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A Simple Activity To Keep Toddlers Happy - Matching Bingo

homeschool

One thing I've found challenging with homeschooling is keeping my just turned 3 year old occupied. He is well aware that he is not doing the same thing as his siblings and will throw a tantrum once he realises. He needs his own work to do and that means I need to be more prepared and organised to make sure that he isn't missing out or feeling a bit neglected.

When I'm disorganised DS2 ends up watching more TV than I'm happy with or pottering around the house getting into mischief. Just last week he indulged in a chocolate milk with the entire can of drinking chocolate while I was busy doing maths with the other boys. There are so many benefits to homeschooling but idle toddlers is most certainly not one of them.

So here is an example of a simple matching game. It's actually teddy bear bingo that I picked up at an op shop a few years ago for about $1. Hooray for op shop bargains!

homeschool


There are so many ways you can use this game either as a family or as an independent activity.

1. BINGO
It comes with a spinner with the 4 different colours. Each player takes turns putting the matching colour teddy bear (or counter) on the matching colour on the mat. The idea is to be the one that completes 4 in a row. BINGO!

2. COLOR MATCHING
As pictured. He figured this out on his own. I just left him with the counters and mats and this was his creation.

3. PATTERNING
The counters (in 4 different colours) can be used for making 2, 3, 4 colour patterns which can then be extended by asking (slightly older children) to then separate them into equal groups or to show patterns counting in 2's, 3's, 4's.....

4. SORTING
Ask your little one to sort them according to colour such as a pile of yellow or line of green. To extend this activity you can ask them to count the number of teddy bears (or counters) in each group and even try some simple addition and subtraction.

I'm sure there is so much more you can do with this activity but this is how I've been using it and it all began with trying to come up with activities that my 3 year old could do independently while I worked with the others.

I will continue to share more about how I keep my toddler happy....once I figure out how!

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  1. Richard C. LambertMay 26, 2015 at 11:02 PM

    He needs his own work to do and that means I need to be more prepared and organised to make sure that he isn't missing out or feeling a bit neglected. online bingo

    ReplyDelete

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