How to keep your toddler engaged during learning activities

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You’ve been providing homeschooling for your child for almost a full 3 weeks now! YAY! We’re celebrating! We know the adjustment hasn’t been easy, but now is the time to extend yourself the grace and gratitude that you deserve because you’re doing it!

Parents are sharing their experiences and resources in creating structured educational environments in their home. Some of my favorite resources include Circle Time with Ms. Monica, Preschool Prep Academy Videos and Kahn Academy Kids. I also like to use workbooks and hands-on educational activities that I’ve purchased from Target’s Dollar Spot, The Dollar Tree and Amazon. My impulsive purchases are paying off.

However, it is really important to acknowledge that although this is our “new normal,” it still is stressful. It can lead to high levels of frustration while trying to engage your child in learning at home. Home is supposed to be the place where we are relaxed and removed from work and school. It is not typical for a child who attends school or a child care center to then have to engage in full on learning at home where they are used to having fun and relaxing. This is a structural and environmental adjustment that can still pose as a challenge to your success in implementing educational routines at home.

Learning activities like circle time, handwriting and engaging in drills may prove themselves to be difficult. Circle time has provided us with 30 minutes of predictable routine. We added it to our daily schedule because it allows children the ability to routinely learn new skills, with repetition throughout the week. It provides the structure that kids are used to getting at school.

But we’re not at school, so engaging in circle time with mom or dad can lead to some attention-seeking behaviors. This looks like constant redirection to have Aiden sit still and remain engaged and focused for 30 minutes.

I consulted with Professor of Early Childhood Education, Mel Sivells who helped to put things in perspective for me. I asked the question: “What is developmentally appropriate for focus, attention and listening at Aiden’s age of 3?” Here’s what she shared based on a concept from the High Scope Curriculum:

Three year old [children] are still young in terms of development. Consistency is best. I used to do something called “plan-do-review.”

Professor Sivells went on to provide examples of using “plan-do-review” with Aiden:

…Asking him to tell me what his plan is (Aiden: I am going to play with Legos. Mommy: What will you build with your Legos? Aiden: I’m going to build a machine man.) He goes and plays with Legos. If he ventures off to something else, you redirect him by saying “how’s your lego machine going? Or ask him, “are you changing your plan?” Afterwards, when it is time to clean up, review with him: “what did you do?” Have him explain how he built the Legos asking him what did you do first, next and last.

Here’s how I plan to apply this to circle time, as well as other learning activities:

  1. Plan: Aiden, we’re doing circle time at 9 AM (or in 10 minutes). What are we going to learn from Ms. Monica today? How are we planning to sit and pay attention?

  2. Do: When he begins trying to play with one of his toys randomly laying around the floor, redirecting him would look like this: “Aiden, how are you doing with the days of the week [or the current topic]?” Or question, “ Aiden, are you changing your plan from sitting and paying attention during circle time?”

  3. Review: What did you learn during circle time today? You can even go into detail: What day is it today? What is the weather outside? What book did Ms. Monica read?

In an oversimplified way, constant redirection is a necessity. It is appropriate for toddler development. It may be frustrating at times, especially if you’re balancing participation in meetings, answering emails or other tasks. It’s all new. Be easy on yourself. Create a plan with your toddler, do it and review it. Create a plan for yourself, do it and review it. Be consistent and take it all one day at a time.

Make sure to check out previous posts on how to maintain your wellness during this time.