Toddler Parenting Articles
Toddler Learning Activities

Toddler learning activities - this toddler parenting article is about how you can create a learning rich environment for your toddlers in your home.

Being in the homeschool curriculum market I come into contact with a lot of parents who are either looking at homeschooling their children, or are already homeschooling them.

Most parents of toddlers who are wanting to homeschool always start off enquiring about what curriculum they should use. My standard response is that LIFE is the best curriculum for any child under 6 years of age.

Some parents still want more structure and I then encourage them to find a good balance between life and some craft, reading and delight directed learning.

Creating a lifestyle of learning

If we broke this down into a step by step process it would look something like this:

Dealing with a paradigm shift - this is the most challenging area for many parents. We have been raised in the mindset that school is where you learn and you learn from what the teacher standing at the front of the room tells you. But when we begin to embrace LIFE as our child’s teacher we are able to see every experience as a learning experience.

Filling your days with productive activity - The relevant word to focus on here is “productive”. As moms wanting the best for our toddlers, we can fill our little ones days with lots of busyness and activity. Or we can assess each outing, activity or interaction through the lens of whether it will build character or develop your toddler interests and then choose only that do.

Finding the right “hardware” - Creating learning nooks throughout your home is an exciting project to undertake. “Hardware” refers to the books, toys and craft materials you will need to fulfil your goals.

Pursuing your own learning - during this process mom can also begin to create her own learning lifestyle by reading, taking up a hobby or pursuing an interest. Our local highschool has a continuing education program where I have been able to take courses in scrapbooking, photography, watercolour painting, teddy bear making and others. I am currently learning about creating a smaller carbon footprint along with my children.

You and your toddler

You may wonder what this looks like in practice. Let’s take a look through the average day of a stay-at-home-mom with her toddler.

Everyday toddler learning activities:

~While you are cooking, activities they can do:

~While you are doing your chores, they can:

~When you take a walk with them you can:

~When you are shopping they can:

And all this learning done naturally by your side will go a long way to developing a solid foundation for your toddler’s future learning. When coupled with training your child’s character with obedience you will find that your days are very full of toddler learning activities.

Bible link for moms Deut 11:19

“Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

We are so privileged to be with our young ones in the time when their worldviews are established. In the first 5 years your children will acquire knowledge and values at a rate that is never equalled again. Take this directive from the Bible seriously and remember that as you talk to your young children about life and your family values, you have a Heavenly Father who does the same for you. He is always with you guiding, directing and offering you circumstances where you can obey Him. In this there is such blessing as He daily renews the mind of a surrendered woman.