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by Cindy 12 Comments

Taming the Toddler

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Taming the Toddler

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Taming the Toddler

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.

Here are some of the things I’ve prepared for taming the toddler in my house.

Books

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!

Music

A CD player with preschool-friendly CD’s in the schoolroom.

Toddler Tunes

Preschool Songs

100 Singalong Songs for Kids

Action Bible Songs

Silly Songs

Activity Bags

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!

Toddler Activity Bag Ideas
Toddler Activity Bag Ideas
Toddler Activity Bag Ideas

Imaginative Toys

For the moment, imaginative toys 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?  All kinds!

  • 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 are foam blocks, wooden blocks and bristle blocks
  • A cheap toy electric piano and other simple instruments

Arts and Crafts

Toddler-safe art supplies are at the ready. He doesn’t have free access to these – he gets to help choose the supplies he wants and has to stay at his toddler table in the schoolroom.  Some of our supplies include:

crayons

washable markers

finger paints

watercolors

paint brushes

paint rollers

play dough

cookie cutters

safe scissors

glue sticks

lots of paper scraps

coloring book

Aquadoodle wall mat

Crayola Color Wonder coloring book

Computer

You might be surprised that many little ones can handle computer related games and apps! Watch for Wii games or iPod/iPhone apps for toddlers and preschoolers.  Some computer-based games, both CD-based and free online, for preschoolers include:

Giggles Computer Funtime Games

Sesame Street

Feed the Monster

PBS

Starfall

Nick Jr.

Count Us In

Seussville

Literacy Center

I’ll be excited for you to add wonderful ideas to my list!  Homeschooling with toddlers is challenging, but I’m not defeated (yet!)

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Last Updated: September 15, 2020 Filed Under: Preschool Tagged With: activities, centers, games, homeschool, preschool, rhymes, toddlers

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  1. Theresa ♥ says

    January 5, 2009 at 9:24 pm

    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 ♥

  2. Christin says

    January 6, 2009 at 2:28 pm

    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.

  3. Kristi says

    January 6, 2009 at 7:24 pm

    Thanks for the great ideas! My toddler boy is 3 and it has it suddenly gotten challenging to keep him entertained and the newborn cared for, all while teaching the other 3 :). Please post on the toddler bags when you get a chance. I need all of the help I can get!

  4. Missy says

    January 6, 2009 at 10:25 pm

    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!!

  5. Cherie says

    January 7, 2009 at 5:21 pm

    Wonderful, just what I needed to revive my poor mind! Fab ideas and now I just need to implement them, we use boxes that are only out during “school” so they are fresh, but it always good to have some more ideas up your sleeve!

  6. Penny says

    January 23, 2009 at 7:50 am

    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

  7. Adelien Tan says

    February 17, 2014 at 12:13 am

    People often complain of toddlers. They look annoying just because they don’t have anything to do. I am sure that this list of activities would be very helpful to keep them busy and learn.

Trackbacks

  1. Mama’s Ultimate Guide to Occupying Toddlers During School Time says:
    August 8, 2012 at 11:38 pm

    […] Taming the Toddler – Our Journey Westward –> Multiple ideas on everything from books to imaginative toys to computer time. […]

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    October 1, 2012 at 10:48 am

    […] You can store your busy bags standing upright in a small bin or box like at Our Journey Westward and The Princess & The […]

  3. Charlotte Mason Carnival – Peaceful Winter Edition | Our Journey Westward says:
    December 13, 2012 at 6:59 pm

    […] in the house who can make school challenging (to say the least!)  I’ve written a post called Taming the Toddler to remind myself of things to keep him meaningfully busy while the big kids are involved in school […]

  4. I Can’t Homeschool Because of the Little Ones says:
    March 12, 2013 at 6:02 am

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Oh, what peace this quote brings to my soul. It’ Oh, what peace this quote brings to my soul. It’s true, you know. I’ve told my children for years that it only takes a nature walk to see God through His handiwork and to know that His promises are true.⠀
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Christmas picture books are some of my very favori Christmas picture books are some of my very favorite books of all time. I’ve spent years collecting new ones here and there (and will probably continue collecting for years to come because there are at least a few favorites I still don’t own).🤗🤫⠀
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