Need Suggestions, Resources (Re: 2 yr. old)

[NettleTea]

Is there anything out there in the unschooling/homeschooling/waldorf/montessori world that I can began with my 2 yr. old right now? He is understimulated and BORED every day. His toys no longer interest him. He LOVES sorting things (small items such as cloth wipes, stacks of business cards, etc.) He LOVES to be outside. There is only so much time that we can dedicate to that right now, but we will be remedying that soon. In the mean time, what are some activities we can be providing for him each day? Links, suggestions, tips, whatever appreciated.

[cappuccinosmom]

starfall.com
poissonrouge.com

Mine loves those.

My toddler also loooooves alphabet puzzles. He'll work on them independantly.

[jenfl]

At that age, Montessori would encourage lots of Practical Life activities around the house -- cleaning, cooking, etc with his own, appropriately-sized tools. Sensorial works usually don't begin until around age 3 because of the maturity required to use them appropriately.

If you're interested in Montessori, we have a thread about Montessori homeschooling over in the Learning at School -> Montessori forum.

[MissRubyandKen]

My youngest dd is two. She is a bright, curious, fastidious little one. Right now we read to her every day, not just board books, but she'll often sit through picture books as well. She also loves sorting and will sometimes play alone for good amounts of time with toys. Other times not so much, lol. She enjoys helping with sweeping, laundry, dusting, and stirring foods for cooking. I homeschool an 8 year old and a 10 year old. I do think she needs more and will want more. She already wants to be part of what they're doing quite a bit and I only think its right for her if I get some things for her to do with me. She recently became fond of fingerplays. Her great grandma sends her an animal baby magazine that has fingerplays in it. So I checked out a few more from the library and we're doing some of those each day. I also have a big roll of paper and I cut pieces off to fit the fridge door. I give her a small container (like individual applesauce size) with very watered down washable paint in it and a paintbrush. She likes how it spreads easily and it cleans up easily if there are any drips. She also spends some time each day taking care of her baby dolls. She has a couple of doll blankets, the dolls, and a little sippy cup for them. She'll wrap them, rock them, lay them on the coach with a pillow, and give them drinks. I encourage this and play along if she wants. She also has wood puzzles, a sorting cube, and a stacking toy with three shapes, but she enjoys playing with these with someone, not alone. She has play food, felt and wood, and access to spoons and plastic bowls in the cupboard. Again she likes playing with these mostly if someone else (big sis) will play with her.

Here's what I'm wanting to buy her when we purchase next year's school supplies-

Bright & Beyond Age 2 these are 52 cards with activities on them to do together.

1-2-3 Look and Say Chunky Flashcards not for drilling, but for fun. She already plays with flashcards we have around from the older kids and I think she'll love these.

52 Wooden Magnetic Letters these are bright, simple, and colorful.

ABC Flash Card Fun I love the art on these.

Alphabet Chart I'll hang this somewhere easily seen for her. I imagine she'll point at letters and pictures and identify them or ask what they are.

Alphabet Cookie Cutters to be used with playdough.

Baby Bears Balance Set I think she'll have loads of fun sorting, weighing, counting, etc these.

You'll notice a few of these aren't for the under three crowd. I can't judge how your child would do with them, but my dd rarely puts anything in her mouth. She will be under direct supervision when playing with the items that could be choking hazards. She already has some toys that are like this. They aren't down for general use, but brought out when I can provide constant direct supervision and play with her with the toys.

As for outside things, the usual bubbles, balls, and weather permitting pool, sandbox, watering can type things. We currently live in an upstairs apartment, but are in the process of buying our first home, with a fenced in back yard! So it will be nice to be able to provide her with the pool and sandbox of her own.

[momma_c]

i am interested in the same info, although am planning to get something for next fall, we can make do for now with coloring and lost of reading but my son is starting to really want to get into some things while i am working with my daughter.

[CCJWGM]

Little Acorn Learning

and

Seasons of Joy

can help give you ideas from a Waldorf perspective. In Waldorf there is an emphasis on the child helping you with your own routine such as helping you bake and fold laundry. Getting outside and playing is of utmost importance from a Waldorf perspective as well. Be outside as much as you can fit in.

[One_Girl]

At that age you might have success doing an in depth study of something that he is interested in by using your local library, nature, and craft supplies to help him express himself. I like First Steps Toward Teaching The Reggio Way edited by Joanne Hendrick. It talks about how to use some of the teaching techniques that are used in preschools in Reggio Emilia, Italy. I really like the idea of helping a child find ways to explore and express their interests. It is a very hands on and creative approach.

[Roar]

Perhaps not what you want to hear, but providing more organized activities and toys for a two year old can be a good way lower child's attention span and make them less content. While it is not realistic expect most two year olds to self entertain for extended periods of time, I would also keep in mind that overstimulation can look like boredom too.

I'd suggest:
Keeping him close to you as you go about your daily life. He can help sort socks as you do laundry, use a sponge to help wipe as you clean, etc.
Sensory activities like water play - stool at the kitchen sink, cars in the sand, playdough, etc.
Playgroups and other opportunities to get together with other moms. Sometimes bored child is actually bored mom. As much as you love a little one it can be isolating and boring to do for huge stretches without adult companionship

[Reebekah]

my 2 yr old learned his letters from playing with bathtub letters and reading alphabet books. he learned all the sounds the letters make from watching leapfrog letter factory and playing with fridge phonics. if you are at all interested in anything religious, little hands to heaven is a christian curric. for ages 2-5 (all biblical but also teaches letters and numbers). i have also done some parts of letteroftheweek.com with my son and he likes it a lot (you can just use the secular stuff if you dont want the christian stuff).

[MissRubyandKen]

Reebekah- theletteroftheweek.com is awesome. I booklists. Thanks so much!

[Lillian J]

Originally Posted by NettleTea

Is there anything out there in the unschooling/homeschooling/waldorf/montessori world that I can began with my 2 yr. old right now? He is understimulated and BORED every day. His toys no longer interest him. He LOVES sorting things (small items such as cloth wipes, stacks of business cards, etc.) He LOVES to be outside. There is only so much time that we can dedicate to that right now, but we will be remedying that soon. In the mean time, what are some activities we can be providing for him each day? Links, suggestions, tips, whatever appreciated.

Rather than thinking in terms of things involving the introduction of reading, writing, or arithmetic beginnings, I'd think in terms of things that pertain to him and his world right now - climbing, crawling through tubes, sliding on playground equipment, lots and lots and lots of imaginary play of all kinds, dressing up in costumes, learning about things around the house and how they work, going on nature walks and enjoying the out of doors together, blowing bubbles, learning fun and simple finger rhymes and nursery rhymes, sorting anything you can think of, helping with very simple food preparation, water and sand play, doing all kinds of things with playdough, playhouse and fort play, extremely simple nature crafts and/or equally simple crafts of all kinds, listening to fun audio stories (some of which you can record for him from good but simple books and stories so he can listen to them when you're not available), and getting him together frequently with children his age whom he can play and bond with, etc. Here's a page of links to lots of sites that have fun ideas - scroll down beneath the box of articles to get to the links. Have fun! Lillian

[mtbmomma]

Do you circulate his toys? I find 2-5 year olds will get bored easily if you don't switch out their toys once a month or so. Don't put everything away, just leave out one of each type of toy, except the ones he really loves, which you should just leave out all the time.

You can also try doing some theme based activities. For instance this time of year I would do some planting flowers or basic cooking projects.

I will write more later, but have a needy toddler here.

[Landover]

I would say that DOING anything structured like that for a 2-year-old is probably the most basic opposite for the philosophies you listed. The last thing an unschooler would do is sit a 2-year-old down to learn letters.

I would include your kiddo in everything you naturally do around the house (cleaning, cooking, laundry, etc). Play a lot and also try not to structure the time too much.

There will be LOTS of time for more structured learning later and anything like that now will probably reduce the very characteristics you are looking to improve.

[MissRubyandKen]

Originally Posted by Landover

I would say that DOING anything structured like that for a 2-year-old is probably the most basic opposite for the philosophies you listed. The last thing an unschooler would do is sit a 2-year-old down to learn letters.

I would include your kiddo in everything you naturally do around the house (cleaning, cooking, laundry, etc). Play a lot and also try not to structure the time too much.

There will be LOTS of time for more structured learning later and anything like that now will probably reduce the very characteristics you are looking to improve.

Not sure where anyone in this thread advocated sitting a two year old down for a structured time to learn letters. The OP asked for ideas for activities to provide for her two year old. And homeschoolers were included in her list when asking for suggestions, not just unschoolers. She is his mother and says that he is bored and understimulated. There is nothing wrong with providing enriching activities, games, experiences, and learning tools and toys for a child. Even one as young as two. Some children are very interested in letters, sounds, and words even this young. My dd is two and already she understands that words are read left to right and she will point at letters and words wanting to know what they are. She also understands what counting is and plays at that too, counting objects to three repeatedly. I've never 'sat her down' for an organized structured learning time, nor drilled her with flash cards or anything of the sort.

She has two older homeschooled siblings that do have some structured learning going on. We aren't unschoolers, to us this is OK. She wants to join in sometimes. So we doodle together on paper and talk about the shapes or colors we're doodling. She enjoys it. I can see her really wanting to do school with the big kids even more next year. I have some pretty cool things I'm wanting to buy. Math manipulatives, magnets, a microscope, etc. She's going to want in on those things, I'm sure. No way I would even dream of excluding her from our fun just because it was a 'structured' activity. Being two does not mean she can't benefit and learn from DOING something all the while enjoying herself. Where exactly would one draw the line with this anyway? Is reading to them DOING something? My dd sits down with me for long periods of time listening to me reading books, and not just board books, but even longer picture books. Sometimes she will listen and sometimes she will turn the pages and point at words or pictures for me to tell her what they are.

The Bright & Beyond cards actually look pretty cool. They have simple activities to do together, one example was a balloon rocket, and I say yeah, my two year old would think that was fun! Having them on cards and accessible by the two year old, she can pick one and bring it to me if she wants to do one.

Each to their own and it takes all kinds and such, but I just wanted to say, for us, and the OP, it is OK that she wants to provide things for her son. I very highly doubt she would forcibly impose structured learning time on a two year old.

[kgianforti]

Carol's Affordable Curriculum has a very cute summer craft program. Each week, there is a theme and crafts that go along with that theme. There are crafts for 3 days a week throughout the whole summer. They also include everything you need for each craft minus glue, scissors and crayons.

My dd enjoyed it last summer!

[onyxravnos]

i totally love littleacornlearning.com
i bought a whole year when ds1 was about 1 1/2 and used it as a spine using what i couldor jumping off from their suggested activities to one my ds could do. I used it again this year and I think i can easily get one more year out of it. lots of crafts / baking and suggested books to read. easy fun all the kids can do it.

i've also used carols affordable curriculum and berry best between the two i prefer carols which i think i will buy again when i get a little money. Funshine express is also totally awsome! (more 'structured' and WAY more $$$$ but oh so cool)

[lach]

We're going through the pre Letter of the Week curriculum at home now, and it has some cute ideas.

[ChristaN]

Teach Me to do it Myself is a good Montessori based book with ideas for toddlers and preschoolers.

[LuxPerpetua]

At that age, dd loved baskets with nature things (like shells, rocks, sticks, feathers) and she would sort these and make patterns and such. We also bought some ceramic tiles from Michael's for making patterns with. She loved water play so she spent a lot of time washing her Schleich animals with soap and water and a corn scrub brush. We read books, did simple baking together, and took lots of nature walks around where we lived. We used her animals to act out stories (like the Three Little Pigs) and would build houses out of sticks, shells, and rocks. She loved jumping on the bed. We would have marching band parades with instruments. We would act out stories with stuffed animals. She would do simple cooking in her play kitchen. We would make imprints in homemade playdough. She would shake old spices into a bowl of water to make "soup." We would mix cornstarch with water. We would dress up in fabric scraps together.

I agree about trying to get your lo involved in household chores, but from my own perspective, this was not really feasible with my dd until she was 3. How open-ended are his toys? I highly recommend: fabric scraps, nature baskets, Schleich animals (plastic but very realistic and great if your child likes water play), blocks.

Little Acorn learning has two free samples on their website, so you may want to check them out. It may be a bit advanced for a 2 yo, though. I think the main thing is just to slow down your pace a bit. We are Waldorf-inspired, so that definitely influences my perspective, but I do think that for kids under age 7 that a slower life is best. We did do some computer at age 2 (PBS kids and NickJr.), and I now regret that, so I wouldn't recommend that. I don't think it "hurt" dd but I think there were other things that would have been better but at the time I was just trying to get a break (dd was no longer napping, dh was finishing his Ph.D., dd had food sensory issues so she would eat and play on the computer at the same time to keep her mind off of the food textures).

I don' t really think you need to "buy" anything actually. You can just Google, "spring fingerplays," to get some ideas. Same for spring crafts and nature study. My recommendation is to focus on the seasons, with simple seasonal books from the library, fingerplays, songs and rhymes. Focus on sensory play. Focus on acting out stories with puppets or figurines with your child. Focus on nature when you can. Do simple pretend play together. Do some fun baking projects (heck, at that age we started by just doing pre-packaged muffin mixes!). Have large paper out with markers and crayons for drawing (we have a 3-ft space on our wall covered with easel paper) or buy some of those bathtub crayons at a craft store that are good for drawing on mirrors and shower walls. Have you thought of a sensory table? You can Google sensory table ideas. Think less noise, less distraction (I'm not a fan of big playdates or storytime get-togethers, but my dd was always sensitive to those kinds of things), more quiet time at home, doing fun things as a family. One of the greatest things we ever got was a wooden bench--it has been a boat, a kitty house, a slide (we just set it up sideways), and so many other things. Perhaps you might want to consider how your furniture can be climbing equipment or a slide or a fort or something (since you said that you are limited on outdoors time) and you may need someway to direct the wiggles.

Best wishes, and I highly recommend checking out LillianJ's website for ideas. I've gotten lots of inspiration there.

[NettleTea]

Hi,
Sorry for the delayed response. Been really busy.
I completely agree about more outdoor time and having his help with household chores, etc. He LOVES to help so this is probably something we could've been doing more of. He already helps with loading/unloading the washer/dryer and occasionally the dishwasher. He also helps with laundry. All of his own will.

For the record, I never had in mind to schedule a time of learning for him or whatever. I definitely lean more in the unschooling direction. I was asking about all of the above (waldorf, etc) because I know each of those avenues has a variety of unique ideas. I simply wanted to give him some things to play with or do that would engage him and fulfill the obvious lack he goes through at times. Just whatever would interest him and bring enjoyment instead of the frustration and boredom he was experiencing nearly every day.

Thank you ALL for your excellent suggestions.