Ten Tips for Homeschooling with Toddlers and young children

1. Set aside a space for them.

Probably my best tip and biggest win is having a place for them. If you have the room to make it happen, you will not regret giving them their own little corner of your school space.

This doesn't come without some caveats. If they have their own space, you have to be consistent about making them use it and very consistent about having them clean up after themselves so that it doesn't become more of a disaster than a help for you. But giving them a space can mean they feel like a part of everything, and it gives you a safe place to put them while you work with the bigger kids.

In our school space they have their own table just for tthem to do all the art and playdough creating while we work at the other table.

2. Quality art supplies

I've said this one many times, but the best thing you can do for young children (who will, because not every child will, do art) is to provide good art supplies. Is it more expensive? A little. Does it provide hours and hours of creative play that does not involve a screen? Also yes.

My girls have especially enjoyed this aspect of our school space. They know where the paper is and know they can get whatever they need. I do keep crayons, paint, and markers up above them so they have to ask for them, and I only allow one art medium at a time, which cuts down on mess. Before they can get something new, they have to trade in whatever they were using.

PS: While my husband saves every piece of art they hand him, I toss most of it in the trash. Don't feel bad if you do as well.

3. Giving them their own work

This one might be controversial, but if they want to "do school too!" then don't squash that love and interest. Embrace it, but in a developmentally appropriate way.

Your 2-5-year-old probably isn't ready to do much and certainly shouldn't be expected to sit and do work like an older child. But setting aside fun workbooks, early learning books like the ones from Kumon, or even some from Dollar Tree can make them feel included and like they have their own school.

I've got books I bought for my oldest (because I was a much more foolish parent then) that he never touched, but that my three-year-old loves to do. Now, when I say she does them, what I mean is she mostly scribble-scrabbles, and I do not correct her. I let her do her work how she wants, and I let her be done when she is ready. This isn't about formal schooling. It's about making them feel included and distracting them while you teach your older kids.

Today the Playdough came out before the sun did.

4. Playdough

If you are a non-playdough, no-mess home... then this blog isn't for you.

Playdough is so good for little hands. It helps them build those hand muscles that they will need for writing later. Another wonderful benefit is that they pretend with it, and that is a huge win. My kids will play and tell stories about their creations and hype each other up with it.

They also perpetually forget to put it back in the jar, and I occasionally find it stuck to my shoe or the floor, but everything is a trade-off. If you are homeschooling, please adjust your mindset to accommodate some level of messy, lived-in home.

This is also cheap to make. My sister makes playdough for SEER all the time.

5. Sensory play

This one is much like playdough, but a sensory kit or sensory tray can inspire so much pretend play. One of your goals should be raising kids who pretend and play with each other, and I have heard so many kids of all ages make up stories about the dinosaur caught in the muck or the duck splashing in the pond when using sensory trays.

This is messy. Keep a vacuum handy. But after many years of observation, I can say that it's worth it. Kids need to play. Even your 10-11-year-olds can benefit from that play. Play doesn't have an age limit. If you need a good sensory kit SEER is having a sale right now. You can find all our sensory things here.

6. A book corner or library

Giving babies and toddlers access to their own special books (that they can't as easily destroy) will help keep them distracted, but it is also the start of inspiring a love of literature and learning.

There are few things as amazing as when my girls have a new favorite book they want me to read 100 times and that they have memorized. This love of good literature creates a family culture and a shared language. My kids will quote Owl Babies and recreate the story. Brown Bear was a huge favorite for a while. The Foot Book was one of the first ones my youngest really loved, and it helped her learn new words.

The power of putting books into their hands cannot be overstated. Do yourself a favor and create a corner for them to explore some books.

Sensory mess taken outside where there is a water hose to spray everything off at the end is a real winner.

7. Take it outside

If you are having a day where no one is focused, everyone is distracted and arguing, and no playdough or art supplies will fix it, take everyone outside.

Pack up the work you are trying to do and let the littles play while you work with the bigger kids one at a time. Then everyone can play when it isn't their turn. Learning to take turns with Mom's attention is a huge skill and one that will benefit everyone in the long run.

8. Independent Work

From as early as you can, make sure there are things your child knows how to do and can complete independently. Even the best teachers need a potty break, and once you have everyone sitting and doing school, you don't want to stop that momentum.

Make sure there are some things they can complete on their own, and training them to do so may take a while. It may take years. But the ultimate goal needs to be some independent work. You want to create independent thinkers and self-motivated young people. That starts here.

This is what my preschooler was doing today before the sun came up.

9. Busy boxes or task boxes

This can be a game changer, and there are a ton of suggestions on TPT. While I don't embrace every single one I see, I pick and choose what will work for my kids. I also make sure to get things that will work for all the ages I have, and I laminate the pieces so they can be used again.

We've been using some of these task box games for five or six years through different kids. Your task box doesn't have to be expensive to keep your kids' attention. It can just be full of things you print and put 2together or Target workbooks. Whatever it is needs to be things your children can do semi-independently.

10. Include everyone in read-alouds

My final tip is to include everyone in read-alouds. Even if your big kid is "too big" for the books, try to include them. Even if your toddler is wiggly, definitely include them. Even if read-alouds look like audiobooks in your house, include everyone. It's good for our brains.

If this list feels overwhelming, just know I built all these options up over the last ten years.

Sometimes we run through every single thing in a day, and other days they get the playdough out and are dedicated to it for the entire school day.

Other days I turn on Ms. Frizzle and embrace the screens.

Parenting and homeschooling aren't one-size-fits-all propositions. Every single day is different.

So what are your tips for homeschooling multiples or homeschooling with toddlers?