Homeschool 2 Year Old Schedule (2024)

Like everything else related to parenting (and life in general), there are different opinions on the right time to start school for your young one. An age that may be considered “too early” for you might be “too late” for others. But what I am going to share today might surprise you.

This post is about homeschooling your two-year-old.

As radical as it may sound, it is doable. In fact, it’s the need of the day.

Toddlers today are more curious than ever. They are eager to learn and are thirsting for knowledge. And as parents, it is important that we oblige so they can continue to thrive.

But remember, when I say homeschool your two-year-old, I am talking about playing with them, reading to them, and involving them in everyday moments that can be a learning experience for them.

So let’s get into the details of how you can homeschool your two-year-old. But before that, I must share a few reasons why you can (and you should) homeschool your two-year-old.

Why Homeschool a 2-Year-Old?

Let’s look at some of the reasons why you can start homeschooling your two-year-old.

They are Ready

Perhaps, the most critical consideration when deciding on homeschooling your two-year-old is figuring out whether they are ready or not. As parents, you must consider how long is their attention span, what are some of the areas of their interest and find out activities that are age and developmentally appropriate for your child.

Children are more curious than ever nowadays. But some kids are more curious than others. They ask a million questions and genuinely listen to the answers and then ask more questions. And that’s the most important sign that you need to watch out for. If they want to seek, then it’s about time that you start homeschooling your toddler.

But let me clarify, just because your toddler is ready does not mean you need to get into a full-blown five days a week homeschool schedule. Rather, you can go at a slower pace with more flexibility, so your toddler learns to enjoy the learning process instead of getting through the process. For homeschooling your toddler, you can go for activities they choose (such as painting or coloring), which are interesting, engaging, and developmentally appropriate.

With a Homeschool, Your Day Gets a Structure

Another important reason for homeschooling your two-year-old is that it brings more structure to your day. As adults, we thrive on routines. With a routine, there is a certainty, and we know what to expect next. I have routines for almost everything. My morning routine, my work time routine, and a routine for mealtimes. And it shouldn’t come as a surprise that kids, too, thrive on routine.

But one thing that you must keep in mind with toddlers is to have a routine and not a fixed schedule. By knowing the difference, you can enjoy the flexibility that you truly desire at a homeschool.

Here is a pro tip. Your routine can include the topics that you want your child to learn in a certain order. But it does not always have to follow a rigid schedule in terms of time. So you may have some learning time in the morning a few times a week. The rest of the days can be busy evenings outdoor where you and your child are busy acquiring knowledge. That’s the beauty of routines. They add structure to your day (and life) without overwhelming you (and your toddler).

It Saves Your Toddler from Unlimited Screen Time

In past generations, when there was limited exposure to screens, younger kids would spend a lot of time interacting with their environment and learning through it. However, things are different now. With increased exposure to screens, there are limited opportunities for sensory play that can affect your child’s development.

But when you homeschool your toddler, you involve them in sensory play and other activities that will leave little time for interacting with the screen. So by homeschooling your toddler, you can look forward to the better development of your child.

Homeschooling Your Toddler is Cost-Effective

Now here is the thing. Homeschooling families have to make substantial financial sacrifices to homeschool their kids. They have to invest in resources (and time), so I think considering financial details is super important.

By starting your homeschool early, you can save costs because you can continue to use the resources for years when you start teaching early. Think of how your little one will not absorb all the information you intend to share in a single academic year. That’s why I recommend starting your homeschool early, especially when you are on a budget. Of course, you can add more activities and invest in new levels of learning, but your basic preschool resources are likely to remain in use for several years.

In all, I think starting your homeschool with your two-year-old is a great idea as it gives your around 3-4 years for learning the basics at your own pace rather than stressing you out as you start your homeschool later and then try to cram all essential skills in a short period of time right before Kindergarten. And trust me, little ones enjoy fun learning time that combines a lot of playing and experimenting. So why not start early?

How Do You Homeschool a 2-Year-Old?

Now comes the most critical question – how do you homeschool your two-year-old. Remember what I mentioned at the beginning of the post?

When I say homeschool your two-year-old, I am talking about playing with them, reading to them, and involving them in everyday moments that can be a learning experience.

Keep in mind that young children learn best through play as well as through their interactions with others. So it’s fun to set aside a few minutes every day and dedicate that time to learning activities while playing with them or reading books aloud to your young one. Simply choose the areas of interest for your child that you would like to focus on for your toddler and gather age-appropriate resources that will help you meet your goals. Another important thing that you must remember is that you are dealing with two-year-olds so don’t drive yourself (and your toddler) crazy over accomplishing goals. You have started early on enough, and you have got plenty of time for some real, intense learning.

In a nutshell, keep it fun and simple, and things will start to fall in place.

What to Teach Your 2-Year-Old?

While keeping things simple, it is always a good idea to stay organized and know what you want to teach your two-year-old. A few age-appropriate concepts that you can explore with your toddler may include but are not limited to:

• Recognition of alphabets from A – Z;
• Know the names of fruits and vegetables starting with certain letters;
• Recognition of basic shapes and colors;
• Recognition of numbers 1-10;
• Animal names and associated sounds;
• Nursery rhymes; and
• Fine motor skills.

Your goals for homeschooling your toddler may be different, but this list can surely help you brainstorm ideas for your homeschool.

How Many Hours Should I Homeschool My 2-Year-Old?

For toddlers, there is no specific timeline or rigid schedule that you should follow for your homeschool. Rather, you need to set aside some time for playing and reading to your child every day. Moreover, your homeschool should have a flexible approach that allows you to make the most of everyday instances to convert into learning opportunities for your child.

And as a parent, you would know that there is no limit to the time you can spend playing with your toddler. The more time you spend, the better it is for your child’s academic and personal development.

Fun Learning Ideas for Homeschooling a 2-Year-Old

Now that you already know that homeschooling a two-year-old is not about teaching academic concepts. Instead, it is all about spending time with your little one, so you help them understand the world better. Some of the fun learning ideas that you can try with your two-year-old include:

Arts and Crafts

I know not all moms are great at arts, but it is always best to do as much as you can with your little one. When you are homeschooling a two-year-old, it’s a good idea to do arts every day initially, but as you add on more activities and more structure to your day, you may not get time for arts every day, and that’s alright.

But still, you should do arts at least a few times a week.

Number Puzzles

You can easily find number puzzles for your toddler that allow your little one to recognize and count numbers. These fun puzzles are great resources for teaching number recognition to your child.

Animal Flashcards

Another important concept that you can teach to kids as young as two years old is animal names and sounds and for that you can make the most of animal flashcards. You can also find hard books with alphabets and corresponding animal names so you can use them to teach animal names to your toddler. And the best part is, every time you say a name of an animal, you can make a silly sound together and have a lot of fun.

Sensory Play

Sensory play is critical for children of all ages, particularly toddlers. It refines their motor skills as well as facilitates language development and enhances communication. So it’s always a great idea to do lots of sensory play with your toddler. Play-doh and sand can be great mediums, but you can easily find sensory bags if you are looking for mess-free sensory play. And if you are really interested in creating something unique for your child, you can always create a DIY sensory bag for your toddler and have a great learning experience together.

Reading

It may be last on the list, but it is undoubtedly one of the most critical activities you should do with your two-year-old while homeschooling them. When you read aloud to your toddler, you help them understand sounds and develop early literacy skills. Moreover, it sparks your child’s imagination and curiosity. Over time, when you regularly read to your child, it helps improve their focus and concentration and enhance their communication skills, which will help them throughout their life.

There are several other activities that you can incorporate while you are homeschooling your two-year-old. You can pick and choose the activities that align best with your schedule for the day. Remember, when you play with your child and read to them, it creates memories that both of you will cherish forever.

Tips for a Smooth Sail

Homeschooling your two-year-old may seem overwhelming, especially when you have other kids at home. But trust me, it is not! Only if you take care of the following things can you make your homeschool a fantastic experience for yourself and your two-year-old.

Stay Organized

Whether you are homeschooling a two-year-old or a high school student, staying organized is the key. When you are organized, you can make the most of your homeschool experience.

Plan Ahead

Successful adults always plan ahead, and you are not an exception. To have a great homeschool experience with your child, make sure you plan ahead. But let’s not forget that you are dealing with two-year-olds, and you might not always be able to execute your plans. So take a deep breath and relax. You don’t have to drive yourself crazy over your homeschool plans.

Make the Most of Sensory Play

Two-year-olds love sensory play, so make the most of sand, play-dohs, and squish bags. You can always do the clean-up later.

Final Words

Homeschooling a two-year-old might sound like a crazy idea but take my word for it. Once you start doing it, you will start loving it!

Ashley Yeo