Tuesday, June 28

Tot School

I know I’ve posted before about my beliefs on starting “school” with little ones, but if you are new to this blog or somehow missed those posts . . . I just want to say, that I do NOT start “school” with my little ones to jumpstart them into being the smartest 2 or 3 year olds or because I think they “have” to do school asap.  My opinion, is quite the contrary.  I start introducing “school-like” activities to my little tot’s mainly to keep them busy & entertained.  I think it is very important to encourage natural growth & exploration in an educational/hands-on environment.  During the toddler years I try to surround my kids with toys & activities that will build necessary skills for upcoming years.  So, what do I use & exactly what do I focus on?

TOT SCHOOL 2’s

Curriculum 

*BFIAR Resources

I don’t think a “curriculum” is necessary, but the FIAR books are wonderful “keepers” that you will read over & over again (not just when your child is 2).  I don’t do all the activities listed in the guide, but pick a few here & there & add some of my own ideas.

Skills

  • Animal’s & Sounds
  • Body Parts
  • Sign Language
  • First Words – building a vocabulary
  • Colors
  • Counting
  • Character Traits

I LOVE Bright & Beyond Activity Cards!

This is a great time to set the tone for “school” & begin each morning with a circle time.  I would suggest starting with a short routine of a prayer, song, “how are you today”, a short calendar time – “Today is Monday”, the weather, & possibly 1-2 focus reviews (Ex. new word, character trait).  Add to your circle time as your child matures & understand.  You can do a complete calendar time, memory work, & build on skills you are focusing on.  Preschooler’s & Peace offers great Circle Time Suggestions.

Truman turned two in May so “Tiny Tot Time” will now be “Tot School” 

Here is my weekly planning sheet (I made using a combination of ideas from sources listed below):

Tot School Weekly Planning

*on the back I print the activities list for easy reference for planning.

Here is the the assessment sheet I made for Truman this year:

Tot School Assessment

 

 

TOT SCHOOL 3’s

Curriculum 

At this age I love to begin themes with our learning & include weekly focus for:

      • memory verse
      • number
      • shape
      • color
      • letter – recognition
      • new words each 

*Here is a link to the workbook cover’s I made for my boys.

  • Christian Light Workbooks (motor skills, hand-eye coordination, & visual comparison)
    • About Three
    • Bigger Steps
    • Color, Count, And Cut
    • Doing my My Best
  • Continue story time with FIAR books & activities     

          FIAR Resources  *I LOVE Delightful Learning’s Lap Journal*

  • Bright & Beyond Preschool Activity Cards
  • Handwriting Without Tears
    • Hands-on Materials
      • Crayons
      • Wall cards
      • Name Plates
      • Mat Man
    • Skills:
      • Mat Man – Shapes
      • Mat Man – Opposites
      • Language & Literacy
      • Line it Up
      • A-B-C Touch & Flip Cards
    • Numbers & Math
      • Teacher’s Guide
      • I Know My Numbers booklets
      • 4 Squares More Squares
      • Tag Bags
      • 1-2-3 Touch & Flip Cards
      • Sing, Sound, & Count With Me CD

I tried to have hands-on activities for each of our weekly focus' - for J- they sorted & counted & practiced patterns with Jelly Beans.  When we were learning the shape of a heart we made heart cookies. Snack time was also an important part of our day - I tried to tie in the concepts we were learning.  If our shape was oval we'd have a boiled egg, if we were focusing on the color blue & squares, we'd have blue squares of jello.  If we read Jesse Bear - we had teddy grahams, etc.

I also created a Preschool Poster we refer to daily that included all the weeks information (mentioned above), plus a list of other skills/activities (listed below) & centers.

SKILLS & ACTIVITIES

Observing & Exploring Skills
Water/Sand Play/ Sensory Tubs
Measuring Cups
Boats
Magnets
Flashlight

Classifying Skills
Laundry, toys, silverware, groceries, & magazine pictures

Relationship/Measuring Skills

Opposites
Measuring tape/cups

Matching Skills
Memory Game
Puzzles

Verbal Development
Bible Stories
Nursery Rhymes
Naming Animals/Body Parts/Household Objects
Dramatizing Verbs ("Eat," "Hop," "Brush," "Smell")

Auditory Discrimination Skills
Listening to tapes
Play "Go & Get"

Visual Discrimination Skills
Classify objects by color
Legos

Creative Expression Skills
Puppets
Google (make a picture of this shape)
Play Dough
Dolls
Dress up
Trucks, Cars
Clap to music
Music instruments
Singing
Collages
Macaroni, paper shapes
Painting (water colors, finger paint)
Vegetable sculptures

Gross Motor Skills
Walking like a dog, bear, crab, worm, duck, frog
Hopping, Skipping, Balancing
Roll Like a Log
Push, Pull, Drag
Balloons
Bubbles
Window Washing
Pouring rice back & forth
Hokey Pokey
Obstacles Course

Fine Motor Skills
Buttoning, snapping, cutting, tracing, zipping, coloring

Fun
Cooking help
Tea Party
Nature Walk Hide & Seek
Tag
I Spy Mother May I
Simon Says

Chores

This is also the age that I begin chores with my little ones.  We begin with personal care & property –  dressing themselves, washing hands, brushing teeth, picking up shoes, dirty clothes, & small messes (if their room is a big mess, I will sit in the floor & direct them.  They typically know where something goes, but the large mess can be rather overwhelming).  Toddlers also love to wipe things.  I give Truman a spray bottle (with water & vinegar) to “clean”.  If they spill something, I give them a rag to clean it themselves (I usually come in behind & clean-up, but to initially allow them to clean the mess teaches them responsibility).  At this age, they love to mimic activities.  Usually my little one will follow the older children around as they do their chores.  When the boys are picking up the yard, Truman loves to point out the poop, or a out-of-place toy. 

These are great posts on chores:

Rewards:

At this age praise goes a LONG way.  Early learners gain so much confidence & joy just from seeing the reaction of others.  I try to over-react in praise & make sure my little one knows how proud I am.  Stickers or small treats also go along way – even a toy that only gets to be played with on special occasions.  As your child matures from 2-3, you may introduce rewards.  We have magnet frames for “cheerfulness”, “sharing”, etc. that are displayed.  Depending on your child’s understanding, you could also begin an easy reward system.

Discipline:

Two is not exactly my favorite stage.  Mostly because my own lack of patience combined with the lack of communication with a demanding little person.  Each of my children have such different personalities that have required very different consequences.  I am certainly no expert & feel totally inadequet to give any advice in this area; however, I will highly recommend Creative Corrections by Lisa Whelchel (this book is a toolbox for parenting children of all ages).

HELPFUL RESOURCES:

Theme Suggestions:

  • Character Traits
  • Bible Stories
  • Books/Authors
  • Movies/Characters
  • All About Me (my feelings/emotions, my family, my body, my community)
  • Birthday
  • Human Body
  • Healthy Foods – Fruits & Veggies
  • Jobs (police, fire, post office, teacher, construction, etc.)
  • World
  • Solar System
  • Places (towns, country, continents, etc.)
  • Circus
  • Farm
  • Ponds
  • Ocean
  • Forest
  • Zoo
  • Garden/flowers
    • Holidays
    • Seasons & Weather
    • Rainbow
    • Animals (baby animals)
    • Bugs
    • Dinosaurs
    • Monsters
    • Western
    • Pirates
    • Knights/Princesses/Castles
    • Transportation

    Websites & Blogs:

    This is also a very fun age to begin Muffin Tin Meals

    Apps:

    ipix 218ipix 219

    Sorry the sono pix is my background picture :)

    Songs:

    • Handwriting Without Tears CD’s
    • The Donut Man
    • Laurie Beckner
    • Buck Howdy
    • Praise Baby
    • Wee Sing Nursery Rhymes
    • Cedarmont Kids
    • Focus on the Family Singing Bible

    Movies/Shows I let my 2-3 year old watch:

    Desperate times call for desperate measures!  We don’t have cable TV – movies & Netflix only, but there are points in the day that an educational or entertaining show is extremely helpful. 

    • Barney – yes, my 2 year old LOVES Barney
    • Backyardigains
    • Dora & Diego
    • Praise Baby
    • Leap Frog
    • Any movies or shows with animals!
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