How to Homeschool with a Toddler Running Around

One question I know that is on many homeschooling moms’ minds is, “How will I be able to get school done when I have a toddler in the house??”

This was also a question of mine when I had my 3rd baby. I knew eventually I’d have less naps and a toddler running around while I needed to do school with my older two. I’m happy to report we have thus far survived! As each year passes and the kids get a little older, I am finding things to be easier and operating a little smoother. We are still in the thick of it, but I feel there have been some learnings from our past years that I wanted to share with those of you facing a similar homeschool situation. Entertaining a toddler while you homeschool is no easy task, but I’m hopeful you might find a tip or two here that you can apply to your family!

I’ve created two videos that share what we have done to include our sweet toddler in our schooling process.

Check out this first video which details out what I have found most helpful with managing a toddler/preschooler, including my process of what I like to call “Stations”. 

After you’ve watched that video, settle in with some popcorn and watch this next video which gives you LOTS of ideas for what you can include in your stations with your toddler. And don’t feel limited by what items you see we use – the sky’s the limit! If matching a pile of socks entertains your toddler, use it! Don’t feel a need to buy a ton of things – you most likely have quite a lot of options already at home.

As I described in the video, I was able to group all of the items I use for our stations in 6 categories:

1. Traditional puzzles
2. Playsets
3. Use Hands
4. Write/Draw
5. Books
6. Mind Puzzles

You by no means have to be categorically structured with your stations – just let these categories guide you in brainstorming what items you’d like to have in your toddler arsenal.

I’ll list below the items I mentioned in my video that can be found on Amazon for those interested.

(*Know that these are affiliate links which means if you purchase using these links I receive a small commission. Thank you for your support!)

Now on to the goods!

1. Playfoam Go!

The kids love this stuff and I love that it’s super easy to clean up and never dries out! Get it here : Playfoam Go!

2. Melissa & Doug Reusable Sticker Pads

There are several of these sticker pads to choose from but these are two we have and love. They are a quiet activity and can be used over and over again. Get them here : Melissa & Doug Reusable Sticker Pad Play House! / Melissa & Doug Reusable Sticker Pad Habitats

3. See-Through Creative Workshop

This drill set has given us entertainment in large chunks of time, for all ages in our house! It’s really well made and has been a fun play item the kids have enjoyed using alone or together. Get it here : See-Through Creative Workshop

4. Water Drawing Mat

This mat is amazing. It allows for creativity with near to no mess. Just fill the writing utensils with water and let your kids draw on it. When the mat dries the pictures disappear and you can start all over again! Get it here : Water Drawing Mat

5. Teddy Mix & Match Bears

These little bears are adorable and durable. They are fun to play as a game or to have your toddler match them by themselves. Get it here : Teddy Mix & Match Bears

6. Mighty Mind Puzzles

Mighty Mind is great for younger and older kids alike. With varying levels of difficulty, these puzzles get kids thinking by placing the shapes in the right locations to complete the pictures. Get it here : Mighty Mind Puzzles

7. Wooden Magnetic Tree Maze

This maze is a lot of fun. You move the magnetic balls around and drop them in their appropriate locations! It’s quiet, it’s mess-free, and it keeps kids interested while they figure it out. Wins all around. Get it here : Wooden Magnetic Tree Maze

8. Blokus Game

Blokus is a fun family game, but it’s also a great option to use for stations with a toddler. The pieces are fun to pick up and move around on the tray and it gets the child thinking about where they all fit. Get it here : Blokus Game

9. Wooden Shapes Puzzle

This is a sweet little activity that is cute, colorful, and made up of light-weight wooden shapes. A great way for toddlers and preschoolers to familiarize themselves with shapes while trying to figure out how they can make the pictures on the cards. Get it here : Wooden Shapes Puzzle

10. My First Learn-to-Write Workbook

This is one of the workbooks we’ve been using with my preschooler/toddler this year and I’ve been really impressed with it! This is a paper workbook and is just enough, but not too much, for little hands and minds to warm up to tracing letters. Get it here : My First Learn-to-Write Workbook

11. Wipe-Clean Workbook

This workbook comes with a small dry-erase marker and is such a high quality product. The pages are thick and glossy with colorful images that entice little ones to want to dive right in. It covers letters, colors, numbers, etc. Get it here : Wipe-Clean Workbook

Well that about wraps it up! If you have any questions at all don’t hesitate to reach out by commenting here or finding me on Instagram/Facebook. And if you’re a veteran homeschool mom and have some words of wisdom or advice to share on this topic, please jump in!