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How to Homeschool a Toddler and Preschooler

October 17, 2016 by Dani 96 Comments

If you're new here, sign up for the FREE 5-Day Manifesting Breakthrough Challenge! . And then, join me in my group, Manifest It Sis on Facebook! We have lots of fun over there. Thanks for visiting!

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Full disclosure: Rohan is not homeschooled full days. He attends a p/t Montessori place where he basically learns through play with a bunch of other adorable 4 year olds. Kaya is thoroughly jealous of Rohan going to “school.” She stages sit ins at her own personal picket line every time I bring her to drop off or pick up. It’s to the point now that I just drop her at my gram’s house, go pick up Ro, then scoop Kaya back up…just to avoid her protests. But, we felt sad that she felt left out so we have started “homeschooling” her. That wasn’t enough. She still begged to go to school, so she now attends “Library School.” (And she will tell you about her school, proudly.) It’s tricky having two different ages/stages to handle while helping them learn through play.

 

Here is how I handle homeschooling my toddler (2) and preschooler (4):

Remember that everything is homeschooling:

This is key for me. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Everything you do at home is homeschooling whether you label it that or not. Our lilspongeybrained kids are always watching and soaking up what we do, say, and don’t say. Play and interacting with us as parents is about 99% of their days and that’s how they learn. So I intentionally make everything a learning opportunity. Whether it’s decorating the bathroom, or doing laundry, we find a way to make the task fun and educational. I also narrate my moves telling the why behind what I’m doing and ask the kids for input on it to get their wheels turning. (Most recently Kai asked me why I was going outside to shake the dirt out of a rug, I asked her why did she think I was doing it outside? She said because the rug is too cold in this house. -… I took the hint and turned down the A.C. hahaha)

kaya peek

Make a dedicated school zone:

Our old kitchen table has been moved to the family room and has been dubbed the “activity table” where we do our arts and crafts and “school” work. I help one kiddo at the table while the other one uses The Touch & Learn Activity Desk™ Deluxe by VTech®. We then will do an activity like clay play or kinetic sand together. The Touch & Learn Activity Desk™ Deluxe by VTech® is a hit in our house. Rohan absolutely loves the desk and calls it his “station” and it really is. It’s an interactive play center that has nursery rhymes, games to teach him concepts, reading, math and more as he goes along. It also transforms into an art center with an easel that he can use chalk on, or clip paper to, and it can even be a music center as well. Kaya likes “the station” and when it’s just the two of us at home she will pull it over to wherever I am and start doing her “school”work. (It’s very light but very sturdy.) It’s also easy to switch out the activities so the kids can be independent and play on their own.

Be creative (or…just lie.):

Remember that “Library School” Kaya goes to? Yeah…well that’s just story time at our local library. They lead a group of kids in singing songs, reading a few stories and doing a craft. It’s twice a week but when it’s not in session (or when we’re late) Kaya and I go and she does “puzzle class” using all the puzzles in the kid section, and we discovered the computer area for younger kids so she’ll start “computer class” too (Basically whatever computer games they have while mommy uses her laptop to do some work beside her.) So….yeah…we got a little creative with the titles… or maybe we just straight up lied to our two-year old… either way, she’s happy and learning through play!

library school

 

Have special items for each child:

We share a lot in our house and try to instill sharing as a value with Rohan and Kaya…to an extent. We also know it’s important for them to have their own special items. So, with The Touch & Learn Activity Desk™ Deluxe by VTech®,  we let them know that they have to share it. They each get a set amount of time with it each day. However, we also made it special for each of them by giving them both their own proprietary extension packs. Rohan has the Getting Ready for Kindergarten pack and Kaya has the Getting Ready for Preschool pack. I’m going to buy the Math pack for them both to share, though. They have 8 extension packs to choose from for ages 2 through 5 so it’ll take a long time before your child “ages out” of the desk. This was one of the best educational toys purchases I have made in a long while. I really love that both my 2 and 4 year old are able to get so much out of it. I really love that the volume has more than just high, low and off like so many other toys that talk and sing. The kids know to keep the volume lower when they’re using it next to mommy while she works. #win. Another great feature is that the legs can come off without too much effort. Kai prefers to sit down and use the desk as a laptop toy. Rohan likes to sit at the desk “station” using the stool that’s included. So not only can we customize the skill level, the subjects and transform the desk to an easel, we can also cater to each kid’s comfort preference.

Check out The Touch & Learn Activity Desk™ Deluxe by VTech®! If you have a curious toddler or preschooler I am certain they’ll love it and learn from it!

 

What subjects do your little ones love to learn about?

 

Comment below to be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card!

Leave a comment on any other post with #vtechentry for an additional entry!!

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: homeschooling, Learning Through Play, Lifestyle

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Comments

  1. Will says

    October 17, 2016 at 4:43 pm

    I don’t have any little ones yet.

    Reply
  2. Will says

    October 17, 2016 at 4:44 pm

    https://twitter.com/willgriesmer/status/788118393605988352

    Reply
  3. Steve says

    October 17, 2016 at 5:39 pm

    My nephew loves to learn about science and history.

    Reply
  4. mami2jcn says

    October 18, 2016 at 2:47 pm

    My baby girl is interested in music.

    Reply
  5. mami2jcn says

    October 18, 2016 at 2:48 pm

    tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/788451546325520384

    Reply
  6. heather says

    October 18, 2016 at 3:32 pm

    The little ones loves to learn about math in our house.

    Reply
  7. heather says

    October 18, 2016 at 3:34 pm

    https://twitter.com/myway070/status/788463186525560832

    Reply
  8. Julie Wood says

    October 18, 2016 at 3:49 pm

    My kids love to learn about animals, music, and fun movies!

    Reply
  9. Julie Wood says

    October 18, 2016 at 3:50 pm

    tweet-https://twitter.com/JewelWood/status/788467184825622528

    Reply
  10. Kelly D says

    October 18, 2016 at 5:23 pm

    My kids love to learn about science and animals.

    Reply
  11. Kelly D says

    October 18, 2016 at 5:24 pm

    tweet
    https://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/788490831460175878

    Reply
  12. Elena says

    October 18, 2016 at 6:43 pm

    My son loves to learn math

    Reply
  13. Elena says

    October 18, 2016 at 6:44 pm

    https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/788511027784654849

    Reply
  14. Jessica To says

    October 18, 2016 at 7:30 pm

    My son loves to learn about science and outer space.

    Reply
  15. Natalie says

    October 18, 2016 at 7:52 pm

    My niece loves to learn about science, especially biology.

    Reply
  16. Natalie says

    October 18, 2016 at 8:01 pm

    https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/788530312422813696

    Reply
  17. Rebecca Graham says

    October 19, 2016 at 2:05 am

    Learning about nature is a favorite.

    Reply
  18. Lisa Brown says

    October 19, 2016 at 7:54 am

    my little one loves learning science/basic astronomy
    jslbrown2009 at aol dot com

    Reply
  19. Lisa Brown says

    October 19, 2016 at 7:55 am

    tweet-https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/788709983810486273
    jslbrown2009 at aol dot com

    Reply
  20. Rachel says

    October 19, 2016 at 9:01 am

    My son loves to learn about farm animals.

    Reply
  21. Rachel says

    October 19, 2016 at 9:02 am

    https://twitter.com/RachelGriesmer/status/788726801254187008

    Reply
  22. kjasus says

    October 19, 2016 at 9:12 am

    my son loves to learn math

    Reply
  23. kjasus says

    October 19, 2016 at 9:13 am

    https://twitter.com/raggammuffin/status/788729839314436096

    Reply
  24. Anastasia says

    October 20, 2016 at 2:46 am

    Anything art related 🙂 If it involves drawing something, they are all for it 🙂

    Reply
  25. Anastasia says

    October 20, 2016 at 2:47 am

    Tweeted 🙂 – https://twitter.com/Enter_Now/status/788994462802337792

    Reply
  26. Elle says

    October 22, 2016 at 12:16 pm

    My son loves to read and practice reading. He loves visiting the library and getting a stack of new books.

    Reply
  27. Elle says

    October 22, 2016 at 12:18 pm

    Tweet: https://twitter.com/PrettyHotPink6/status/789863569416413184

    Reply
  28. Erika says

    October 22, 2016 at 2:54 pm

    My daughter is all about science. (Also, we homeschool, too!)

    chambanachik(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  29. Jessie C. says

    October 22, 2016 at 4:11 pm

    My kids love science and math.
    tcarolinep at gmail dot com

    Reply
  30. Jessie C. says

    October 22, 2016 at 4:12 pm

    tweet-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/789921912767905794

    Reply
  31. Madeline says

    October 22, 2016 at 4:49 pm

    My little one loves reading and anything to do with books.

    Reply
  32. Madeline says

    October 22, 2016 at 4:57 pm

    Tweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/789933694672711680

    Reply
  33. Amy Tong says

    October 26, 2016 at 2:31 am

    My kids love science. it’s just so fascinating! 🙂

    amy [at] uTry [dot] it

    Reply
  34. Amy Tong says

    October 26, 2016 at 2:32 am

    tweeted:

    https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/791165538517024768

    amy [at] uTry [dot] it

    Reply
  35. Robin says

    November 2, 2016 at 9:11 am

    Science!

    Reply
  36. katherine says

    November 4, 2016 at 5:10 pm

    MIne loves animals

    Reply
  37. katherine says

    November 4, 2016 at 5:12 pm

    https://twitter.com/mkjmc/status/794648328315224066

    Reply
  38. Margaret Smith says

    November 4, 2016 at 8:07 pm

    Math is a favorite. Thanks so much.

    Reply
  39. Margaret Smith says

    November 4, 2016 at 8:08 pm

    Tweeted: https://twitter.com/peg42/status/794692723437617152
    Thanks so much.

    Reply
  40. Mita says

    November 5, 2016 at 5:42 pm

    https://twitter.com/mitadav/status/795018104548032512

    Reply
  41. Mita says

    November 5, 2016 at 5:43 pm

    They like Books and reading

    Reply
  42. elizabeth says

    November 6, 2016 at 11:42 am

    I make learning fun by playing games and singing songs

    Reply
  43. elizabeth says

    November 6, 2016 at 11:43 am

    https://twitter.com/eliza_elliott/status/795305508286631936

    Reply
  44. Susan Smith says

    November 8, 2016 at 3:35 pm

    My daughter loves art and history.

    Reply
  45. Susan Smith says

    November 8, 2016 at 3:36 pm

    https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/796089007197356032

    Reply
  46. BusyWorkingMama says

    November 10, 2016 at 9:38 am

    My daughter is big into science, gardening, animals.

    Reply
  47. julie says

    November 14, 2016 at 1:10 pm

    we love learning about animals

    Reply
  48. julie says

    November 14, 2016 at 1:10 pm

    https://twitter.com/showstopper474/status/798226581584023552

    Reply
  49. Angela Hendricks says

    November 14, 2016 at 11:47 pm

    My daughter loves learning about her colors and shapes.

    Reply
  50. Angela Hendricks says

    November 14, 2016 at 11:48 pm

    https://twitter.com/ashendricks80/status/798386829263327232

    Reply
  51. Jessica Beard says

    November 15, 2016 at 4:36 pm

    My son loves learning about animals and the planets.

    Reply
  52. Jessica Beard says

    November 15, 2016 at 4:39 pm

    https://twitter.com/JBeard25/status/798641467333951488

    Reply
  53. linda says

    November 16, 2016 at 12:38 am

    my kiddos love learning about animals!

    Reply
  54. linda says

    November 16, 2016 at 12:39 am

    https://twitter.com/lindilala/status/798762209253806080

    Reply
  55. maria cantu says

    November 17, 2016 at 4:50 pm

    Music and math.

    Reply
  56. amanda sakovitz says

    November 20, 2016 at 5:29 pm

    My niece loves learning about history!

    Reply
  57. amanda sakovitz says

    November 20, 2016 at 5:29 pm

    tweet
    https://twitter.com/aes529/status/800466082289086464

    Reply
  58. Mita says

    November 20, 2016 at 6:19 pm

    My niece likes science.

    Reply
  59. Mita says

    November 20, 2016 at 6:20 pm

    https://twitter.com/mitadav/status/800478846688468992

    Reply
  60. Cheryl B says

    November 20, 2016 at 9:44 pm

    My Granddaughter loves learning to read.

    Reply
  61. Cheryl B says

    November 20, 2016 at 9:45 pm

    https://mobile.twitter.com/arress83/status/800530385507450880

    Reply
  62. Kristen says

    November 21, 2016 at 9:42 pm

    They love reading and science.

    Reply
  63. Kristen says

    November 21, 2016 at 9:43 pm

    tweeted
    https://twitter.com/rubylorikeet/status/800892183347724289

    Reply
  64. Linda says

    November 22, 2016 at 4:54 pm

    They love spelling!

    Reply
  65. Linda says

    November 22, 2016 at 4:54 pm

    Tweet https://twitter.com/Lindiac/status/801181993597685760

    Reply
  66. angie lilly says

    November 23, 2016 at 9:38 am

    I don’t have kids. I can say that math was my fav subject, when I was a kid though.

    Reply
  67. angie lilly says

    November 23, 2016 at 9:39 am

    I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/801434525490413568

    Reply
  68. donna says

    November 23, 2016 at 1:42 pm

    my baby loves learning about animals

    Reply
  69. donna says

    November 23, 2016 at 1:43 pm

    https://twitter.com/linjumimom/status/801496220749463553

    Reply
  70. Anne says

    November 24, 2016 at 3:14 pm

    The little ones in my life love learning about art and bugs, not necessarily at the same time. 🙂

    Reply
  71. Anne says

    November 24, 2016 at 3:17 pm

    I shared your blog post and the VTech giveaway on Twitter:
    https://twitter.com/NotherAnneOther/status/801882180913860608
    Thank you.

    Reply
  72. Stephanie Phelps says

    November 24, 2016 at 10:46 pm

    She is loving learning her ABC”S right now and having fun with music!

    Reply
  73. Stephanie Phelps says

    November 24, 2016 at 10:48 pm

    I tweeted
    https://twitter.com/my4boysand1/status/801995829804494848

    Reply
  74. kjasus says

    November 25, 2016 at 8:52 am

    when my son was younger he loved to learn about dinosaurs

    Reply
  75. kjasus says

    November 25, 2016 at 8:53 am

    https://twitter.com/raggammuffin/status/802148100261498881

    Reply
  76. Kerry Bishop says

    November 25, 2016 at 12:02 pm

    My daughter is really into animals right now!

    Reply
  77. Kerry Bishop says

    November 25, 2016 at 12:09 pm

    tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/802197174486437888

    Reply
  78. prasert says

    November 26, 2016 at 10:28 am

    my son loves learning about the weather!

    Reply
  79. Ellie Wright says

    November 26, 2016 at 10:15 pm

    My granddaughter is just learning her alphabet and colors right now.

    Reply
  80. Ellie Wright says

    November 26, 2016 at 10:15 pm

    Tweeted
    https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/802712057468502016

    Reply
  81. Thomas Murphy says

    November 27, 2016 at 1:14 am

    My son likes science.

    Reply
  82. Thomas Murphy says

    November 27, 2016 at 1:16 am

    tweeted
    https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/802757807229566980

    Reply
  83. Jerry Marquardt says

    November 27, 2016 at 1:26 pm

    Science and math are my nephew’s most loved to learn subjects.

    Reply
  84. Jerry Marquardt says

    November 27, 2016 at 1:28 pm

    I publicly Tweeted this giveaway: https://twitter.com/versatileer/status/802941900617555968

    Reply
  85. Barbara Montag says

    November 27, 2016 at 1:35 pm

    When the kids were little they loved learning about anything nature related.
    thank you

    Reply
  86. Barbara Montag says

    November 27, 2016 at 1:36 pm

    Tweet https://twitter.com/JalapenoMama/status/802943689509261313

    Reply
  87. Tabathia B says

    November 27, 2016 at 4:50 pm

    She loves learning about animals and the planets

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

    Reply
  88. Tabathia B says

    November 27, 2016 at 4:51 pm

    tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/802992697971769344

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

    Reply
  89. Betty C says

    November 27, 2016 at 5:13 pm

    My great granddaughter loves art. She recently learned how to use Mommie’s phone to take photos and is getting very good at doing it.

    Reply
  90. Betty C says

    November 27, 2016 at 5:19 pm

    Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/803000222938988546

    Reply
  91. Leela says

    November 27, 2016 at 5:48 pm

    My kids love math and science.

    Reply
  92. Kathryn C says

    November 27, 2016 at 7:38 pm

    #SweepstakesEntry- comment

    ABC’s, spelling and learning new words!

    kacor7@hotmail.com

    Reply
  93. Kathryn C says

    November 27, 2016 at 7:43 pm

    #SweepstakesEntry tweet:

    https://twitter.com/thrincor/status/803036371308908544

    kacor7@hotmail.com

    Reply
  94. Dawn M says

    November 27, 2016 at 10:45 pm

    My grandkids like learning the ABC’s, colors and dressing themselves.

    Reply
  95. Dawn M says

    November 27, 2016 at 10:49 pm

    https://twitter.com/dawnmonroe83/status/803082798525345792

    Reply
  96. rachel says

    November 30, 2016 at 3:30 pm

    Right now we are big into ABCs and 123s. And learning about Christmas, of course!

    Reply

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