How To Homeschool with a Baby or Toddler at Home

Make Multitasking Magic, Not Mayhem!

When choosing to do online homeschool or homeschool preschool, many parents have amazing reasons for choosing that method! Homeschooling can be a dream come true for most folks. However, there’s no denying that when you have multiple little ones at home, all of whom have to be tended to, it can get a little hectic trying to balance it all at once — especially if you also work from home! If this sounds familiar to you, don’t worry; you’re not the only one who faces this difficulty. It’s very common for parents to have to figure out the best way to help engage their little one who is enrolled in online homeschool while keeping track of other children in the home, as well as their own work. Fortunately, there are lots of tips you can try for when you’re feeling frustrated and need some help! We’ve accumulated some of our favorite parenting tips:

1. Use Intentional Timing: Something that most folks don’t consider when trying to manage a toddler or baby as well as a little one studying in online or homeschool preschool is to figure out the best order in which you can pay attention to all of your children! A lot of people think that paying attention to your baby or toddler before your young student is going to be counterintuitive, but that’s actually not the case at all. A lot of parents have found that by spending some intentional and focused time with their toddler or baby, there is less pushback when it comes time for you to help your little one with their homeschool preschool. So, when working to set this habit up, you can try a couple of different things: some folks have found it helpful to set a timer for a length of time to spend with their baby or toddler at a certain point in the day — such as after breakfast — where the focus will be all on them. You can read books with them, play with toys, or any other activities your baby or toddler enjoys. On busier mornings, a handy parenting tip is to make them a parent’s helper! It’s a good way to make them feel included in the day’s activities as well as more connected with their sibling in online preschool.
2. Be Flexible: Ahhhh! It can feel really tough to try and be flexible when you have so many things to do and what feels like no time to do it. Managing an online homeschool student, working from home, keeping an eye on your baby or toddler — it all adds up fast. However, being as flexible as possible will really help you keep your wits about you, and will make being a homeschool preschool parent much easier. One of the handiest ways to keep order while maintaining some freedom is to make a loose schedule with clear priorities. As we’ve mentioned, a routine that is too regimented may lead to a lot of frustration on your part. However, a loose schedule for your day that your little ones can begin to predict will save you lots of headaches. It will also allow you to prioritize what is important, especially when it comes to your homeschool preschool student’s lessons. 
3. Contain Them: Sometimes, toddlers and babies just have too much energy, and you need a tiny bit of containment in order to help them through those moments. Meal times are great chances to help your online preschool student while your baby or toddler is strapped in and will not be too distracting. We also recommend a pack and play if your baby or toddler is extra spirited during times when you need to help your homeschool preschool student. They might take a little while to take to it, but it’ll save you a world of time in the long run! This parenting tip can also work with your little one doing homeschool preschool up till a certain age. For example, car rides are fantastic times for your little one to engage their memory to see what they can retain from their online preschool! You can also keep the learning going by playing them audiobooks or music and asking them questions about what they hear. 
4. Busy Bags and Other Activities: Another simple parenting tip is to simply keep them occupied! Busy bags are a wonderful way to keep your baby or toddler busy and entertained while you help your online preschool/homeschool preschool student! A busy bag is essentially an accumulation of special activities just for times when they need a little extra entertainment. Like the pack and play, it may not be your baby’s favorite at first. However, babies and toddlers learn fast, and soon they’ll love to play whenever you break out the busy bag! Some of our favorite activities to include are item sorting (like buttons or bear figurines) and felt character dolls. You can make the bag unique according to your little one’s age and interests!
5. Naptime (for EVERYONE!): Ah, one of the best parts of the day for a busy parent — naptime. There are lots of good uses for that time when your toddler or baby is resting their eyes for a while. If you are in a pinch time-wise, naptime can be a great opportunity to teach your homeschool preschool student some topics that they need focused attention or extra help on. However, sometimes you just really need a break, and that’s ok too! Naptime can also be used so you have a chance to catch your breath, eat a snack and rejuvenate. One of the most important parenting tips: Everyone will be happier if you are!

No bones about it, trying to be a parent, an online homeschool teacher, chef, employee, and more can be super taxing on you! However, by trying your best to plan well and take care of yourself as well as your little ones, homeschool preschool can work for you and your family, and be a positive experience for all! Try Our Online Preschool for FREE! Playgarden Prep offers numerous educational videos from real teachers, and numerous DIY projects that support early learning and online homeschool development during preschool at home.