We're at the beginning of the school year once again, and once again, I have a two year old to try to distract while trying to get school lessons completed in the morning. This can be a very challenging part of homeschooling.
Thankfully, I have some experience from the year that Amelia was 2. Even more thankfully, I'm not pregnant like I was that year. I won't be lying on the couch in the midst of exhaustion trying to teach, distract a toddler, and eat a bowl of plain Cheerios all at the same time. This year just HAS to be better, right?!
The creative ideas that I am about to share are mostly not my own. I have perused many a blog post looking for the simplest, yet most effective, ways to distract my own child. The non-creative, linked activities are things that we probably already had on hand that I pull out for Olivia. They are things that we've most likely given to or received as gifts for our kiddos.
I did go shopping at the beginning of the week to purchase items that I needed to get my activities together. I did most of my shopping at the dollar store, and I think I spent about $30 total. Look around your home to get ideas of what you already have that can be put to use!
If you have a preschooler, please check out my preschool activity ideas post. Some of the activities overlap. And I don't know why I ended up with 60 both times. It really was just a coincidence. (I actually had 61 on this list, but 60 is such a nice even number, so I deleted one.)
Be sure to keep an eye on your kiddos as they do these activities since they are still possibly in the "I'd like to pop this thing in my mouth and chew on it for a bit" stage. Who am I kidding? My 5 year old reverts back to that stage occasionally.
Most of these activities are things that I'll give Olivia at the school table/counter. She'll play with them as she sees fit...nothing formal from me on the whole, but I'm sure I'll be able to squeeze in an educational opportunity here or there. I'm also certain that her sisters will happily stop what they're doing to teach her something. :)
Here we go...Operation: Distract Olivia.
1. sponge towers: cut several sponges into block-type pieces to stack/build/play/etc.
2. sensory balloons: large, heavy-duty balloons (not blown up) filled with dry beans, coffee grounds, flour, water, rice, etc.
4. ribbon pull activity: one slit on each side of a container with a long ribbon pulled through the slits and knotted on the ends; put several ribbons with different textures through one container to be pulled back and forth
5. popsicle stick container: yogurt container with slits in the top for popsicle/craft sticks; put them in/pull them out
6. lacing beads
7. outdoor water bins/buckets (warmer months): add some measuring cups/large serving spoons/tupperware
8. indoor water bins/buckets (bathtub/colder months): same as outdoor just in the bathtub (never underestimate my ability to teach a reading lesson in the bathroom :) )
9. water color books
10. pom poms pushed through the top of a yogurt container with holes
11. pipe cleaners and a strainer
12. egg carton filled with plastic eggs that are filled with rice/beans/bells/etc.: the eggs will be super-glued shut
13. puzzles
14. legos
15. soda bottle filled with glitter, oil, and water; yes, this will be super-duper super glued shut
16. wooden blocks
17. stickers
19. clothesline play: heavier string tied between two chairs, clothespins, hang socks/baby doll clothes/washcloths/etc.
21. stamps/stamp pad
22. junk mail/cutting practice
23. play-doh
24. sorting: nuts/bolts, colored pasta, pom poms, etc.
25. chalk coloring on black construction paper
26. pouring practice: water, plastic cups, towels :)
28. stacking cups: plastic solo-type cups to create rows/towers/etc.
29. sorting pie
30. train bin
31. balloon play
32. pet shop bin
33. chalk board painting: water, paintbrush
35. play-doh/spaghetti/Cheerios: ball of play-doh, hard spaghetti sticking out of the top/Cheerios threaded onto the spaghetti
36. button snake: long ribbon with a large button sewn on the end, squares of felt with slits to "thread" onto the ribbon
37. shape puzzle box
38. duplo blocks
39. table fort
40. dot markers
41. coloring pages
42. caps activity: collect random milk/container caps, cut a hole in an oatmeal or yogurt container, drop caps through hole
43. book bin: lots of lift the flaps/color/animal books (her favorites)
45. bathe our baby dolls: washcloth, bowl of water
47. wooden balance board: 2x6 that lays on the floor to practice walking/jumping/balance, slides under the couch for storage
48. zingo
49. paper towel roll taped to a cabinet/drop pom poms through into a cup or bowl
50. masking tape play: put pieces of masking tape on counter, she peels them and puts them on a piece of paper
52. wipes box with continuously-knotted-together strips of material to pull and pull and pull
53. bumpy foam (think pet bed) with a bowl of marbles and a teaspoon sized "dipper" to transfer marbles into bumpy divots
54. toothpicks dropped into a parmesan shaker
55. salt shaker dump/small funnel: dump salt back and forth between two shakers
56. toilet paper roll threading: cut tp tubes and thread them onto a string or ribbon
58. stuffed animal toss: stuffed animals/empty hamper/tape line to stand behind for the toss
59. jenga
60. tongs and toys: move toys/blocks/etc. from one bin to another using kitchen tongs
(If you can't tell, we're kind of big Melissa and Doug fans around here! I love their products. They are the best!! We ask for them each year as gifts from our more than generous Grandmas and Grandpas!)
Let me know if anyone needs clarification on any of these! Happy playing, distracting, entertaining, educating, and loving on your kiddos!
1 comment:
thanks for sharing these easy-peasy toddler activities. they will keep your little one and many other children occupied.
thank you.
thank you.
thank you.
and some ((((hugs))) too!
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