This year my girls are in kindergarten and preschool. I did not invest in a official homeschooling curriculum this year but most mornings I plan some simple school activities with my kids. We color, trace letters, learn alphabet sounds, recite the months of the year and days of the week and learn about the 5 senses. The girls also do a few pages in their kids workbooks from Costco. While we are doing school I set up a few activities to entertain my toddler boy so the rest of us can enjoy a productive school time. Here are some learning-inspired activities perfect for 2-year-olds.
Fill a Box with Pom Poms
My little guy enjoys filling up a box with pom poms and small toys. Any cardboard box headed for the trash bin will do. I can also train my little guy to keep all the pom poms on the rug, or encourage him to sort the pom poms by color in a muffin tin. Kids can do all sorts of learning activities with pom poms.
Independently Read a Picture Book
While my girls are working in their kids’ school workbooks, I encourage my 2-year-old boy to practice sitting and looking at a book for 10-15 minutes at a time. Kids will be able to sit much better in public settings if they regularly practice sitting still at home. Plus introducing books to kids early will help them develop a love for reading!
Explore a Sensory Bin
We make lots of sensory bins. You can use any plastic box and combination of small toys and textured items to make a toddler sensory bin. This dinosaur Discovery Box includes play sand, miniature palm trees, tiny dinosaur creatures, colorful gems and a handy scooper kids can use to practice their motor skills. If you don’t want to make your own sensory bin you can choose one of these themed Discovery Box kits!
Play with Balloons & Dance in Tap Shoes
My little guy wants to throw things and make noise. So what’s more fun than batting soft balloons around and tapping away with every step? The girls are in ballet & tap class and little brother loves putting on their shoes and clacking around. Surprisingly a balloon or two keeps my 2-year-old boy perfectly happy while we do school at the table nearby. I would recommend allowing kids to use balloons with supervision, since balloons can pop and become a choking hazard.
Build with Blocks
Wooden blocks and large Legos are fun for toddlers to build towers and walls with. My 2-year-old just learned how to snap together the big Lego blocks, a great activity to practice toddler motor skills! Short building activities can be very helpful for keeping a toddler entertained while you do school. I recommend getting 2-3 activities out and rotating through them in 10 minute sessions so your toddler stays engaged and doesn’t get bored and wander off.
Which ways have you found helpful for keeping a toddler entertained while you are trying to get something done?
Hi, I’m Katie! I live with my husband and 3 kids in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I love Jesus, coffee, creative projects, taking photos and traveling. I’ve previously worked as a web designer, journalist and barista. I hope you enjoy our creative projects and family adventures!