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The following is a post from contributing writer, Christy @ Eclectic Momma
This year, we started our new school year with two middle schoolers and an energetic little preschooler. I need some help keeping this little guy busy and happy.
If you are in a similar situation, it’s helpful to have a few ideas to get you started. Easy ideas you can pull out at a minute’s notice that won’t distract your other children from their work.
Fun Skill Building Activities:
Cereal necklaces
Song CDs Listening to their favorite music with or without headphones.
Sorting all those bottle caps you’ve saved by color. Use paper plates or old yogurt/butter container lids.
Using a spoon to put marbles into a water bottle. Give them lots of marbles.
Ice excavations Freeze animals, toys, etc. into a block of ice. Give your preschooler play tools to excavate.
Building sets Lincoln Logs, K’Nex, Mega Blocks, Legos My preschooler can occupy himself with these kinds of sets for at least an hour at a time. Be sure to rotate them, so they don’t become bored.
Cut up straws to string
String beads onto pipe cleaners
Nuts and Bolts Sorting or screwing together a various assortment of nuts and bolts can provide great motor skill practice while occupying your preschooler.
Sort a pile of cars into various colors and/or count the cars into piles of 5.
Car wash Get a pile of cars and locate your preschooler near a sink or even at the sink. We fill a big bowl with soapy water and let him start washing. An old bottle brush does well as a “car washing” tool. Spread a towel out on the counter to place wet cars and to catch any extra pools of water. When they tire of washing, replace the water and let them rinse. Then, dry!
Vinegar painting Fill a tray with baking soda . Tint vinegar with food coloring. Teach your preschooler how to use an eye dropper. Drop colored vinegar onto baking soda and wait for the reaction. Both the chemical reaction and your preschooler’s face.
Let Them Be Apart of the Action:
Let older ones teach younger ones. If you have multiple children, let one work with your preschooler or read them books while you are helping another sibling.
Let preschoolers participate in any hands-on lessons. Our preschooler does art lessons alongside his older siblings at his own level.
School of their own:
Letter of the Week activities Last year, my youngest was 3 and we worked out way through the entire alphabet one letter at a time. He has an ABC binder filled with the projects we completed.
Audio books Our local public library has a great selection in circulation. We love books that have the “ding” (turn the page) option.
Puzzles
Workbooks
Making letters from pretzel sticks.
Cereal Name Outlines Write their name on paper and have your preschooler trace it with glue. Then, use cereal to outline.
Play-doh letters Make play-doh into the shape of letters.
Action Activities (that aren’t as distracting):
Simon Says Give your preschooler various tasks to perform while you are working one-on-one with older kids. “Simon says go do 20 jumping jacks! Simon says, walk up and down the stairs 5 times!”
Chores Dusting, washing plastic dishes, helping load washer and/or dryer, picking up after themselves.
Christy spends her days chasing one rambunctious preschooler, while keeping up with his older siblings. She loves reading mysteries, watching birds out her kitchen window, and blogging about life and home schooling at Eclectic Momma. She’s learning to take life as it comes trusting in the only ONE that knows the future.
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Jennifer @ Homeschooling for Free says
I don’t have a preschooler anymore, but these are some really great ideas! I especially love the ice excavation! I’ve never heard of that one!
Christy says
Thanks, Jennifer! The ice excavation idea came from a Chronicles of Narnia party for my older two children. It took the kids so long to get those things out–perfect to keep little hands busy. I did provide gloves for the kids, though.
Blessed Mom says
Thank you for these suggestions. I have a very active almost 3 year old who wants to do school, but really just wants to be at the table with us. I’ll definitely be using some of these.
Christy says
That sounds just like my little guy. He has always wanted to be in the thick of things. 🙂 I’m glad you found some new ideas to use!
Thanks!
Maria says
Great suggestions. Thanks! My problem is that my older child can’t focus on her school when the toddler has something fun to do. If he’s putting marbles in a bottle, she wants to do something with marbles, too. 🙂
Christy says
Maria,
That happens in our house, too. 🙂 Sometimes I’ll let the older ones take a short “brain break” and play along or teach the younger one how to do an activity. I’ll also put the younger one somewhere I can see them, but their siblings can’t.
Sara says
I have a 6th grader and a kindergartener. The little one seems to finish her school work far before the older. These are great things to do. I also have something I do.
Puzzle Dip
We take the wooden puzzles out dump all the pieces into a bag. Lay out the puzzle boards in front of them. Tell them to pick one at a time and find the puzzle it belongs to.
Christy says
That’s a great idea, Sara!