how to keep your child busy during quiet time

How to keep your child busy during quiet time?  When you just need a moment to get things done?  When you want him to be playing or learning independently?

Well, a choir of angels has sung into my home.  We have our permanent solution.  Books on cd.  {Well I used to call them books on tape….}

There is a place called the library and they let you take books, with cds, home for free!!  I don’t know why this is such a revelation to me, but it is so wonderful.  This really isn’t rocket science.  Just little tricks that I’m re-learning.  I did a “listening center” in my kindergarten classroom.  Four or five students got to listen to the same book on tape.  (I think it was actually an old cassette player!)  And I forgot about this amazing teaching tool until we were visiting the library for the umpteeth time and I saw the media/book section shining in lights with angels singing.  I was ecstatic.  The selection isn’t huge, but it is certainly big enough to take five or six new books home every week!!

My son loves reading, probably more than his Legos or swords or Peter Pan.  Read to this boy, and he will stop everything and maybe even give you a snuggle.  No wonder I love reading with him!?  But sometimes, I just need to get some things done.  Either for the home or for the blog.  Sometimes, if May {my two year old} is sleeping, I just want him to have a quiet 45 minutes too …. Him and I do cherish this time together, but other times, I just need a moment.  And so does he.  Boredom and independent play and learning is good.

{This post contains affiliate links, thank you for your support.} 

I bought a {new} little cd player and we learned how to put a cd in and play it.  He loves being able to do it all for himself.  I usually give him a little {gluten free snack} and then he will read for at least 40 minutes.  He loves snuggling up in pillows and blankets.

Did you know that Amazon has the option to listen to some of these books from your computer or tablet, for a monthly or individual price?  May be another way to do it!  Since we don’t have a tablet, we will be doing it the old fashioned way :)

Some favorite books that we have picked up from the library include:

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig

The Little House by Virgina Burton

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes

Curious George Takes a Job by H.A. Rey

Skippyjon Jones by Judith Byron Schachner

Reading opens up children’s imaginations, but it also opens a child up to text and reading behaviors.  You can check out my reasons to read to your child for some other very good reasons why reading should be a part of every family’s routine!!He also chooses to read books on his own, they are not just limited to quiet time.  “Can I read, mom?”  Music and poetry to this mama’s ears.  He thinks that the books on cd are as special as a movie — perhaps his excitement will wane — but we are taking advantage of this now :)  Oh is he loved.
Here is his set up…. His little cd player with his books {I just have him stack the cds up on top of the books and I’ll replace them later in the inside covers.  They stay in our big library bag, to be replaced by new ones on our next trip!

Reading for enjoyment can lead to this on a rainy afternoon…. just reading through his Thomas book {without a cd}.  This boy loves reading!!

Need more Quiet Time ideas?

Check out my Quiet Boxes for Little Ones or 21 Activities for One Year Olds.

Or see my post on Connecting with my son.

You can also check out our Tot School and Home Preschool posts.