Comments on: Keeping Toddlers Busy While Homeschooling

By: SkylarKD

SkylarKD — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:36:02 +0000

My daughter LOVES playing with her letter magnets. She sorts them by colours, says the name of each letter, and tries to spell some words with them. They've given me the time to get a lot of things done in the kitchen!

By: Lenetta @ Nettacow

Lenetta @ Nettacow — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:17:12 +0000

Awesome post, though the comments are just about as good! :>) I linked to this on my weekly roundup - post is here. Thanks!!

By: Turtlemomma

Turtlemomma — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:41:16 +0000

Something I do with the older toddlers is dried beans. I give each toddler a couple cups of dried beans like kidney, and some things from the kitchen. Like muffin tins, cookie sheets, measuring cups, plastic spoons..whatever. That keeps them super busy so I can do the dishes. Im not a home schooler but I do watch little kids in my home.

By: Melissa Gonzales

Melissa Gonzales — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:02:17 +0000

I too have begun to compile my own box of "kits" and over the past couple of days I have had time to do so much uninterrupted because of them. I plan to make up more and have a few sites with ideas…
http://www.proverbs31womantoday.com/id251.html

By: Raisingarrows

Raisingarrows — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:10:37 +0000

Fantastic blog! Awesome ideas! Adding your button to my site!
~Amy @ Raising Arrows

By: The Hamm Bunch

The Hamm Bunch — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 03:27:43 +0000

I LOVE these ideas!!! I homeschool my first grade daughter and have a four year old doing kindergarten work and then I have a two year old son. I want him to be with us without interrupting us. These ideas will help a ton. Thanks!

By: Mandi @ Organizing Your Way

Mandi @ Organizing Your Way — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 05:24:06 +0000

Thanks so much -- definitely going to add some of these to my list of activities!

One problem I've been running into is that my older girls end up wanting to do the toddler activity. So the 3.5 yo wants to do whatever the 2 yo is doing, which would be fine with me except when I let her, then the 5 yo decides her school is boring and no fun because she wants to do what her sisters are doing.

Any tips for getting older ones to focus (and we're not talking very long here, 20-30 mins tops) on seatwork when your toddler has a fun activity?

By: Molytail

Molytail — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:23:23 +0000

Great list! I don't have a toddler to occupy, but I do have a special needs kiddo and it's much the same sometimes when I need to work 1-1 with his sister. I'll usually set him up with a project - playdough, Floam, cutting with safety scissors, puzzles, blocks, free brailling, fingerpaint, etc - or let him listen to music or stories on cds ~ or online as well. Check Storynory for a lot of audio stories that your kids can listen to for free! :-)

By: ekbell

ekbell — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:49:55 +0000

My most reliable toddler distractor has been something to scribble on and something to scribble with.

Nothing else has distracted any of my toddlers so reliably.

I must admit my secret weapon in toddler distraction these days is daddy. He's around during lessons (he works evenings) and he takes charge of toddlers if need be.

By: Ben, Heather and kids

Ben, Heather and kids — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:19:00 +0000

Thanks for posting this list. I have a VERY active 2 yr old (and a 3 yr old) to keep occupied while I work with our 4 and 5 yr old! I've done some of the things you mentioned, but am looking forward to new ideas!!