Things to do with toddlers and twos!

This school year has been a new challenge for me, since I am now homeschooling my older two kids while BOTH of my younger two are awake. Last year, Bethany still took a morning nap for at least 45 min-one hour. Not so, this fall. It has proved to be a handful! Most days, Bethany plays on the floor by herself, while we read books and Bible. Then we have snack, and that gets us to about 11:00. SO usually we still have one long hour left until school is done for the day! My kids usually do some reading/ exercise/ computer time after lunch to get the full 4 hours of school in the day.

I have a book called Things to do with Toddlers and Twos by Karen Miller. It is a great resource with lots of ideas of things for little ones to do. The main thing I found that helps me is switching the toys out each week or so. Whatever toys the little girls play with during school, I switch those out and grab some "new" ones we haven't played with for a while, out of their closet. This has worked very well so far. There are lots of other things I can do to keep them busy, some of which involve me more. Anyway. since I know a few of my readers may need some ideas, and I have been here twice before, I made a list of things I can grab to do with my toddlers/ preschoolers.

Here it is:

“Things to do with Toddlers and Twos” (based off a book that I own by the same name)

Texture cards—made with index cards and diff. Types of fabric to feel

Pasting paper

Tearing paper

Sticky tape/ stickers (masking tape is great fun!) Keep it in your purse!

Play dishes

Items to smell, hear, taste

Stick horse

Slide, roll, jump, push (self or car, block)

Tunnel- crawl & hide

Pour a bead—plastic cup, large bead

Cotton balls and old plastic laundry scoops, spoons

Popsicle/ craft sticks in toothbrush holder

Zipper case—keep “things” in

Empty & fill bucket

Stacking rings

Stringing large beads?

Poke things into/ through holes—i.e. Kleenex box

Old shell game (hide under 3 bowls, move, find)

Plastic jar with toys- open, pour, close

Sponges, put in box for stacking

Clothes pins or bean bags- place or toss into bucket/ can

Fingerplays—“where is…,” “I spy …”colors

Hats & mirror, shoes, purses (Great to fill and empty!)

Stroller or cart to push Pull toys

Call & response game –say “doh, doh, doh” or da-da-da, child repeats

Playdoh and tools—plastic forks, knives, rolling pins, etc.,

Brush or sponge painting (can do with water outside)

Crayons, chalk, shave cream, fingerpaint (“paint” can be pudding, yogurt if needed)

Bubbles and straw in bowl

Wash items—rocks, doll, toy dishes

Eye droppers—fill bowls

Radio play- on/ off—cassette tapes?

Pounding bench (tools)

Oil and water bottle

Balls in a tube

Sock puppets Bubbles!

Magna-doodle

Ice cube on a tray!

Spray bottle and rag—“clean” floor

Duplo/ Primo blocks

Boats/ floating in sink/ “fishing”

Raisins & toothpicks—connect & build

Stacking/ nesting cups

Wet Ones container & ping-pong balls (dump & fill)

Plastic soap box (used for traveling) and playing cards fit inside

“Fort” with a blanket and card table

File folder cut with windows and paste photos underneath of animals, etc.,

Sidewalk chalk

Broom, dustpan to sweep porch, kitchen floor

Flannel/ felt board w/ VeggieTales characters, family, letters, numbers

VeggieTales matching game with stickers on juice can lids

Instruments- wrist bells, chopsticks for drum, beans in Easter eggs

Puzzles made with picture on cardboard, cut up

Straw jewelry with yarn & cut up straws

Balloon batting- draw faces, put ribbon on, can “bat” with nylon over clothes hanger

Houses made with wooden craft sticks

Bethany playing with blocks during
homeschool today!

Hope this helps some of you! Let me know if you have any great ideas to add!