Raise your hand if you have preschoolers who are bugging everybody while you try to homeschool! We had two of ’em running around (one of mine and a friend) during our (on purpose) homeschooling years…they LOVED having access to everybody all the time, but, sometimes the little darlings just got in the way. Here are 8 things we did to keep the little ones busy doing interesting – but independent – things:
3 Towels
I found this idea on a blog years ago and used it often…if anyone knows where this originally came from, please let me know so I can give proper credit. Just spread 3 towels or small blankets on the floor and put a different activity on each one (stack of books, pile of matchbox cars, tub of Duplos, coloring supplies, etc.). Kids can play with any (or all) of these activities…but…1.) Each activity must stay on its towel and 2.) The kid can move between towels, but needs to be on a towel the whole time. Besides keeping the kiddo contained to a superviseable area, this gives kids a little autonomy within perameters.
Join in
We had each sibling choose a time or an activity that the preschooler/toddler could join in each day. Sometimes the older would take a break and play with the younger for half an hour, sometimes the younger got to “help” with a science experiment or computer activity. This pre-planning helps the little kids spend time with everyone…but ensures that the load is spread equitably.
Sensory boxes
Simply fill a container with interesting items for your child to investigate. You can make a box around a theme (such as a color, place, holiday, etc.) or just collect a bunch of smallish items a child might find interesting. Make sure the items are age-appropriate, of course (i.e. – be mindful of choking hazards or things that will make a ridiculous mess)! You can find all sorts of ideas on Pinterest, and can even buy pre-made boxes on Etsy, etc. I prefer the “free and simple” route and used stuff around the house, dumped in a small box or muffin tin. My kids loved picking through random craft and scrapbooking supplies (buttons, fabric flowers, chipboard pieces, etc.) and odds and ends from our shop (nuts, bolts, washers, twine, tape, etc.). Kids love small, weird things! To get a little more mileage out of your box, you can ask kids to sort the items into a muffin tin or arrange them to make a scene.
Water tubs
This is a similar idea to the sensory boxes, but with water. Give kids a plastic tub filled with a few inches of water (I used plastic dishtubs) and a stash of items they can play with – plastic animals, dishes, measuring cups, turkey baster, pitcher, etc. My kids also enjoyed a little squirt bottle with some dishsoap in it to make bubbles. Our water tubs became zoo washing stations, oceans, science experiments – all kinds of fun things! As a bonus, the “mess” soapy water makes will help clean up, right?!
Books on tape
Listening to books on tape with the actual book in hand – especially the old-fashioned style that beeps to turn the page – develops pre-reading skills such as page turning, word recognition and pacing. You can usually check out books on tape/CD from libraries, but, a quick youTube search might be all it takes to find a video of someone reading a book you already have at home.
Give presents
Harness the power of the surprise! Try wrapping up a book, game, or toy (an old gift bag works great) each day for a surprise activity. You don’t need to buy new stuff…just surprise your child with an item to play with. This is a fun one to incorporate into 3 towels, particularly if its something they haven’t seen for a while or that wouldn’t necessarily be considered a “toy”. Fun ideas include funny kitchen utensils or cookie cutters, art supplies like clay or watercolors, a hole punch and some paper, etc.
Timers
If you need your preschooler to do something for a set amount of time – say play quietly for 5 minutes while you make a phone call or spend 15 minutes doing 3 Towels – try sand timers! Preschoolers can visually see that time is passing and know when it is over without knowing how to tell time. You can get some fun sets on Amazon in about any time increment.
Schoolish stuff
Last, but not least, give preschoolers their own school work to do next to the other kids. You can print out coloring or matching pages online, give them puzzles or other learning games, hand them a bowl of items to sort, or (if you aren’t opposed to screen time) let them play some learning games on a tablet (Khan Academy Kids is a fun app). Sometimes just feeling included is enough to keep littles happy and occupied.
I hope this gives you a few new ideas to try — please feel free to comment with any ideas you want to share!
Feeding Giants 