Homeschooling Alongside
Babies and Toddlers
    Educating your children at home requires dedication, a bit of organization, a positive attitude, and tenacity to stick with it!

    Adding in a baby or babies, and toddlers and preschoolers to the mix can be harder, but here are some great tips to help mamas feel like they are meeting the needs of everyone in the family - at least some of the time, right?

Here's an excellent article that provides some great suggestions on homeschooling with varied ages.  You may find some of the suggestions, below, repeated, but it's a helpful article.

Take advantage of nap time.  While your baby or toddler is sleeping, your early elementary aged child can work on assignments and those learning times when mom needs to be very close and helping out.  If nap time is limited, then select the subject that is most mom-intensive, that requires mom's undivided attention and a quiet working environment, and spend nap time doing that subject with your child who needs your help.  For babies, consider using a sling or a wrap to have baby close by so mom's hands are free to help out.
Develop a baby- and toddler-proof area for your homeschooling.  Select an area in your home in which your younger children can be entertained and watched without constant supervision.  Stock this special area with fun, baby-safe toys and books, add a couch to snuggle and read with everyone, and include a table and chairs for your older children's seatwork and assignments.  Your younger children can enjoy playing with each other (or fighting - let's be realistic here!) while you work with your older children.  After you finish explaining a lesson or concept to your older child(ren), you can include a baby or toddler in your lap, or sit and cuddle with them.  Just be certain that there is nothing in this area that would be unsafe for your youngest children.
Get your children involved as much as you can!  It's fun to all snuggle together on the couch while reading a book together, or invite the youngsters to join you at the "big kids" table occasionally and bring a toy or Legos or Play-Doh with them to keep them occupied.  While they're there with you, they'll be blessed by hearing what's going on - and sometimes learning a thing or two on their own just be listening!
If your younger ones want to join in with "school work", let them!  You can find inexpensive workbooks and coloring books at Dollar Tree and Walmart.  There are also many websites online that contain free printables for preschoolers and youngsters.  Here are a few: 

Using television and other electronics with your children.  Electronic "babysitters" should be kept to a minimum - or not at all.  If you decide to use the television, laptop, or iPad with your youngsters, there are many educational programs, videos, and apps for young children.  A timer set to go off after 20-30 minutes will help transition children to a new activity, like snack time or something else that they really look forward to doing. 


Pair up older and younger children for 20-30 minutes at a time.  Older children can be assigned a 30-minute block of time to help care for and play with your youngest children.  This will not only free mom up to work with other children, but it will also help build relationship between your oldest and youngest children. 
Take some time to do a little bit of planning for your littles.  Spend a few minutes at night or before a new school day gathering some of the activities, toys, and "distractions" that your babies, toddlers, and preschoolers will enjoy.  Or, teach your older children what is age-appropriate for each of your younger children, and have them be in charge of printing off free printables for the preschoolers, or cutting out little projects, so you as the busy parent aren't so tied up doing this.  Assign each older child one younger child to help out with; have the older child fill a box with surprises and "school time only" toys for that younger child.  Look for fun and age-appropriate items at garage sales and second hand stores:
  • Quiet water play (for ages 2-3+) in the bathroom sink with measuring cups, toy boats, sponges, plastic medicine droppers, etc. or in plastic box on towels on the floor
  • Small indoor sand table
  • Playdough
  • Dress-up clothes box
  • Button box
  • A different boxed or bagged activity for each day of the week
  • Pouring and sorting dried beans
  • Crayons and paper
  • Lacing beads
  • Blocks
  • Age-appropriate story books
  • Story tapes and music with earphones
  • Knob puzzles
  • Pegboards
  • Lacing boards
  • Roller ball paints
  • Cash register and paper money
  • Felt activity sets
  • Sewing cards
  • Mr. Potato Head and pieces
  • Number the "pockets" in an egg carton, and provide dried beans or pasta for the child to fill each pocket with the correct number of objects
  • Paint with water books
Let your toddler or preschooler be "first."  Often, your toddler or preschooler will do everything to disrupt the learning going on, because he is no longer the center of attention.  At the start of your school time each day, "teach" your toddler first!  He is much more likely to allow other children to have their turn at full attention if he gets his first.  Here are some ideas to do with your littles:
  • Put on some classical music and waltz around and giggle with your little one!
  • Play a foreign language CD or mp3 for young children and enjoy singing or humming the songs together.
  • Match up pairs of socks together or other objects that you can find matches
  • Measure water with measuring cups - water's always a big hit!
  • Count cotton balls together, or other objects that can safely be played with without fear of choking
  • Read favorite books together

...and when all else fails, remember that prayer and flexibility are so important!  They will grow so quickly - and you will eventually miss these precious times with your youngsters.