It’s been weeks since we started working on our too much screen time problem with our toddler. And in this post, I’ll be discussing our third remedy: Prepare Weekly Plan of Activities for Toddlers.
The Problem: Too Much Screen Time
Read here for the full article on Bad Effects of too Much Screen Time on Toddlers.
So far, we’ve already applied to things to solve our problem.
First: We organized my nephew’s toys and sorted them into categories. This way we get to alternate and mix-up the toys that he plays with so he never gets bored with them.
Second: My sister and I collected and bought (some) supplies and materials that we can use so we can provide more varied activities to Seb. Now we have more choices of activities to choose from!
We are quite happy with how we’re doing so far. And we can already see some positive changes in my nephew. 😀
But we want more! That’s why we’re on to our next remedy…
Third Remedy: Weekly Plan of Activities for Toddlers
For our remedy # 3, we thought of planning and specifying the activities that we will provide for Seb.
It’s pretty much like making a lesson without it being checked by the principal. 😛
Well, we may not have a standard curriculum to follow, but we will definitely keep the following points in mind as we make our plan:
- The activities should be FUN and EDUCATIONAL.
- Must require minimal preparation and materials (because let’s be honest, who has the time for a super elaborate activity?)
- Needs to keep my nephew productive (not just busy), because those are two different things
- Should teach skills to help him be prepared for school in the future!
Those are our guidelines for our “lesson planning”. But aside from what I’ve mentioned above, I thought of providing activities per learning area, too.
As a teacher, I want to make sure that all learning opportunities will be available for my nephew. So I’ve decided to include/target the following areas:
- Music
- Art and craft
- Literacy
- Gross and Fine Motor Skills
- S.T.E.A.M.
Looking at it, it seems like we are already gearing towards homeschooling! And I guess we are.
But we’re not pressuring ourselves. As of now, we’re playing it by ears.
I just decided to plan it like this because:
A. I’m a preschool teacher. I’m used to planning this way.
B. I like structure. I find it easier to plan when I’m following a certain guideline. This way I don’t miss out anything.
Now let’s see what a typical week would look like for my nephew.
Note that we didn’t put a specific time for the activities. Simply because we’re still testing it out.
We’ll see first how he is in the activities. Plus my nephew just turned two. I’m sure there’ll be surprises everyday. 😛
For now, we’ll just make sure that there are activities to keep him happy and productive everyday without resorting to screen time.
Teacher’s Note
Make sure that you hit different learning areas when planning activities for your toddler.
Don’t get fixated on your schedule. Extend your time or cut it short as needed.
Keep it fun! 😀
Here are other posts in this series:
- Bad Effects and Remedy for Too Much Screen Time
- Too Much Screen Time Remedies:
- #3: Weekly Plan of Activities for Toddlers
What are your thoughts on preparing activities for your child?
How do you keep your toddler productive without screen time?
I’d like to hear from you, so do leave a comment in the box below. We sure could use more suggestions. 🙂
‘Til next time,
