I was recently asked by a young family, “What do you do with younger children when you’re homeschooling your Kindergartner?” This was my reply:
I made this list and keep it handy on a note card in the kitchen for when I’m “stumped.” I’ll also give you some websites with ideas.
- Flash Cards
- Paint
- Play dough
- Color
- Puzzles
- Blocks
- Puppets
- Train
- Doctor
- Stickers
- Water Play
- Little People Toys
- Zoo Animals
- Kitchen toys
- Magazines
- Read Books
- Scavenger Hunt
- I Spy
- Chalk
- Board/Card Games
- Beans
- Duck Duck Goose
- Mother May I
- Ring Around the Rosy
- Tag
- Baseball
- Soccer
- Catch
- Musical Chairs
- Hot Potato
- Sheet Tent in Family Room
http://www.homeschool.co.uk/resource/hs-toddler-activities.html
http://www.homeschooldiner.com/specials/babies_and_toddlers/toddlers.html
http://www.childfun.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=230
In reality, if you’re home schooling, Kindergarten and Preschool only take about 30 minutes 3 days/week, and your child will be well ahead of his peers. When Abby was 5 & Katie & Nate were 3 & 1, I did it usually either first thing in the morning after breakfast or at the very beginning of Nap time, after the other two were sleeping or resting.
I’m not an expert, that’s for sure, but so far it’s working! We’ll see soon how 1st Grade goes!
