Engage Younger Children While Homeschooling

It can be really tough to homeschool when you have a little one in tow. How can you get through anything when you have to stop all of the time to redirect your little one? Here are a couple of tips to help you out.

To Engage the Little One

• Plan a related “project” for the little one, so she can sit at the table with you while you work. If you are working with math manipulatives, let your little one have a few of them. Give him/her an assignment such as matching the blocks.
• Invest in Color Wonder® markers and paper (or some other similar brand). Then you won’t have to watch as closely while s/he colors.
• Use a timer to help you. Set the timer for a certain amount of time. Tell your little one that you will check in with him/her when the timer goes off. This will help you and the little one make sure that you do actually take a break to check in.
• Use books on tape. I know that my little one loves wearing the head phones. Listening to the tapes is exciting since the readers use fun voices and there is music. You might have to practice with the recorder a bit before you expect your child to use it with less supervision.
• Create a “Work Center” for your little one. Find a special bag or suitcase that looks like a briefcase. Put lots of interesting and inexpensive things in the bag. Include your junk mail that does not have any personal information on it, sticky notes, and old greeting cards. Recycle letter size cardboard inserts. You can even include old monthly calendars – the advertisement ones or ones you aren’t using anymore. Add a package of washable crayons to the bag, too. Little children love using everyday things adults use.

I hope these ideas help your little one to stay busy doing age appropriate “work” during your school time.

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