our house. She is high need and thinks because she is “2″ everyone stops for her. I have a post on my blog about entertaining her while homeschooling. Let me know if it is helpful.
http://www.lifeandhomeschooling.blogspot.com
Look under “Entertaining Toddlers While Educating Older Children”
OH, I loved the way you layed out the CM Carnival. A Big Thanks!!
January 06 2009 -
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Homeschooling with toddlers challenging? That’s an understatment!
Let’s see…I use felt to create felt fun. I made my own felt board out of a scrap plastic of some sort (i got it at a store called “The Scrap Box), but you could use sturdy cardboard. I covered it with black felt and cut out my own shapes. They can create their own pictures with the shapes.
I have also heard of felt games and making felt food. Neither are hard, they just require time. Sometimes that’s the biggest challenge right there!
How about wooden puzzles? Chalk/chalkboard fun? Stringing beads (big beads). Lacing pals (Melissa and Doug). Have him help sort laundry. He can gather all the socks, or the wash cloths, etc. and put them in a pile.
That’s all I have for now. In fact, I need some new ideas, too! Thank you for sharing.January 06 2009 -
These are great ideas Cindy! Although I don’t have a toddler in the house anymore I do have a 6 year old with special needs who would love some of these activities.
We have a collection of preschool bags as well. There was a group of women this last summer to got together and we each made 20 (If I am remembering correctly) of the same bag. Then we got together a few weeks later and swapped.
Blessings,
Theresa ♥January 05 2009
. Please post on the toddler bags when you get a chance. I need all of the help I can get!
