Homeschool Must-Haves Through The Toddler Years

Choosing the homeschool route for my family was not a tough decision. It was predestined, and I just walked into it naturally!

Haha, Okay, let me be real now. Homeschooling my children has always been a dream of mine. Thankfully, my husband’s support has allowed me to take on this new journey, trusting in God that I will raise our children into who God called them to be. This journey started super easy with the help of simple ABC flashcards and Nursery rhymes, but now it has become challenging as the ages of my triple back-to-back babies begin to grow. Researching the given topic,” Homeschooling Toddlers,” led me everywhere around the WEB, not realizing that, “Hey, I have a budget!” After my experience of trying to make my kids’ learning experience bright and highly structured in education, I learned in the end that they are just toddlers who need to live their Kinder years until they are ready for real academics on the level that I assumed I needed for them. In this process, and let me remind you that I am 3 years in on this journey and had prior experience as a daycare K3-5 teacher and teachers that run in my family, I finally realized that keeping life simple, natural, and fun plays a massive role in homeschooling toddlers. The everyday life they experience and the maximum free time to express themselves and learn with imagination, such as playing at hand, cost nothing to you but your presence. If you still want to implement more structure beyond just free time all day, I am with you on the balance of learning and playing. Here is a list of “must-haves” that I found beneficial in my homeschooling journey.

1. Teachers Agenda

Plan out your weekly agenda. You can take one day (I prefer Sunday) to get your curriculum and activities ready for the week so that you do not have to struggle on the day of.

They are toddlers and do not need to sit down for over 30 minutes to learn. Toddlers need just a simple coloring sheet with an explanation and small art activities that are age-appropriate and simple for their level of fun learning. This can include scavenger hunts around the house or outside, learning different chores, and learning self-care hygienically and spiritually. Please keep it simple, but keep them engaged!

2. Teachers & Student Wall Calendar

The wall calendar will keep you on track with your daily tasks

3. Schedule

Creating a schedule is helpful when navigating any period through your days raising your children. Children want structure, and the best structure for them is placing a schedule in your home that you live by and communicating the time of day you will take on each task.

Be mindful to avoid getting consumed by the exact time it takes to get things done due to pressure. I use 15–30-minute increments between each task because, let’s face it, our toddlers are not robots, and life happens. Just go with it!

4. Teachers’ computer

Everything listed as Teacher implies a separation of your needed items and your toddlers. Any computer, laptop, or smart device is good. Your device will be used for research and printing lesson plans on your behalf.

5. Chair and table set

Rather than use your kitchen or dining room table, having a table and chair set personalized to your toddler will help them gravitate to their spot during learning time. When you make a routine and give them an identified area for learning, they will engage in that area for what you created it to be. Please remember that learning time where they sit at a table should last up to 30 minutes.

6. House Montra & Rules

Something you live by should be displayed as an insight into your home. Speak life and stand by what you speak of. Teach that to your children daily to remind them of who you want you and your loved ones to become.

7. Floor mat

If you have hardwood floors, a floor mat is a must for the comfort of your ankles! Seriously, if you have toddlers just beginning to walk or who are active, expect to spend a lot of time at their level. Invest in your comfort needs, Mama.

8. Storage Cabinet

Storage cabinets are a great way to store everything you have for your Homeschool. I store supplies in one cabinet and rotate books and toys for the children from the other cabinet. This allows the children not to be overstimulated with their toys put away.

(I promise the rotating system will help keep your house clean and your kids calm. It will allow you to notice your children’s interest when they ask for something out of sight. It also allows them to appreciate other toys that are away, making them feel brand new when they see them again! These storage cabinets, by far, are my favorite investment.)

I have included pictures below with a list of some things stored in the cabinet.

9. Arts & Crafts

• • Crayons
  • Markers (Washable)
  • Printer Paper
  • Construction paper
  • Glue sticks
  • Chalk
  • Dry-erase markers
  • Washable paint with brushes
  • Polka dot markers
  • Scissors
  • Folder
  • Pencils & Pencil sharpener

10. Dry Erase Board

You can display the date, task of the day, or agenda for today on the board. I also like to display a scripture of the week that we read aloud, a constant daily reminder to speak over ourselves.

(Honestly, this board is more beneficial for me due to the more relaxed and hands-on approach I have chosen through my toddler years of homeschooling.)

11. Printer

The convenience of having back-to-back children when homeschooling is that when you buy a printer and workbooks, you only need to make printouts to recycle the books for the next child.

12. Library Card

Buying books can become expensive. The local Library is intended to serve the community at almost zero cost, and its resources include library books, movies, and computers. If there are books that you are interested in buying, try to see if your Library has them first. That way, you can get a feel for the book and decide whether to buy it.

Most libraries have book reading days for toddlers, where the librarian reads a book with a group of toddlers and allows them to do a craft activity. The social gathering will encourage socialism for Mama and Baby. It will also allow you to enjoy learning time and experience a moment with your child while someone else navigates the class for the time being. It’s a win to have someone else plan one day of work!

13. Books

Books help your children with speech, communication, emotions, and creating an imagination. Reading is one area that you cannot overlook with your toddler! Reading is everything. It is a step closer to your child being able to one day read God’s Word and truth to enrich their life.

14.  Simple Curriculum books

• • Polka dot marker book
  • Christian bible coloring sheets (Like Sunday school)
  • The Pre-K workbook (you can find it at Walmart or online)
  • Children’s Bible

               (Check out your local Library for books)

15. Local Park

Local parks are a great way to get out of the house and venture into new surroundings. The benefit of going beyond your backyard is that you and your toddler can socialize with friends and new people you might encounter. Playground equipment is also available at local parks with different environmental scenery.

16. Cube Bookcase

These cube bookshelves are more practical than regular bookcases.

I found it helpful to use four cubbies to rotate toys out (usually every other day), one cubby for puzzles and another for books. (Rotating books out weekly can familiarize your toddler to understand and retract the story that they read, as well as prevent you from displaying many books that may get damaged)

Note to self: I researched and observed that having too many options of toys and books for toddlers can be overstimulating and cause their moods to fluctuate. Remember, less is more!

17. Musical Instruments

Instruments are needed for your toddlers to express their creativity and heart of worship to God. What better way to worship without interruption than to include your toddler in your worship session? Remember that anything can be an instrument! Be creative, make or purchase instruments, but have fun and let your toddlers freely express themselves.

18. Calm area

Find a spot in your house that is dedicated to calming down. The calming area is supposed to be a safe space for your toddler when they are overwhelmed or need time alone to think.

This space is not supposed to be a punishment area; it is just for your tot to know that their big emotions are real and, significantly, if they are physically harming themselves or others, that they need to cool off and breathe before having that talk with you on what is going on. Allow them to call for you or walk to you when they are ready to talk about their feelings and end it with a hug and kiss to reassure them that your love is more significant than their outburst.

• Make the spot elsewhere from where they do learning time.
• Make it safe
• Make the space comfortable with a calming tone.

Tips:

Anything around the house can be used for arts and crafts if you can use your imagination and get creative.

Packaged boxes from Amazon delivery or any other package received can be great to use as a free painting board or to build a robot or car.

Dry-erase pocket folders are Amazing! You can reuse printouts (whether they are tracing or counting). These pocket folders are one of my favorite resourceful items that I purchased.  

Toddlers are meant to be creative and use their imagination while learning this new world. Try not to structure their early years to extreme learning in a higher-level classroom setting of an older age that your toddler is not ready for mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Life is what you make it. You create the expectations and standards. Your toddler is only following your lead. So do what works and serves your home and family.

I hope this advice serves you well and that you enjoy your Homeschooling experience, which is as much a blessing as it is for me! Below, I included a layout of my previous house setup. Yes, I did create the living room for my children’s learning and play area, but it worked for my family and me.