This is one of the busiest times of the year (Other than Black Friday, HA)….Back-To-School.  Some moms love it, some dread it, and others can’t wait! It’s a process that includes buying supplies and preparing your child mentally for a successful school year.  Since my kids are under the age of five and I have yet to experience all about the back-to-school process, I have my own practices here at home and have been preparing and planning for a little over a month.  I want to share with you all a few tips on how to manage your space, time, and money to prepare your at-home toddler for school/learning success.  I also want to share some advice I received from an actual teacher on how to prepare your toddlers for Kindergarten.

             Ultimately mommies (or daddies) it’s up to us to teach our kids and it all begins here at home. Personally speaking it has been a huge learning process, from understanding my child and gaining the most patience I’ve ever had in my entire life.  Just remember that you are not alone and things do get easier as you become more experienced and you and your child grow together.  So here are some tips for success for back-to-school for toddlers (at home).

 

1.  Supplies are a biggie for me, and to be honest I am a little obsessive over them.  I feel I am constantly buying them, my son breaks the crayons and loses the tops to the markers.  Try to remember that this will  happen especially with little ones who are still learning to use these supplies.  Your kids will not notice the difference in brands and in the end you will spend less money.  Some supplies that I always recommend having at home are construction or craft paper, toddler/training scissors, washable paints/markers, and lots of disinfectants.  It’s important to have your supplies accessible for you and your “little student”.  I buy most things at The Dollar Tree, Target (dollar section), and Wal-Mart. 

2. Space. In a classroom in school, your child will have lots of room to learn.  From desks, to carpet/rug times, learning centers, and table time.  In your home this may become difficult especially if you do not have the space, like me.  Living in a small house or apartment where  space is not spread out as easily can make having a classroom difficult.  Even though my space is limited I have designated an area for my son’s “classroom”.  We have an Easel Desk, plastic drawers full of supplies, a reading station, and bulletin board to display his work.  Although sometimes it’s not “adult” or “Guest” friendly, it’s definitely kid/student approved. 

 

3. Time. I have always been a firm believer of a schedule, however I know that sometimes it’s not easy to stick to one especially being at home.  I started thinking how can be more effective with my time and my child’s time.  So I created a schedule with them in mind.  It’s very easy to get off track and lose focus, your schedule should have time for a little bit of everything so that you can still include learning time.  Here are some great tips for learning time with your toddler/preschooler from Melissa Wheeler, professional teacher:

            As a rule of thumb kids have an attention span about the same as their age… 5 years=5  min . So keep that in mind   and don’t expect your child to sit longer than that and stay     focused or interested. This is why during kindergarten there are a lot of transitions and   rug time, because kids don’t want/can’t sit at desks for long. As a society we are asking a  lot of children so early, what children used to learn in first grade they now learn in  kinder (no more dress up and painting all day)! Well not all children are physically  ready to make these adjustments earlier, especially boys who tend to be behind  developmentally then girls. I think you should embrace play with your child as an aspect of learning. Too much structure can backfire. He doesn’t need to sit at a desk, and many fourth graders can’t even do this!

She is an amazing teacher and has been a guest blogger on successful mommy advice.  For more tips and tools on how to Soar your Child you can find her on her facebook page by clicking this link: https://www.facebook.com/SoarMyChild

 

4. Have Fun! I think that naturally we become overwhelmed with statistics or averages on where our child should be according to his/her age.  Remember that every kid is different and you need to enjoy this time.  Keep in mind that if you’re having fun teaching them they will have fun learning it and may end up being exactly where they need to be.  It’s been a great experience and super rewarding.  I know that it takes time and lots of patience, baby steps can go a long way.  Your child learns at all times of the day, when you’re at the park, taking a walk, or running errands.  Explain things to them, from colors, shapes, and numbers.  For me this has worked and it makes it fun for them.  Play “find that shape” at the grocery store.  My son learned Ovals because of the Ralph’s Logo. 

           

            Back-To-School can be tough and exhausting, with teaching your kids at home for whatever circumstances you have, it’s all about what you are willing to put in.  I take a lot of time printing, writing, and creating my child’s “learning area/classroom” here at home.  It’s a joy for me because I love teaching him, and I just love him and want him to have the best of everything, including the best of me. 

            I hope some of these tips have helped, they are my personal trials and errors.  I am looking forward to a great year with my awesome kid! Remember to share my blog with other mommies out there so together we can strive for mommy success!