Work-from-Home Mama and Toddler Learning Routines
How Do I Structure My Mornings with a Toddler?
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When I spent over a decade in the classroom, it never occurred to me that I would use those lesson-planning skills as a new mama. However, as our little one gets bigger and bigger, I can see my role as a teacher start to creep into the picture a bit more as we are moving to have more structured mornings in terms of activities and having some goals. Our little one is two, so we aren’t in a rush to get into a full-blown lesson schedule, but she really loves a schedule. I think her mama does, too.
The main goal of our time together is always to play, be outside as much as possible, and have fun.
But, with her being home with me, my teacher brain also needs the outlet of doing lesson planning and looking at different activities for our little one. Part of what fuels teachers is the creative input and output of ideas surrounding learning. I wanted to focus on the morning time after breakfast when we got back from being outside and before lunch. If she were enrolled in a 2’s program, she would be attending a class 2-3 times a week that would work with her on a “get-ready-for-preschool” curriculum. This isn’t that.
This is more so open-ended learning with goals and themed activities to have some fun each week. This morning routine strikes the perfect balance between work commitments on my end and those precious moments with my little explorer. From storytimes that spark imagination to the sensory bins and water tables that ignite their curiosity, we'll journey through different creative crafts, drawing, baking, and grooving to music and movement throughout the week. I have figured out by now that each mama is different and each kid is different, but I am hoping to share our learning routines and journey along the way as we figure out how to work, play, and grow together!
What Days? How Long?
Our goal is going to be 3 days a week from 9 am-11 am in the morning. This will ultimately be interrupted by outings, trips to the library, trips to the park (when it gets cooler), and more. Sometimes we will need to run errands in the morning. I know that many mamas out there are already doing amazing activities that seem just intuitive. However, my teacher brain needed the structure of planning things out for our little one. I also am the first one to say that I don't know what I don’t know. Being a secondary educator, I often scour different blogs, websites, and articles about what could work and what doesn’t work. It is all trial and error. I know that I love books, stories, and having fun in the dirt. But, I also want to make sure I am helping our little one learn how to communicate, learn more about her world, and work on navigating big feelings.
Thus, we also have some goals.
Goals for Morning Time
Be flexible. If it is an off day, we don’t need to push it.
Focus on language and communication (Really honing into wants and needs)
Focus on fine motor skills and working through being frustrated
Books, being outside, and playing in a sensory bin or water are more important than any planned activity
Really pay attention to strengths and interests: Music, movement, and food have to be in there when I am putting together activities
Using a communication board from Sensory Laine! Click on the image to visit Sensory Laine’s website.
Storytimes/Book Lists
Books will always be at the center of the plan for each week. Right now, we read in the morning, right before nap, and before bedtime. We will most likely keep this schedule and then add in some of the books that tie into the weekly theme. My goal is to make the books that are about the theme each week more readily available in stacks in the kitchen and the living room. I also want to take some of the activities that worked in my middle school classroom and make them fun for a toddler.
Book lists by theme
Flashlight reading in a fort
Book explore with a pile of books that helps with self-selection
Sensory Bins/Water Table
Our little one needs water. She loves a sensory bin and a water table set in the sink. Each week, we will probably use a sensory bin at least 2 times because our little girl loves it so much. When I set up these stations, I grab lots of towels, our little sensory table (a lego table that the legs can come off of), and some fun things to put into the water. Many of these things are the small things that I would put into Creative Writing Play Kits to spark student story ideas.
Read more >>
The Power of Play: Find Story Ideas Everywhere with Creative Writing Play Kits
Water table in sink
Dry bin of sensory goods
Scavenger hunt with items in the bin or table
Go to pool/splashpad
Crafts/Drawing
I keep this one easy because we have a big Hobby Lobby tub of art supplies that are always a go-to if we need an activity that is fun for 10-15 minutes. Included in this tub is the No Mess! Crayola products, No Mess! Coloring sheets, stencils, paper, and tons of stickers. Stickers connect directly to fine motor skills and can be pretty tricky, so it gives us a lot of opportunities to ask for help.
Dollar Tree Craft
Paint tray
Coloring
Printed sheets
Rock painting
Chalk
Marshmallow/toothpick build
Bake/Food
Right now, we are into all things fake food and pretend eating and cooking. Feeding into this interest in the kitchen is going to be an adventure. At least once a week, little one will be helping cook something (This upcoming week is banana bread) and helping to create dinner when possible. I love her toddler chair for getting up to the counter height independently. I also like to use her toddler stool when she is working with playdoh or at the sink doing her water table.
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Cook together
Get ice cream or coffee as an outing
Music/Movement
I think this is something that we try to do when we play outside, but since we are stuck inside due to the heat, we need to focus on the movement part. What better way to do this than through music? My plan is to start with some yoga for kids (My full expectation is that our little one will be climbing on my back during this) and then incorporate some dance party days as well. There are so many good music sources for kids right now, but we right now we are loving:
Doggyland
Anything Bluey soundtrack
Gracie’s Corner
Rise Up, Sing Out!
Sworkit Yoga for Kids
Phonics/ASL/Language
Because we are working on communication, I want to gently introduce some phonics work with letter sounds and eventually blending sounds together. I also sort of wished that we had done more sign language, and it is never too late. I am going to be working on a sign that goes along with specific wants and needs in terms of communication.
Letter of the week with sound
Sign of the week
