Mama’s Ultimate Guide to Occupying Toddlers During School Time

During our school day, I have a dedicated amount of time carved out for my littlest people (3 years old and 20 months).  We read books, play puzzles together, do the occasional File Folder Game, and dig through their ABC box during their allocated “Pre-K Fun Time” each school morning.  I found that if my littles receive my undivided attention first thing in the morning, our day runs much more smoothly.

My oldest son is only 7 (2nd grade) and my only other school aged child is in Kindergarten.  Both of them still require a huge amount of one-on-one teaching interaction from Mama.  They each have assigned “Mama Time” during our school morning where they have my undivided attention to teach new material, go over their assignments, and talk about what we’re studying.

It is during those assigned one-on-one ‘Mama Times’ that I find I need activities for my little people to work on.  Because homeschooling with littles is such a unique situation it deserves it’s own post dedicated to a round-up of resources.

I’ve scoured the internet looking for the most simple, unique, and frugal activities for my littlest girls to work on during school time.  All of the activities in the Ultimate Guide to Occupying Toddlers During School Time are activities for children ages 12 months – 3 years. 

Occupying the Littles Google+ Hangout

For a plethora of excellent suggestions from seasoned homeschool moms, make sure you watch this 25-minute Google+ Hangout.  Panelists included Amy Roberts, Kendra Fletcher, and Tricia Hodges.

Mom-Tested Strategies and Tips for Occupying the Littles

Occupying Littles {Quietly} While Schooling – Heart of the Matter –> Smart advice about judging moods early in the day and keeping expectations realistic.

5 Tips to Occupy Your Toddler While Homeschooling – Simple Homeschool –> Includes ideas such as self-starting olders and having pre-made activities ready to go.

Homeschooling with Toddlers – The Happy Housewife –> Excellent ideas on incorporating littles into the work that the olders are doing, using ‘something together’, ‘something electronic’, etc.

What Do Little People Do During School? – se7en –> Interesting look at not having a million-and-one educational packets prepared, but just letting little ones enjoy their “job” (which is to play).  If you have little ones, you can definitely relate to the “unpack” pictures!

Homeschooling with Toddlers – Heart of the Matter –> A smart 3-step approach at schooling with toddlers in tow, with multiple examples of each step.

A Preschool Education at Home – Life as MOM –> This post outlines activities for providing a preschool education at home, so some of the ideas are very mom-heavy.  But take the time to read the whole post, as it contains a plethora of ideas for more independent activities for little ones during school time.

Homeschooling with Preschoolers – Smockity Frocks —> Smockity includes great, basic ideas for homeschooling with littles underfoot, but the comments?  They’re a goldmine of ideas.

Multi-Level Homeschooling – Raising Olives –> Includes tips on how to implement “blanket time” and different activities for your little peeps during that designated time.  She also suggests setting them up as “centers” where you move from one blanket (activity) to the next.  Make sure to read the comments in this post also for more ideas.

Assortment of Suggestions for Keeping Toddlers Busy During School – Paula’s Archives –> 18 ideas to keep those little people busy

How Do I Keep Them Busy?? – Preschoolers and Peace –> 34 ideas to occupy your littles (there’s at least 20+ ideas in the comments, so make sure to read those too.)

Taming the Toddler – Our Journey Westward –> Multiple ideas on everything from books to imaginative toys to computer time.

Ideas for Busy Bags/Activity Boxes

Busy Bags (also known as ‘Activity Bags’) are literally bags that should keep your little one busy.  It should contain items that don’t require a lot of maintenance and your little one can do on their own.  While occasional help from mom is needed, activities in these bags shouldn’t be mom-driven.

Toddler Boxes and Toddler Totes are similar in that they contain independent activities that should require little help from mom.  It’s best to use Busy Bags and Toddler Boxes only during school time so the ideas remain fresh and seem like a treat!

Also included in this section are manipulatives and hands-on activities to fill up those bags, boxes, and totes.

Button Sorting – The Happy Housewife –> Several ideas for sorting buttons with an egg carton for older and younger toddlers.

Activity Bag Ideas – Paula’s Archives –> Scroll down to find a plethora of Busy Bag Ideas, Ideas for Totes and Toddler Shoeboxes

Threading Sponge Curlers – Fun & Engaging Activities for Toddlers –> Cheap threading idea for younger toddlers

Clothespin Drop – I Can Teach My Child –> A perfect fine motor activity for young toddlers (12-24 months)

Build-Your-Own Cupcakes – Money Saving Mom –> Free pattern to download – make your own cupcakes with sprinkles!

Playdough Spiders – Spell Outloud –> Keep all of the contents for these spiders in one bag along with the printables.  So fun!

Toddler Teaching with Recycled Lids – Spell Outloud –> 15 Ideas for using recycled bottle lids as teaching tools for littles, including sort and dump and color matching.

Toddler-Friendly (& Budget-Friendly!) Tot School Ideas – The Unlikely Homeschool –> 45 Tot School Ideas (I’m not kidding…it’s really that many) for keeping the little peeps busy at the table during school

15 Toddler Bag Ideas – The Princess and the Tot –> Excellent ideas in this round-up and I love this mom’s idea to store them in clear-front pencil cases.

Hang-them-up Clothesline – Money Saving Mom –> Cut out clothes from felt and hang them on the line – super cute! Free pattern and instructions to download.

Pool Noodle Lacing – Planet of the Apels –> Can be used for a variety of ages. 12-18 months can just string them while older preschoolers can use the free download patterns.

Craft Stick Puzzles – Motherhood on a Dime –> Use wider sticks for easier puzzles and thinner sticks for harder ones.

Pom Pom Stuff It In – Money Saving Mom –> Another great activity for younger toddlers, especially since they can’t get the lid open!

Busy Boxes – Playing House –> Ideas for Busy Boxes with several activities in each.

Toddlers, Babies, & Your Homeschool – Raising Arrows –> Practical ideas for what to put in a toddler Activity Box.  But the best part of this post is keeping focused on what’s important. And it releases you of all guilt because your Toddler Boxes are not perfect Montesorri-type boxes.  They don’t have to be!

Keeping the Toddlers Busy – Creekside Learning –> Ideas for toddler boxes.  Unique idea to use board games – so smart!

Preschool Activity Ideas – Joyful Johnsons –> Literally a list of ideas.  Not a lot of elaboration, so you might have to get creative!  There are several ideas to get your wheels turning though.

Free Do-a-Dot Patterns

Do-a-Dots (bingo markers) are a creative past time for toddlers while the olders are working on school.  Amazon has an assortment of Do-a-Dot activity books or you can choose from  multiple free patterns found online.

Alphabet (A-Z) – Homeschool Creations –> Scroll to the middle of the page to find the posts.  There are 2 separate files (A-M) and (N-Z).

Numbers – Making Learning Fun –> Includes numbers 0-10

American Flag – Simply Montessori –> Perfect for any patriotic holiday

Animals – Making Learning Fun –> 20+ different types of animals

Seasons, Holidays, Animals – DLTK –> Also includes a few presidents, circus, and football do-a-dot printables

Shapes – Love My Life x 4 –> 8 shape pages

Christmas Tree – Confessions of a Homeschooler –> Included in the Preschool Christmas Pack

Other Miscellaneous Ideas for Toddlers

StoryNory – Free audio stories for children.  Download them on your iPod for school time, nap time, or car trips.

Allowing Preschoolers to Be Part of the Action – Habits for a Happy Home –> Reminder to let little ones be a part of every day life!

What About the Little Ones? – Habits for a Happy Home –>  A Room Time CD.  Absolutely Brilliant.

Pom Pom Toss (Pocket Lounge Mat) – Glittering Muffins –> This definitely doesn’t fit in a small Busy Bag but wow the fun times a toddler could have with this mat and pom poms!

101+ Ways to Keep Kids Busy – Better Kid Care from Penn State –> This ebook is geared towards all ages of children, not just toddlers.  There are several good toddler ideas throughout: Making Paste Jewelry, Painting Rocks (we’ve done this and my kiddos love it!)

6 Ways to Keep Toddlers Busy and Happy – Momtastic –> Not just your typical round-up of ideas. Food coloring (it’s contained – don’t worry), washing vegetables and more.

Occupying the Littles Pinterest Boards

I have 2 Pinterest Boards specifically for Occupying Toddlers during School Time. (Could an ‘Ultimate Guide’ possibly be complete without a Pinterest Board or two?!)  I’ve included many of the links here in this post, but my entire stash of links is on those boards.  So go take a peek. I’m a regular Pinterest user, so they’ll be updated frequently as I find new-to-me ideas.

Keeping the Littles Busy During School

Busy Bag Ideas

This post is part of the Ultimate Guides link-up hosted by iHomeschool Network.  Over 40 Ultimate Guides are listed with topics ranging from Marriage to homeschool rooms to US history to creative writing and autism helps.  You’ll want to bookmark every single Ulitmate Guide to read again and again.

Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link.

Lauren Hill

Lauren Hill is a Christian mom to 5, ages 19 to 7. She homeschools her children in the classical education tradition and is currently in her 15th year of homeschool. She creates engaging worksheets and hands-on printable activities for Preschool and Elementary age children to supplement their daily studies.

See Full Bio

Homeschool Classical Education Worksheets Printable Activities