Educator and mom is a difficult balance. I know all the things I should be doing, but most days I’m just too dang exhausted to do anything other than get through our regular evening routine. While I am absolutely terrified of what is happening in the world right now, I have chosen to focus my energy on feeling blessed. I am blessed that our schools made the decision to close their doors. The decision was not an easy one to make, but was the right one to keep us safe. All educators are filled with fear and anxiety for our students.
What are our school babies doing while they are gone?
Are they alright?
Do they have food to eat?
Are they learning anything virtually?
Do they know we still love them?
I push this anxiety aside by focusing on the fact that I am blessed to be able to experience more time home with my son. I finally have the opportunity to teach him. I have time to slow down and enjoy him. To soak up all of his snuggles and laugh at all of his funny sayings.
This is not a blessing I take for granted. I am so thankful for our amazing healthcare workers who do not have the opportunity to stay home. They are fighting the great unknown. Daily putting themselves and their families at risk. They are in my thoughts and prayers every moment of the day.
Families of school aged children are daily navigating the waters of homeschooling life. They are diligently working through assignments from their child’s teacher. MAD PROPS to these amazing parents! Overnight you had to become teachers while many of you are also still balancing a career. You are doing an amazing job!
Other families may be home with little ones because daycare or preschool is closed. They do not have plans to follow and are ending each day purely exhausted. Many are probably feeling like they are getting nothing accomplished. I see you and I feel you. I too am trying to find a balance of virtual work while also engaging with my toddler. Today I am sharing a few early learning activities that are FUN and guaranteed to keep your little ones engaged. I am sharing my top three in an effort to help and not overwhelm. Find one that your child likes and stick with it until they get bored. Do not feel like you have to do it all everyday… or do any! We are all trying to survive while also enjoying the opportunity to slow down. I hope you find them helpful and I hope your little one enjoys them. Happy learning!
ABC Fishing
Materials: ABC puzzle (this one from amazon is amazing), water, a scoop or slotted spoon
Gather all of your materials and fill a pan, bowl, or even the sink with water. Choose which letters you want your child to “fish” for. I would recommend starting with two letters at a time if you are just starting to learn letters.
Ask you child to “fish” for the letter. You can call the letter by it’s name or sound depending on what you are working on. I said the letter name and had him say the sound once he caught it.
Once they “catch” the right letter have them place it in the puzzle.
This activity is great! You can do this in so many different ways… letter names, letter sounds, colors, shapes, etc.
Letter Plate Clip
Materials: Plates (we used Styrofoam, but could use paper plates, cardboard, card stock, or even real plates), clothes pins
Put letters, words, or colors around the outer edge of the plate. Write the letters, words, or color the ends of the clothes pins to match the plate. See the picture below.
Have your child match the clothespin to the appropriate letter on the plate. This activity is not only great for letter recognition, but it is also a good fine motor activity! When we did this at home we did the letter sounds as we matched them. You could easily color the ends of the clothespins for younger children and have them match the colors.
Name Building Scavenger Hunt
Materials: Sticky notes, paper
Write your child’s name on a piece of blank paper. For older children you could write sight words or spelling words they are working on. Write random letters, including the ones needed to build the word, on sticky notes. Place them on a wall or other flat surface. Have you child find the letters used to build the word.
