How to Keep a Toddler Occupied While Teaching Them
The toddler stage is one where everything is new and exciting, so it seems like toddlers would be easy to teach. The flip side of their exploring nature, however, is that everything around them is distracting. One minute your son wants to sit with you and read, the next he's looking out the window. It may feel like an uphill battle teaching your child during this time, but there are ways to keep him occupied while his attention span grows.
Instructions
Keep lessons short. Even 5 minutes may be too long when you first start working with your toddler. You want to take a few minutes to teach her, and stop before she gets up and wanders off on her own. Remember, there is more than one way to teach your child; spend a few minutes reading, move to drawing letters with chalk, then take a walk around the block where you point out letters on signs. All of these activities boost literacy, but each one is short enough that your child remains occupied and engaged. Work in a quiet area with no distractions. Noise and activity are very distracting, and your toddler will not be able to, or even interested in, concentrating when distractions are going on around him. A calm, quiet environment allows you to keep him interested in what you are working on. Develop a routine. Your day doesn't have to be scheduled down to the second, and you do need to plan on being flexible, but knowing generally what goes on each day helps your toddler remain calm and attentive. For example, if she knows you always play blocks together after she practices writing her name, she is more likely to look forward to practicing her writing. Limit the amount of time your child spends in front of the television and other screens. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time at all for children under 2. Ensure that your child gets plenty of rest. Over-tired toddlers have trouble concentrating on anything. Regular bedtimes are important, and most toddlers still need at least one nap to feel their best all day. Provide your child with plenty of physical activity. It may seem like your child moves nonstop all day, but you may be surprised at how much of a positive effect adding a daily walk or tossing or kicking a ball back and forth each day has on your child.
