{"id":1034,"date":"2011-04-19T19:28:55","date_gmt":"2011-04-20T00:28:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.flandersfamily.info\/web\/?page_id=1034"},"modified":"2023-09-13T03:30:45","modified_gmt":"2023-09-13T08:30:45","slug":"keeping-toddlers-occupied","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.flandersfamily.info\/web\/homeschool-help\/keeping-toddlers-occupied\/","title":{"rendered":"Keeping Toddlers Occupied"},"content":{"rendered":"

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One of the most challenging aspects of home schooling multiple ages is balancing the different needs of each child. This is especially true when there are preschoolers in the home. Keeping toddlers occupied long enough to do lessons with bigger kids becomes a daily challenge.<\/p>\n

As much as possible, I try to do intensive teaching of the older ones (in subjects such as math or science) while my youngest ones are asleep\u2014either early in the morning before babies get up or during the afternoon when they are napping.<\/p>\n

Once everybody is awake, my older children entertain the younger ones in half-hour shifts while I work one-on-one with another child, but there was a time when I simply didn’t have enough kids to make that work. Back then, I kept a running list of activities my little ones could do with minimal supervision, and referenced it as needed. <\/p>\n

I’ve recently had to press many of those ideas back into service, as I currently have a two-year old who wakes up at the crack of dawn and might otherwise disrupt the calculus and algebra lessons that are going on at that time of morning.<\/p>\n

None of these things are particularly novel, but referring to the list keeps me from having to “think on the spot”, adds variety to their days, and keeps things running more smoothly. <\/p>\n

Naturally, I confine the kids to the fenced backyard for “outdoor activities” and either school where I can watch them through a window or else spread a blanket in the grass and teach their siblings outdoors under the trees. <\/p>\n

Feel free to peruse the list below for ideas that may appeal to the preschoolers at your<\/em> house!<\/p>\n

Indoor Activities:<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. \n

    Looking at books<\/h3>\n