As our final countdown to the start of our 15th year of homeschooling, I am revisiting lots of things that will be a necessary part of our daily routine in just a few days.

One of these things is keeping toddlers/preschoolers busy while older siblings are busy and I’m trying to focus on one or more of the olders.

I have assembled a short list of some things that may be of use and get you started with some other ideas of your own. If you have any to share, I’d love to hear!

1. Divide your preschooler’s toys up into mid-sized boxes or bins and allow them to play with only one at a time.   Store the other bins away out of sight.   Now,  when you are homeschooling another child and your toddler is needing something to occupy them, change the bin.   Change the bins as often as you think necessary, but be aware…we teach our children to be discontent and unimaginative when we give too many toys that do everything for them.
2. Keep a box of old clothes that a child can slip on independently.     Include hats, scarves, broken watches, necklaces, big shoes, old purses, etc.   Let them play as you work with others nearby.
3. Make your own sewing cards.
   1)    Collect wax-coated cardboard
   2)    Cut these cardboard pieces into shapes–ovals, circles, triangles, etc.
   3)    Hole punch around the perimeter of each piece
   4)    Cut out pieces of yarn long enough to go around and through all the holes
   5)    Knot one end so when your child starts to  “sew”   it doesn’t pull through the hole
   6)    On other end of yarn make a   “needle”   using tape.    This is the part that will be pushed in and out each hole.
   7)    You can also make sewing cards out of large plastic lids
4. I allow my preschoolers to sit at the table with us if they are quietly busy.  One thing that they love to do is practice cutting with safety scissors.  I have watched them stay happily engrossed in this challenging activity for 30 minutes or more!