Herding Cats: How to read to toddlers who won't sit still

Each month, I'll be sharing homeschool solutions for the preschool years over at pambarnhill.com.

Today's post explores the challenge of reading to a child who just won't sit still - and I'm here to tell you, it will be okay!

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and purchase something, I'll receive a small affiliate

commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting my efforts with this blog!

Your friendly Syncopated Mama has added something new to her plate this year: contributing writer for another blog!

That's right, starting today I'll be blogging once a month over at Pam Barnhill's site and sharing homeschool solutions for the preschool years!

It's no secret that I love all the wonderful things that Pam shares (she shows up on my 5 After 5 lists for favorite podcasts and educational blogs!), so you can imagine my excitement when she asked little old me to join her team!

Today's post is a re-vamped version of my Herding Cats: Cultivating a Love of Reading in Your Toddler post that so many of you said helped lift a huge weight off your shoulders with regards to expectations on reading with toddlers.

I'd love to have you click on over and check it out - especially if you happen to have a toddler who won't sit still at your house, too!

Have you ever worried about reading to a wiggle worm before?  I'd love to hear!  Either leave a comment below or email me at lisahealy (at) outlook (dot) com.

Also, if you don't want to miss a single minute of great posts like this along with all the other fun and tips around here, be sure to sign up for free updates and then look forward to having each post delivered right to your inbox!

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31 Games - Snug as a Bug in a Rug

Is your 3-year-old the youngest of the family, or are all the kids your child plays with close to that same age?  If so, then you know how difficult it can be to find ways for them to all be involved in the fun and games - so many choices are just too advanced for this age.

But now, you'll have a list of 31 unique games that even a 3-year-old can join in with.  A few of these ideas will be best for the preschool set, but most will work for a wide range of ages!

Click on over here to see the full list, but read on for this great game idea!

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and purchase something, I'll receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting my efforts with this blog!

In this cooperative game, players work together to get all the bugs under the rug before the stink bugs arrive.  It targets matching skills with colors, numbers, sizes and shapes.

This game also includes three variations of play, so it can grow with your child!

Snug as a Bug in a Rug

 

 

31 Games - Around Ball

Is your 3-year-old the youngest of the family, or are all the kids your child plays with close to that same age?  If so, then you know how difficult it can be to find ways for them to all be involved in the fun and games - so many choices are just too advanced for this age.

But now, you'll have a list of 31 unique games that even a 3-year-old can join in with.  A few of these ideas will be best for the preschool set, but most will work for a wide range of ages!

Click on over here to see the full list, but read on for this great game idea!

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and purchase something, I'll receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting my efforts with this blog!

A basic circle game made fancy with a ball and special passing moves.

31 Games - Drop the Handkerchief

Is your 3-year-old the youngest of the family, or are all the kids your child plays with close to that same age?  If so, then you know how difficult it can be to find ways for them to all be involved in the fun and games - so many choices are just too advanced for this age.

But now, you'll have a list of 31 unique games that even a 3-year-old can join in with.  A few of these ideas will be best for the preschool set, but most will work for a wide range of ages!

Click on over here to see the full list, but read on for this great game idea!

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and purchase something, I'll receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting my efforts with this blog!

This game reminds me of a cross between Duck, Duck, Goose and Spoons - ever play Spoons?  We played it all the time during Zam breaks during our summer training (ice skating).

31 Games - Count Your Chickens

Is your 3-year-old the youngest of the family, or are all the kids your child plays with close to that same age?  If so, then you know how difficult it can be to find ways for them to all be involved in the fun and games - so many choices are just too advanced for this age.

But now, you'll have a list of 31 unique games that even a 3-year-old can join in with.  A few of these ideas will be best for the preschool set, but most will work for a wide range of ages!

Click on over here to see the full list, but read on for this great game idea!

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and purchase something, I'll receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting my efforts with this blog!

This fun little cooperative game helps little ones learn many new skills.  Not only will they become more adept at typical board-game skills like taking turns, following directions, and moving around a board, but teamwork and counting skills, as well.

Join together to help Mother Hen collect her chicks and bring them back to the coop!

Count Your Chickens

 

31 Games - Duck, Duck, Goose!

Is your 3-year-old the youngest of the family, or are all the kids your child plays with close to that same age?  If so, then you know how difficult it can be to find ways for them to all be involved in the fun and games - so many choices are just too advanced for this age.

But now, you'll have a list of 31 unique games that even a 3-year-old can join in with.  A few of these ideas will be best for the preschool set, but most will work for a wide range of ages!

Click on over here to see the full list, but read on for this great game idea!

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and purchase something, I'll receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting my efforts with this blog!

"Duck, duck, duck, duck, duuuuuck..."

This was always one of those games I would have my first-graders play when we had some random sitting-around time, and it always cracked me up to see just how many times the kids would be willing to go around and around and around the group before finally picking a "goose."

This is not a game you want your kids to play on picture day (mussed hair beyond belief!), but it's a fun one that can last a long time - at least as long as there are "un-goosed" players!

31 Games - Tag

Is your 3-year-old the youngest of the family, or are all the kids your child plays with close to that same age?  If so, then you know how difficult it can be to find ways for them to all be involved in the fun and games - so many choices are just too advanced for this age.

But now, you'll have a list of 31 unique games that even a 3-year-old can join in with.  A few of these ideas will be best for the preschool set, but most will work for a wide range of ages!

Click on over here to see the full list, but read on for this great game idea!

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and purchase something, I'll receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting my efforts with this blog!

Tag!  You're it!

Everyone has played this game (& many of its variations), but there's nothing like it for running off a bunch of kid energy when you've realized your mistake at feeding the group at your house an entire box of freeze pops, washed down with a few gallons of Kool-Aid.

The best thing about this game is, there's no ending!

Sing with me now, "It's the game that never ends...it goes on and on and on, my friends"

31 Games - Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel

Is your 3-year-old the youngest of the family, or are all the kids your child plays with close to that same age?  If so, then you know how difficult it can be to find ways for them to all be involved in the fun and games - so many choices are just too advanced for this age.

But now, you'll have a list of 31 unique games that even a 3-year-old can join in with.  A few of these ideas will be best for the preschool set, but most will work for a wide range of ages!

Click on over here to see the full list, but read on for this great game idea!

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and purchase something, I'll receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting my efforts with this blog!

Squirrels are kind of the bane of our backyard garden - we do all the work and they get all the goods, so any game that calls these critters "sneaky" gets our attention pretty quickly.

In this game, you work in partnership with your yard rat (as G not-so-affectionately refers to the rodents) to fill your log with colorful acorns.

Although not a traditional board game, it's a great introduction to skills like using a spinner, taking turns, recognizing colors, and working on fine motor skills as your child manipulates the squirrel to gather the acorns.

Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel

 

31 Games - Follow the Leader

Is your 3-year-old the youngest of the family, or are all the kids your child plays with close to that same age?  If so, then you know how difficult it can be to find ways for them to all be involved in the fun and games - so many choices are just too advanced for this age.

But now, you'll have a list of 31 unique games that even a 3-year-old can join in with.  A few of these ideas will be best for the preschool set, but most will work for a wide range of ages!

Click on over here to see the full list, but read on for this great game idea!

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and purchase something, I'll receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting my efforts with this blog!

Am I the only one who has this earworm after reading that title?  At least it's a fun one!

I'm sure you're familiar with this game - it's one that can go on and on and on, providing endless amounts of fun.  

Figure skaters even play their own version of this called "add on" to get away with a little bit of fun and games amidst all the endless hours of training! 

31 Games - Ring on a String Relay

Is your 3-year-old the youngest of the family, or are all the kids your child plays with close to that same age?  If so, then you know how difficult it can be to find ways for them to all be involved in the fun and games - so many choices are just too advanced for this age.

But now, you'll have a list of 31 unique games that even a 3-year-old can join in with.  A few of these ideas will be best for the preschool set, but most will work for a wide range of ages!

Click on over here to see the full list, but read on for this great game idea!

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and purchase something, I'll receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting my efforts with this blog!

This is a zippy passing game that even preschoolers can handle.

The best part of this relay?  Not only are the players sitting down (although they won't be sitting very still), but everything is self-contained.  That means less mess for you to clean up!

31 Games - Candyland

Is your 3-year-old the youngest of the family, or are all the kids your child plays with close to that same age?  If so, then you know how difficult it can be to find ways for them to all be involved in the fun and games - so many choices are just too advanced for this age.

But now, you'll have a list of 31 unique games that even a 3-year-old can join in with.  A few of these ideas will be best for the preschool set, but most will work for a wide range of ages!

Click on over here to see the full list, but read on for this great game idea!

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and purchase something, I'll receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting my efforts with this blog!

Was this your first board game?  I'm pretty sure it was mine and it was Gv's, as well - we gave it to her for Christmas last year!

Super-simple to play, if your child can count to two and can tell blue from yellow, then he or she can do this game.

It's the perfect introduction for skills like moving around a board, taking turns, and drawing & replacing cards from a pile - plus, the board is covered with colorful candy!

What could be more fun that candy, right?

I will point out, however, that the current, updated version of the board is not as easy to navigate as the original.  I'd read about this when ordering Gv's game last year, but at the time, could only find people selling their originals on eBay for close to a bazillion dollars and that just wasn't going to fly for us.

However, I have just noticed that Amazon is selling a 65th anniversary edition for only a couple of dollars more than the updated one, and I totally suggest paying a bit more for this one!

Besides having a cleaner, less chaotic background, this special edition has the original color squares, which are much more obvious to travel around than the more modern game.

Whichever version you choose, this game will be sure to delight your budding board-gamers!

Candyland

Candyland

Players:  2-4

Ages:  3 +

Place:  somewhere you can set the game board up easily

Equipment:  this board game (or this one)

How to play:  Since this is a board game, the directions are included on the box, but it's a basic race-to-the-finish game where each player is trying to get his or her gingerbread man to the castle first.

When it's your turn, you draw a card displaying either one or two squares of a particular color and then you move your piece "that many" color squares.

There are a couple of surprises along the way (special cards taking you to specific spots on the board or shortcuts), but overall, it's a fairly quick and easy game to play.




Have you introduced your child to this classic yet?  I'd love to hear!  Either leave a comment below or email me at lisahealy (at) outlook (dot) com.

Also, if you don't want to miss a single minute of great tips like this and all the fun around here, be sure to sign up for free updates and then look forward to having each post delivered right to your inbox.

Looking for other fun ideas of things to do with your little one?  Check out my Latticed Learning page here!

This post is part of the write31days challenge!