Are you the mom who is an expert at keeping your little ones busy while homeschooling? Or is this scenario more like your world: The school year has gotten off to a great start. You ordered shiny new curriculum. Pulled out all the supplies. Decorated your school room or space. Began the new semester with high hopes for a smooth, prosperous season of learning. The first few days or weeks went great. And then…
“Mo-o-mmy!” “Mo-o-o-mmy!!”
The preschooler(s) got bored.
Does this sound familiar? Frustrating? Never ending? Keeping little ones busy while homeschooling is a constant reality!
Top Ten Tips to Keep Your Little Ones Busy
Homeschooling with multiple children is always a challenge. When you also have those who are not yet school age, it can be even more so. The key is to have the solution already in place when the school day starts. All it takes is a little planning ahead.
Here are my Top 10 tips for how to keep your little ones busy while you are homeschooling:
- Keep a set routine from day to day. Children thrive on knowing what to expect. If time schedules stress you out, just have a rhythm… do things in the same order each morning after getting up.
- Start the school day all together, either with prayer, a read-aloud, or some memory work all together. After that, you can spend a little time with just the preschoolers while the older ones do some independent work.
Toys keep little ones busy!
- Have toys you pull out for your preschoolers only during school time. While the older ones have time with mom, the preschoolers play with those toys. It doesn’t even have to be toys! Some of the things my little ones loved to play with were empty containers, kitchen bowls and tools, etc. (Always make sure the things you choose are safe for the age of the child. Never give a child anything, toy or otherwise, that is not appropriate for their age.)
- Cuddle with them! I remember my little one always wanting me to hold her while I was teaching the older ones. Well, why not? It’s home school! We can do that. Letting her climb into my lap was a win/win for all.
- Plan independent work for older children while you care for the needs of younger ones. I tried to feed and change the baby while the older ones did some writing work. This could also be a little break/recess time for the older.
- Have the older kids help out with younger ones. Teaching small lessons to their younger siblings is a review for the older ones. And what a special bond forms between siblings from spending that time together!
- Use preschool nap times to focus on the meatier subjects with older children.
Taking a break from busy– The importance of afternoon quiet time
- But… keep some afternoon quiet time in place for everyone!!! This is key not only for physical rest, but mental and emotional. Quiet times help children process all they have learned that day. They also help foster creativity and the ability to be alone and entertain oneself. For you, Mom, they help you to keep your sanity and be a nicer person throughout the day. 😉
- Learn as much as you can together. Preschoolers can sit and draw the history lesson while you’re teaching it to the older children. Their lessons can be mini-versions of the older children’s.
Relax, Mama!
- Relax and enjoy the process! Homeschooling does not have to be stressful. You are the one in charge, not the curriculum. What a joy it is to be educating your own children. Have fun, don’t take yourself (or the schedule) too seriously, and enjoy being with your children of all ages.