If you’ve got multiple ages of kids at home, then you know what it’s like to try to talk to older kids and have younger ones hang on you or whine for your attention. It can be very frustrating. So let’s avoid that frustration by planning ahead with a few activities that may keep your toddlers at bay.

For Older Littles:

• Let them create with Play-Do while you play quiet music in the background.
• Let them color a fun holiday coloring page
• Let them feel like they are in school, by having them watch a few of John Hartman’s songs on his YouTube channel.
• Give them a few picture books to look at.
• Hand them a piece of construction paper and some stickers. Be sure the stickers are large enough for little hands to peel.
• Refrigerator letter magnets are a fun game.
• Have them try sorting: Legos, Fruit-Loops, pieces of paper, you name it.

For Younger Ones:

• Just hold them if they’ll be still. Sometimes our babies just want to be comforted in our arms. You can still teach another child while cradling your little one.
• Let them play with plastic food containers and some blocks. Kids love sorting. You may have to show them how, but if you have fun with it, they’ll want to as well.
• Baby Einstein. You can find several free ones on YouTube. My little ones especially loved Old McDonald’s Farm.
• Let them look at books.
• Give them a few cheerios in a bowl.

It’s important to remember that if you want to establish a routine, you’ll need to be consistent in what you offer your children. And the key is: only offer it at THAT time. If you pick Play-Do for them to play quietly, only offer it at that time of day you need them to be quiet. When you no longer need it, take it away and assure them they can play with it again tomorrow. This way, they’ll look forward to playing with it when it’s offered. If they have access to their quiet time activity all of the time, then it simply won’t work. They will become bored with it and need something else.

Be aware that you may need to adjust the activity as the child grows and develops further. You can always switch activities up monthly, or even longer.

Your Homework:

What’s a homeschool blog without a little homework?

• Pick an age-appropriate quiet activity for the toddler at your home.
• Offer it at the time you need them to be quiet.
• Give them a time warning before you clean it up or take it away.
• Take it away and move onto something else.
• Assure them they will get to do it again tomorrow.
• Be consistent.