Focus! Focus! Focus! The Art of Teaching Small Ones

Focus! Seems to be a word we use around here often, especially when it comes to our 2 and 4-year-old sons. Not just in an “educational” sense, but also in a plain living life sense. I realized early on that if I wanted our 4-year-old, “M”, to focus, I had to touch him and get down to look him in his eyes. If not, his eye balls were bouncing like ping pong balls while he was sincerely trying to listen. But we all know how that story ends, no listening, and BIG trouble with mama! I am always looking for new ways to get the boys engaged in hands on learning. Thanks to my fellow blogger, Erica over at Confessions of a Homeschooler, I was able to find a new product that would “grab” their attention. We purchased wooden lacing shapes from Holgate Toy a classic wooden toy company out of Massachusetts. Needless to say, the boys LOVED these and so did big sis. The lacing alone kept them focused for at least 45 minutes straight. Then they were able to trace the shapes, color them, and even make “things” by putting them together. “S” our 2-year-old even smelled them (I think maybe the wood and paint had an odor) for about 5 minutes too 🙂 So grateful for this new item in my bag of “teaching small ones” tricks. If you are having trouble trying to get your toddler or preschooler to focus, try finding something that will engage several of their senses, this will guarantee a challenge for them and more effective teaching time!

Here are a few pictures of the “focused” ones using their new wooden lacing shapes.