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  • Writer's pictureLauren Gonzalez

At Home learning Activities: Age 3+

Back to school we go! For some of us that means brick & mortar and for others it means virtual. For those of us with babies and toddlers maybe "school" never really stopped, but then for many we have been home since March. Whatever circumstance you find yourself in, the "Back to school" mindset is still very valuable. In a year filled with so much stress let's make this a time to look at a fresh beginning with our children's skills sets and learning. I for one can't wait!


I'm sure for many of you the school year is looking very different than it has in the past but for my family it is remaining essentially the same.


Crew, my three-nager, is headed back to his school twice a week. Hallelujah!


Cade, my one year old, will be staying at home with me. Lord give me strength!


Years 1-3 are very pivotal & foundational years for learning.


I want to discuss:

  • Why years 1-3 are such valuable years for learning & juggling the pressure of teaching your children.

  • How to set yourself up for success when working with your young children

  • What are some wonderful tools/activities to use with your children that are three and older.

Why are ages 1-3 such a valuable time for learning? For starters, we know what sponges their little brains are! Also, I'm sure you have noticed how eager your little ones are to do things that maybe you don't feel the same enthusiasm about. For instance, Crew is ALWAYS down for washing dishes and doing laundry. I sure wish I felt that way! We want to hone in on that excitement. You will find the same to be true when it comes to learning activities at this age.

It's also important to pick something to focus your attention on when you are working on educating your children. By pinpointing key areas to work on you will not feel the extreme pressure that comes with the amount there is to teach your children, not to mention, what the other kids their age may know and are able to do. Toddlers are literally learning EVERYTHING. As moms, we have to find a balance between educating our children while also not putting too much pressure on ourselves and our kids. I often find myself having to dial back my expectations but I always start with them high!





Setting yourself up for success when educating your child starts with evaluating where your child is at and thinking about what they could/should be learning right now.




As an example, my one year old could be mastering his animal names and sounds, as well as, his colors. Everything we do when it comes to learning with him is focused on those things and nothing else right now. We may find an opportunity to count to three with him or something like that but we do not harp on it for long. Pick your standards you are trying to meet and stick with them.




Next you want to recognize that toddlers aren't going to want to sit for hours and memorize all 26 letters of the alphabet on flashcards but, they will be super excited if you:

  • Set out 4-6 flashcards on the counter and say "we are going to do a really fun activity/game later". They will anticipate this all day.

  • Give them lots of praise as they are working on it. Give them lots of praise after! Call dad and tell him what they did or have them tell him. We even call the grandparents and do the same. Building their confidence is key.

  • Keep it short and sweet. The moment they start showing lack of interest or are acting silly say "You did really good for today". It may be just a few minutes that you work on it or they may want to keep going just try not to pass their limit.

Finally, I want to share some fun tools/toys that you can use when educating your children who are three and older. Toddlers love to be independent and I have found that when I am able to give my toddlers "control" I like to do that. It helps to build their independence and confidence. For this reason I picked two activities to share with you that allow your child to work independently and correct their own errors. Of course, they will need some guidance along the way but it lets them take some control of their learning!


1.) The Learning Journey Upper and Lower Case Letters puzzle

  • A self correcting puzzle game

  • Helps kids with upper and lower case letter recognition

  • Helps to promote early reading skills by incorporating a picture with the corresponding letter helping with beginning sounds.

  • Linked from Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2XNaQy8




2.) Hot Dots Jr. Let's Master Pre-K Reading


  • Helps with a variety of foundational reading skills:

    • Letter recognition (Upper and Lower)

    • Sequencing

    • Rhyming words

    • Color words

    • Beginning sounds

    • Sight words

  • Children learn to develop a filter of their own to recognize their mistakes without the parent having to tell them.

  • Develops self correcting.

  • Linked here on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2PHbMji


Learning with your toddlers can be so much fun but it can also be overwhelming! Taking advantage of these younger and more eager years is very important because it gives them a strong foundation. Try to take time to hone in on what skills you want to work on with your child, make a little time each day even if its just on the go or spur of the moment, and find some fun toys and tools to help you enjoy this time with our toddler! Good luck and happy school year!


For more learning activities and toys check out these two moms who are bloggers! We teamed up to bring you a variety of ideas and items ranging from infant to pre-k.







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