Tips on Homeschooling with a Toddler

I’m on year 3 of homeschooling, which also means it’s my third year of balancing homeschool with a toddler in tow (perks of having kids every 2 years). With each passing year I have learned a little bit more on how to handle the toddler wiggles while also teaching the older children. I’m not gonna lie… it’s definitely not easy, and there are some days that are really really tough. But I love the sibling dynamic, and wouldn’t trade these messy, crazy days for anything. If you feel like you’re in the trenches and have no idea how to manage homeschooling with a toddler in the mix, then this post is for you!

Before we get into the fun stuff, I need to preface that the most important thing (when it comes to anything kid related, really) is consistency. We have a fairly established homeschool rhythm, and because of that the toddlers/preschoolers know what to expect each day. When the younger kids are aware of what they can and cannot do during homeschool time, it sets everyone up for a better day!

Also if you are just starting out with some of these tips, be aware that there may be a learning curve for both you and the kids! Learning how to play with a sensory bin, do independent work and many of the other things listed below are skills you have to teach your kid. Start slow. Know you may have to spend extra time with your toddler as you get them set up. And remember that it’s important to have fun too! These are moments and days that you’ll never get back. Settle into the chaos and embrace these little ages before they’re gone.

Tips on Homeschooling with a Toddler

Jump to a section:
Prepare Sensory Bins
Prepare Toy Rotation
Create a Homeschool Box
Involve the Younglings
Break it Up
Be Patient

Prepare!

Just as it’s good to prepare for your school aged kids, it’s also vital to prepare for your younger ones. These are a few things that I have prepped to help lead to a more peaceful homeschool time.

1. Prepare Sensory Bins

Before the school year started I prepped a bunch of sensory bin boxes to use with the little girls. Usually on Monday Ellie will pick one of the boxes the girls will use for the rest of the week. Having an engaging, hands on activity already prepped for them to do helps SO much. They have fun and I’m able to focus on the older kids. Bonus, if one of my school aged kids is waiting for me to finish with the other, they just join in with the sensory bins and play until I’m finished.
Please note! Most days the kids and I end up having to pick up a huge mess under the table. Being the clean freak that I am, I just remind myself that the mess is worth it.

Check out these sensory bin ideas and start filling your closet with engaging activities your kiddos will love. Stay tuned – I plan on sharing a few more sensory bins soon!

2. Prepare a Toy Rotation

Having four kids means we have collected quite the variety of toys. I store them in plastic storage boxes and keep them in the hall closet or the garage. If Ellie isn’t interested in a sensory bin, I let her pick one or two of the toy boxes to play with in the living room. Since they aren’t toys that are always out, she is usually more interested in them! Frances usually floats between playing with the toys or hanging out with me.

Toy box ideas (Shop my favorite kid toys here!)

• MagnaTiles
• Hot Wheels/Matchbox cars and a ramp
• Drill & Bolt toys (the kids love these)
• Puzzles
• Wooden train track
• Doll house + accessories
• Squigz
• Magnetic Blocks
• Animals + Noah’s ark
• Megablocks.
  

3. Create a “toddler homeschool box”

This is the tip that take the most prep, but it can be really effective. The idea behind a toddler box is to have different worksheets, activity books, etc that your toddler can use during homeschool time. This way they feel like they’re doing “school” as well and keeps them occupied so you can focus on your other kiddos. Please note that the homeschool box is better suited for older toddlers (around 3 years).

My kids love dry erase, so I like to create tracing sheets that I put into a dry erase pocket. The toddler can use these sheets to practice tracing the alphabet, their name, shapes, lines, etc. It’s very inexpensive but has the potential for lots of fun and learning. You can also check out Teachers Pay Teachers for different activity pages or busy book ideas (for free even!), and stock the box with coloring books, Water Wow books, stickers and even fidget toys. Basically you want them to be things your kid can use in a mostly independent fashion.
Check out these toddler box toys I highly recommend!

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Involve the Younglings

This may seem like a no-brainer but one of the best and most effective ways to manage homeschooling with a toddler is getting them involved! When the child is younger, this may simply be me holding them while I work with their older siblings. And then as they get older, I love letting them join in on the fun!

We homeschool at the kitchen table, so the younger kids are present for most of the learning time. They’re usually busy playing with their sensory bin or other activity, but sometimes the activity we’re doing is something they can participate in. Ellie loves listening to the different picture books we read for science or practicing letter sounds with June. She also joins in when we do an art project or science activity/experiment. One of my favorite things about using Charlotte Mason curriculum is how family integrated it can be!

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Break It Up

Sometimes your younger kids need to get the wiggles out. And let’s be real, so do the older ones! If they are feeling restless and whiny, I like to do a brain break or two. This can be something simple like a little obstacle course through the living room, a dance party or even a Youtube video (my kids love Danny Go) or (my favorite from when I was a teacher) GoNoodle.

Spend about 5-10 minutes focused on movement, and then reevaluate. If your toddler is still having a hard time, try one of the previously mentioned tips. Another option is to move the kids outside. The older kids can continue their work, and a change of scenery can do a lot of good for younger kids! Or move the school room to the bathroom and give the younger kiddos a bath. The beauty of homeschool is that you can take it anywhere!
If all else fails (and you’re able to make it work) you may need to wait until nap time to get the rest of the schooling finished. It’s all about being flexible, still getting the work done, and having a flexible rhythm rather than a set schedule. Homeschooling with a toddler is always an adventure.

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Be Patient

This is something I am constantly working on. Every day I’m faced with new challenges that test every ounce of my patience. But by God’s grace I am able to work through the challenges without losing control of my anger… most days. When I start feeling anxious or over stimulated while homeschooling with a toddler, I have a few things I do.

• Put on some music. I love hymns and scripture set to song. It helps calm everyone down, and is also a great way to memorize the Bible. Here’s the Spotify playlist I made that the kids love!
• Light a candle. There’s just something about the flicker of a candle and the lovely smell that helps reset my system. My favorite brand is Antique Candle Co. They are a small business that creates clean candles that are affordable and smell amazing!
• Take some deep breaths. If I’m feeling really overwhelmed, I do some box breathing. Breathe in for two, hold for two, let it out for two and wait for two, then repeat.
• Express your feelings with the kids. A great way to teach emotional regulation is explaining how you’re feeling with your kids. Discuss what lead to those feelings, how we can improve and how you’re working on regulating them. Kids learn from observation, and this can really help them in the future.
• Take a break. If a kid is struggling, sometimes they just need to take a break. Rather than getting angry or losing your patience, do a brain break or go outside for a few minutes.

The most important thing is to remember that these are just little kids who are learning and growing every day. Have grace, be patient and find joy in the fact that you get to have a front row seat to your kids’ learning!

I pray this post can help make homeschooling with a toddler something you can love and enjoy rather than something you struggle with! Please let me know what you think in the comments, and if there are any other tips you’d add to the list.