Homeschooling can be a challenge any day of the week. Add in a toddler or preschooler (or both!), and it can become downright difficult if you don’t have a plan for keeping them busy! Today I have some ideas for you that are engaging as well as educational, and should help corral those younger ones while you read aloud, help their sibling with math, or try to prepare a meal.

5 Ways to Keep Your Littlest Homeschoolers Busy

• Utilize blanket time (or room time/playpen time) while you read to older siblings. Place a blanket on the floor for each child; choose, or have your child help you choose, a few select toys to play with during this time (2 to 3 at most); set the timer for prescribed amount of time, 5 to 45 minutes (training will be needed, but you can teach your child to stay in one place for the full 45 minutes, perhaps longer, with a little practice).  During the learning phase, don’t expect to be able to get alot done, but after a few days to a week for most children, you will be able to get some good learning time in. Try this several times a day in short amounts, or a couple of times per day for a longer stretch of time!
• Give your child his or her own ‘work’ to complete during your learning time. Find fun coloring or tracing pages, easy sorting activities, or books for your child to look at while you work with a sibling.  Have him sit right next to you while doing this to ensure that he stays engaged and you remain aware of what he is doing.
• Take your lessons outside.  Set up for reading or doing math problems at a table near an area where your smaller children can safely play.  This is a great time during warmer months to introduce water or sand play, pull out the Play Dough and paints, or experiment with other messy play like shaving cream painting, tracing letters in cornmeal, or pushing trucks through a bin of corn kernels.
• Have older children play with the younger children while you work with their sibling. If you have older children, you may find a way to schedule times for each of them to play with your younger children while you teach another sibling his English lesson or practice reading. Then switch and work with the other child.  Even younger children can be put ‘in charge’ of a sibling who is younger than them, if they are in a nearby room and have access to mama as needed.
• Spend time with your youngest children first.  You may find it easier and more productive to take your smallest children outside, or to spend some time doing a special activity, first thing in the morning.  Your older children can use this time to complete chores and any independent work they may have (handwriting, silent reading, essays, research, typing, etc.).  This often helps the younger children be in a better frame of mind to play on their own for a bit while you spend some time with their older siblings. Their ‘tank’ has been filled and they are ready to get started with their day!

Still need some fun and practical ideas? Here are a few blog posts on the topic that you may find helpful.

How Do I Keep My Preschooler Busy? by Kendra over at Prechoolers and Peace.

Keeping Toddlers Busy During Homeschool & Baby and Toddler Busy Ideas by Karen over at Teach Beside Me.

Planning Busy Activities for Toddlers During Homeschool from Tabitha of Meet Penny.

Sensory Bottle Fun by Lara at Lara’s Place and a Cup of Grace.

Great Preschool Activities from Monique at Living Life and Learning.