Suggestions for purposeful play/activities Please!

[MariposaMami]

I am gearing up to start our Montessori home school year. We have 5 children ages 6 and under, and I'll be working with the 3, 5, and 6 year old. My husband mostly works from home during the day, so we agreed that he would put off work from 8-11 am while we do school, so that our 2 year old won't disturb the boys. I would love to be able to include our little one in some purposeful activities and play, and am wondering what you would suggest for some toys and materials for him. My husband will be taking him on errands and also just spending time with him while we work. He is such a smart boy that wants to catch up with his brothers and already enjoys some basic practical life activities. I am looking to set up a shelf of his own in his room, so that the older boys can work in peace. Thank you in advance! I am very picky about toys btw! We pretty much just have blocks, balls, books, lots of art supplies, a big backyard and no t.v.!

[shrinkmom]

This summer I began a Montessori homeschool with our boys, ages 4 and 2. It has been a challenge with the 2 year old wanting to get into everything the 4 year old is doing. He has enjoyed the pouring works. We have 2 pouring works, one with dried pasta and the other with water. We do that in our classroom, but while I'm in the kitchen, I've also let him practice his pouring at the sink, and he stays engrossed in that for a long time. He has also has enjoyed art activities, he'll play with playdo for long periods of time and also likes drawing on a board that is a marker board on one side and a chalk board on the other side. He's also enjoyed puzzles, we have some Melissa and Doug puzzles. I also recently let him bring in some of our wooden railway tracks and trains in the classroom as it has kept him occupied. I've used it to teach shapes (circle vs. oval track), colors (the engines are solid colors) and numbers (we count the engines as they go over the bridge).
Good luck!

[ramama]

I have pictures of a few that I do with my 2yo DD on my blog:
http://my-montessori.blogspot.com/

[dancebaraka]

Originally Posted by ramama

I have pictures of a few that I do with my 2yo DD on my blog:
http://my-montessori.blogspot.com/

great blog!

[mamalemon]

sorting of beads (or rice, beans or anything small enough) in to ice cube trays or other small containers; cutting pictures from magazines; puzzles

[BCFD]

Originally Posted by ramama

I have pictures of a few that I do with my 2yo DD on my blog:
http://my-montessori.blogspot.com/

I love your blog and have it under my INSPIRATION on my own blogger blog.