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Tips For Homeschooling With Babies and Toddlers

“How do you homeschool with a baby and a toddler? I could NEVER do that!”

Perhaps you feel overwhelmed at just the mere thought of little ones vying for attention while trying to school another child. Or perhaps you’re thinking it’s impossible or would create a dynamic for educational disaster.

I want to encourage you that while you may hold those views and fears, it IS possible to do, and you CAN do it.

When I began homeschooling it was a bit easier; I had four little ones all under the age of 5 when we began formal preschool at home. Because my oldest was so young we just made school a family affair. That all changed a few years later when I gave birth to our 5th and then 6th child.

Our world was rocked.

What we had down to a science was suddenly turned upside down and I had to build extra tactics to “tame the toddlers” during school time. And while tactics and tips can be important, ultimately I knew my biggest struggle was my own heart and attitude.

Perhaps one of the most important things to remember is that our attitude and a rightly focused heart are pivotal. All it takes is a poor heart focus on our part to start our day on the wrong foot.

One thing that helps me stay intentional and focused is acknowledging my purpose, which is to lead and disciple our children. I find that when I focus on that truth it switches my heart and attitude toward honoring Christ. And while we may put our hearts in the right place, it doesn’t exempt us from the difficult moments, but it will lead us to the One who redeems them.

With hearts and minds in check, here are some practical ways to help while homeschooling with babies and toddlers:

Provide Structure and Flexibility

Structure and flexibility?! What does that even mean or look like?

ROUTINE!

Providing a daily routine sets expectations and provides stability for your little ones. A routine, rather than a strict schedule will give the opportunity for flexibility but will also give the structure necessary to have a successful homeschool day.

Expect that things won’t always go as planned, this helps to accommodate and adjust when that flexibility is needed.

Reduce External Distractions

Distractions will happen, it’s a part of life. It’s truly all in how we respond and react that can make or break the situation.

Sometimes those distractions are caused by us, whether it be through our phones or feeling inconvenienced.

Tips for Homeschooling with Babies & Toddlers

Encourage Participation

One of my favorite parts of homeschooling has become the family dynamic. It has also become one of my greatest defenses when interruptions or tense moments may arise.

Little ones naturally look up to their siblings and want to be a part of what is going on; use this to your advantage! Making your little one a copy of the same activity, having special coloring books on hand, including them in the science lessons, playing with math manipulative during math lessons, or even magnetic letters during reading are all way to get them involved.

I typically have my little ones either sit beside me or even on my lap as we go through our family subjects. (And even though I include them, at any given moment you may see a toddler perched on our school table!)

Even taking a moment to read a story one-on-one with them can set them back on track and make them feel included. Short attention spans can lead to tense moments and this is where redirection comes into play.

Redirection and Special Activities

It’s inevitable that there will be tense moments. I have found it extremely helpful to have “busy activities” on hand to distract and redirect.

This video I created shows simple independent activities for toddlers. These are items or activities that are specifically reserved for school time only so they don’t lose their luster.

Items that can be particularly helpful include:

Utilize Nap Time

And last, if all else fails, utilize nap time! We have had many days that resulted in nap time school sessions. And if you have babies that nap twice a day still, I would encourage you to use at least one of their nap times for school.

(Mary has written about why mamas need quiet time, too!)

Ultimately, the beauty of homeschooling is not recreating a school environment at home, but rather the home becoming the school environment. This means everyone in the home is a part of that dynamic.

When we choose to embrace homeschooling as a family endeavor, the payoff is great and the task becomes doable. Is it hard? Yes, but it is so worth it.

Are you homeschooling with babies and toddlers?

Leave me a comment and share your best tips to keep them busy and involved!

This post is from Homegrown Learners’ contributor, Megan.

Megan is a homeschool mom of 6, wife to Jon, former public school teacher, and follower of Christ. Homeschooling and homemaking are areas that the Lord has drawn her to be passionate about and it is her desire to be as intentional as she can in both.

She enjoys cooking, reading, gardening, history, and hiking in the beautiful mountains of East Tennessee. In her spare time, she is also a content creator for her YouTube channels Pennies and Salt , as well as her website, Pennies and Salt.

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Observing Presidents' Day in Your Homeschool

There are so many different holidays; some we celebrate, some we simply acknowledge, and some lend themselves to including in our homeschool.

Why Should We Incorporate Presidents’ Day in our Homeschool?

Presidents Day is a great one to incorporate into the lesson plans. It has the obvious tie-ins to history, but you can also include literature, music, art, and even food.

Incorporating Presidents Day activities into your day is a great way to make learning a little more interesting while covering some significant parts of our American history.

Observing Presidents' Day in Your Homeschool

What Exactly is Presidents’ Day?

Most people agree that we celebrate George Washington and Abraham Lincoln on Presidents’ Day. Other folks like to incorporate other presidents into the celebration. I had always believed that it was officially the celebration of both Washington and Lincoln.

However, a little research shows that on a federal level, the holiday is officially a celebration of George Washington. The holiday was initially established on his birthday but was moved to the third Monday of February when several other federal holidays were changed to always fall on a Monday.

There was a push to include Lincoln (whose birthday is also in February), but it did not have enough support and was dropped. Since then, it has become popular to celebrate both presidents and call it Presidents Day, but it is still officially Washington’s birthday.

How Do I Incorporate Presidents’ Day in my Homeschool?

 While there are many ways to incorporate Presidents’ day into our homeschools, our favorite is reading.

Good books are an easy way to encourage our children to learn about any topic, and they are readily available. You can read aloud during your morning time, assign a biography to your older students, or even have them on display for students to pick up and read as they have time.

Books for Presidents' Day

Having a display of books can entice children to learn more about a particular subject.

Picture Books for Presidents’ Day

I have divided the book list into picture books and chapter books for ease and convenience. However, please note that picture books are not just for younger children, and many of these would be great for various ages. 

A Picture Book of Abraham Lincoln and A Picture Book of George Washington are older books that do a great job giving a short picture book style biography of the presidents. 

When Washington Crossed the Delaware is specifically about how General Washington led his troops across the Delaware River during the Revolutionary War. This book has stunning illustrations. 

We the People: The Story of the Constitution focuses on the writing of the constitution but includes Washington’s role. It also has excellent illustrations. 

Everybody’s Revolution looks at various people that play a role in the revolution, including Washington. It also makes a point to discuss lesser-known people, including women and those of African American descent. 

George Washington’s Teeth is a rather comical story that tells how George Washington lost his teeth and had to use dentures. Throughout that story, it includes important historical facts and an excellent timeline that gives more information. This book would be great for a reluctant reader who needs to engage through comedy and rhyme.

Vinnie and Abraham is a beautifully illustrated picture book about the young woman who sculpted the statue of Abraham Lincoln that stands in the Capitol rotunda. It tells of how she met him and sculpted him before his death and then how she had to fight to get the commission because many people did not believe that a woman could create the sculpture.

The House That George Built is a cute story about the White House and George Washington’s role in having it built. The story has a sing-songy rhyming style that will keep young children engaged and provides pages with lots of historical information.

Chapter Books for Presidents’ Day

These chapter books would work well for a read-aloud to older children or as independent reading for upper elementary and middle-grade children. Our family has also enjoyed listening to the YWAM biographies on audiobook.

George Washington: True Patriot and Abraham Lincoln: A New Birth of Freedom are biographies in the Heroes of History series by YWAM. They are excellent chapter books that are well suited for anyone from upper elementary to adults. These would be perfect as a family read-aloud or the basis of a unit study. 

Who Was Abraham Lincoln?  and Who Was George Washington?  are shorter biographies that are a part of the Who Was series. These books are suitable for elementary-aged students or a quicker family read-aloud. 

George Washington, Our First Leader is a good chapter book biography that includes some lovely black and white illustrations. 

In Their Own Words: Abraham Lincoln is a shorter chapter book that uses many of Lincoln’s own words to tell his story. It is a great book to use to teach children about first-person sources. 

Activity Books for Presidents’ Day

In addition to the picture books and chapter books included in the lists above, some families may want to incorporate some hands-on activities. 

 Abraham Lincoln for Kids: His Life and Times with 21 Activities and George Washington for Kids: His Life and Times with 21 Activities are great books to help with that. The books each contain 21 different activities to help your children learn more about each person and the times in which they lived. The books also include timelines and other resources to help you dig deeper. 

And don’t forget the Lincoln Logs!

The Birth of Lincoln Logs is a fun story to share with your children - and February is a PERFECT time to drag out your logs for free play!

Music Appreciation and Presidents Day

In the SQUILT LIVE! Plus curriculum we will be enjoying a special event to learn even more about Presidents Day.

Matthew Sabatella, of Ballad of America, will perform and teach our children about the songs that were popular during Washington and Lincoln’s time. Mr. Sabatella has a passion for American history and music, and his programs are always excellent!

Membership is always open, so become a SQUILT LIVE! Plus member to enjoy this event - and over 105 recorded lessons in the archives, along with two new live lesson each month!

Reading, creating, playing, and incorporating music are great ways to build relationships and learn about history.

I hope you find something I’ve suggested to focus on and enhance your study of Presidents Day in your homeschool!

Dawn is a passionate follower of Jesus, wife to Chris, and homeschool mom of four. In her spare time she loves to read, hike, and write on her blog Schoolin’ Swag. She enjoys reviewing curriculum and helping moms find the right fit for their family. Some of her favorite parts of homeschooling are hymn studies, living history, and read alouds. She and her children also enjoy incorporating food into their studies as often as possible.

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