25 Things for Toddlers to Do While You Homeschool

Homeschooling with a toddler underfoot can feel like trying to hold two conversations at once. You are reading aloud, asking questions, listening to narrations, and meanwhile someone very small needs work for their hands and attention. Not busywork. Not a screen. Something real.

Toddlers do not need to be managed into silence. They need purposeful occupation. Charlotte Mason was clear that young children thrive when their days include movement, imitation, and meaningful work. The goal is not constant engagement but steady rhythm.

Below are 25 ideas that give toddlers something worthy to do while you homeschool older children. These are not crafts that require constant supervision. They are simple invitations that honor a toddler’s need to do real things.

A note before we begin

You do not need all 25 in one week. Choose one or two that fit your home and rotate them slowly. Familiar work is calming for young children. And as another note, it’s ok for water to spill, rice to end up in the carpet, and color comes off most anything. (also hairspray gets sharpie out..)

25 Ideas for Toddlers During Homeschool Time

1. Water pouring

A small pitcher, a bowl, and a towel. Pouring helps build concentration and coordination and can last longer than you expect. Also, don’t worry if it spills.

2. Folding cloths

Dish towels, napkins, or baby clothes. Toddlers love imitating real household work.

3. Wooden puzzles

Choose puzzles with few pieces and solid construction. Keep them out only during school hours to maintain interest.

4. Large bead stringing

Use thick yarn and wooden beads. This strengthens fine motor skills without frustration.

5. Nature basket exploration

Fill a basket with pinecones, smooth stones, seed pods, and shells. Add in a hand lens Rotate items seasonally.

6. Crayon drawing

One or two crayons at a time and sturdy paper. Avoid overwhelming choices.

7. Toy animals with a mat

A small blanket or felt mat becomes a “habitat.” Toddlers naturally create quiet play when given a defined space.

8. Scooping and transferring

Dry beans, rice, or oats with cups and spoons. Keep a tray underneath to contain mess.

9. Board books basket

Choose books with rich illustrations rather than noisy features. Toddlers often “read” aloud to themselves.

10. Posting activities

Dropping wooden coins into a tin or pushing scarves through a hole in a box satisfies repetition-loving minds.

11. Music listening

Play folk songs or classical music softly while they stack blocks or look at books.

12. Simple shape sorter

This classic work encourages problem-solving without instruction.

13. Practical life trays

Brushing a doll’s hair, polishing a wooden spoon, wiping a table with a cloth.

14. Stacking stones or blocks

Heavy wooden or stone blocks slow the body and focus the mind.

15. Peg people and bowls

Sorting pegs by color or placing people into bowls is simple and absorbing.

16. Sensory bottles

Water, oil, glitter, or small objects sealed tightly. These are especially helpful during read-aloud time.

17. Play silks

Silks become capes, blankets, grass, water, or nothing at all. Open-ended materials invite quiet imagination.

18. Sorting baskets

Buttons, shells, or wooden shapes sorted by size or type.

19. Window washing

A small spray bottle with water and a cloth. Toddlers take this work very seriously.

20. Animal figurine matching

Match animals to picture cards or book illustrations.

21. Sticker books

Reusable sticker books are ideal and do not require help.

22. Lacing cards

Simple shapes with thick laces encourage steady hands.

23. Rhythm instruments

One instrument at a time. Shakers or small drums used quietly alongside music.

24. Snack preparation

Peeling a banana, placing crackers on a plate, pouring water into a cup.

25. Watching you work

Sometimes the best work is sitting nearby, holding a book, a cloth, or a toy while observing. Toddlers learn by proximity.

What Matters More Than the Activity

The success of toddler work during homeschool has less to do with the activity itself and more to do with consistency. When toddlers know that morning school time includes a predictable rhythm and meaningful options, they settle (sometimes…maybe).

Avoid rotating toys too quickly. Avoid over-explaining. Offer the work, show it once if needed, and step back.

Your toddler does not need to be entertained. They need to belong to the life of the home.

When their hands are occupied with real things, your homeschool gains space to breathe.