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Home | homeschool | Keeping Little Guys Busy

Keeping Little Guys Busy

homeschool, Homeschool Preschool

Keeping the younger crowd busy during a homeschool day can be a constant challenge! You want them to have fun, you don’t want to continually shush them or send them out of the room, but you would like for them to play somewhat quietly while the big kids study. Oh, and don’t forget about the very short attention span!

So what do you do?

Plan ahead!

I have a whole shelf of activity boxes with preschool activities, and we have a rotation of toys stored out of sight to “surprise” them with. For example, we keep a giant box of castle-building duplos, Little People buildings and toys, play-doh and other sets stored away and bring them out once every couple of weeks. If it hasn’t been seen in awhile, it’s lots of fun and keeps their attention longer

Here are a few of our other “busy” activities:

The dress-up bear.

Computer time. Nicholas (almost 5) likes to play on PBS Kids or Nick Jr. Most of the CD games we have became outdated when we got a new computer this year, so we rely on online games.


Bean scooping. This is too easy. Just assemble an assortment of containers (we used individual applesauce bowls, snack bowls, and other odd, small containers), some dried beans, and spoons for scooping. I used measuring spoons in different sizes. Fill one container, and instruct the children to scoop the beans into the other containers. It takes great concentration!


We have all hard floors, so if they spill, we just sweep up when the kids are finished.


Of course, we also use coloring books, spiral notebooks for drawing (the .15 kind from WalMart), stickers on paper, a hole-punch with paper strips, and other fun, simple things. A break with some outdoor time also does wonders!
Tools for Tots has some great ideas for homemade learning activities that you can put together quickly and have them ready for your busy little ones! Several of the ideas I use in my activity boxes came from here. You can also do a google search for Montessori learning ideas for some hands-on activities.
But the biggest tip of all is to spend time with the youngest children first (reading, coloring, playing a game, singing, flash cards, or whatever your learning time includes) and then set them up with quiet activities. They will have had their “mommy time” and be content to play for awhile.
I have other ideas for these younger kids here and here.
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September 16, 2010 · 1 Comment

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  1. I am blessed! says

    September 17, 2010 at 2:28 am

    Bean scooping- you're brave : ). I know I'd be picking up beans for days! My 4 year old does great, but I can't seem to keep my almost 2 yr old interested in much of anything except following around Mommy or playing outside. She spends a lot of time outside : ).

    Celee

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I have two very different sons. One has been an extrovert since he could talk. The other has been an introvert for just as long. The thing about home education is that it doesn’t have to happen at home. What it really means is “not public school.” Not stuck in a classroom all day. Not confined to a government calendar. Not a slave to the system. 23 years ago I helped my aunt Kari start a homeschool co-op. At that time, I had one child and she was three years old. If you have a child that struggles to read, read to them. Read aloud every day. That’s the best advice I can give. New year. New house. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION: How do I homeschool with babies and toddlers in the mix?? Don’t let people tell you that “you can’t shelter your children.” Yes, you can. And you absolutely should. Mothers have a crucial role to play in society, although their job doesn’t always feel very “crucial.” Wiping baby faces, repeating instructions, settling squabbles, and making food is repetitive and doesn’t always seem important. For 2023, I’ll be preaching the same ol’ message that I can’t stop saying: “education is discipleship,” and “you can do it” homeschooling encouragement. Not gonna make the message easier to swallow when the world is attacking children on a grander scale every day. I’m also not going to tell you that homeschooling is a breeze, but I will keep saying that it’s worth every minute.

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