• Home
  • Blog
  • Start Here!
  • Free Printables
  • About
    • Products we love & Support
    • Contact
    • Terms of Use
    • Disclosure
  • My eBook
  • Subscribe

Wildflower Ramblings

Home education resources and encouragement for moms & caregivers

  • Homeschool
    • Kindergarten
    • Charlotte Mason Method
    • Reggio Emilia Approach
    • Montessori Learning
    • Waldorf at Home
    • Classical Conversations
    • Early Literacy Stages Series
    • Curriculum choices
      • Tot School (2 years)
      • Preschool (3 years)
      • Pre-Kindergarten (4 years)
      • Pre-Kindergarten (4 years – 2017)
      • Preschool (5 years)
      • Kindergarten (5 years)
      • Kindergarten Homeschool: a gentle and slower year
      • kindergarten secular curriculum suggestions (free printable)
      • First Grade (6 years)
      • Charlotte Mason Schedule: Year One
      • First Grade in our Charlotte Mason Homeschool
      • Charlotte Mason Homeschool: Second Grade Curriculum
      • Third Grade Homeschool Curriculum
      • Third Grade in our Charlotte Mason Homeschool
      • Charlotte Mason Homeschool: Fourth Grade Curriculum
      • Fifth Grade Homeschool Curriculum
    • 12 Months of Sensory Dough
    • Sensory Play
    • Bible Crafts & Bible Cards
    • Practical Life Ideas
    • Before Five in a Row – ISH
  • Baby
    • Montessori Baby Room
    • Treasure Bins for Baby
    • 21 Activities for One Year Olds
  • Tot School
  • Preschool
    • What is Number Sense?
    • ABC Felt Animals
    • Preschool Alphabet Book
    • Our Preschool Notebook
    • Preschool Circle Time Schedule
    • Free 24 Preschool Chants
    • Free Preschool Songs
    • Our Preschool Plans
  • ABC
    • Letter A
    • Letter B
    • Letter C
    • Letter D
    • Letter E
    • Letter F
    • Letter G
    • Letter H
    • Letter I
    • Letter J
    • Letter K
    • Letter L
    • Letter M
    • Letter N
    • Letter O
    • Letter P
    • Letter Q
    • Letter R
    • Letter S
    • Letter T
    • Letter U
    • Letter V
    • Letter W
    • Letter X
    • Letter Y
    • Letter Z
  • Toys & Resources
    • 20+ Tools for Hyperactivity
    • What is Sensory Processing?
    • Best Workbooks & Readers {Ages 2-5}
    • Essential Preschool Tools
    • Essential Craft & Homeschool Tools for Mom
    • Best Art Utensils for Kids
    • Bible Resources for Kids
    • Our keeping and recording memories series
  • Health
    • Online Safety Resources & Safe Links
    • Herbal Remedies
    • The home birth of my son
    • The water birth of my daughter
    • her waterbirth
    • When your baby has a fever
    • Example of Hospital Birth Plan {free printable!}
  • Books
    • My Book Store
    • Free Phonics Readers
    • Early Literacy Stages eBook
    • Books for Children
    • Pop! Squirt! Splash! eBook
    • Learn with Play Book
You are here: Home / Tot School / How to Make Tot Trays

How to Make Tot Trays

Tot School is learning through play

We focus on a letter of the week and do fun activities based on that letter.  I set six “Tot Trays” up for my son to play with and learn as the week progresses.

Lately, I have been feeling overwhelmed by the Tot Tray Switch when we change our letter of the week — which is about every two weeks. I keep finding so many fantastic ideas from so many amazing mama bloggers that I want to do them all. I went along with it for a while, to try to bust out massive creativeness every couple weeks, but it was too much.  I want to keep things simple and consistent and have now found a nice balance for making my son’s tot trays.

I have this set up in the kitchen, with six trays from Oriental Trading.  Promoting the four Montessori principles: Language, Mathematics, Sensory, and Practical Life.

DSC01886

….However….

Just this past week, I decided to only put out one tray at a time.  I still put them all together at the beginning of my letter switch, but have only given him one on his shelf at a time.  This has really helped with keeping my son’s interest.  We play it together for two days and I leave it out on our shelf for him to play independently for a day or two.  Then we will move on to the next one that I have made (I keep them up on top of another bookcase).

It is important to follow your child’s lead for learning!  

DSC03838

Looks empty!  Some children would thrive with all six trays, keeping them orderly and setting them back up after playing with one.  But my son needed less in front of him.  He came over to a single tray — in three days — more times than when he had all six trays on the shelf to choose from.  This was a Montessori lesson for me!  Children thrive with less choice and they will be creative and engage themselves with less! 

Whether you choose to set out one or six trays is completely up to you and your child’s needs!

Consistent and simple

My son loves the trays that I set out for him, so I want to continue with them, but I needed a simple solution for all the potential creative madness.  So I created this simple list of ideas, which if further explained below:

  1. Numbers
  2. Lacing
  3. Magnets
  4. Colors
  5. Shapes
  6. Letter review
  7. **Along with optional Practical Life Tot Tray ideas

Our first three tot trays look like this:

We are working with 1plus1plus1equals1‘s Tot School ABCs, that brings some consistency each week.

  • Cutting out the number cards and using with a math manipulative (teddy bear counters, unifix cubes, any other small block or toy)

DSC02870

  • Include a lacing card with either a lace or some neat clip links
  • Magnet page for that week’s letter (from Homeschool Creations, Making Learning Fun, Confessions of a Homeschooler) with magnets or pom pom magnets

IMG_6546

 The other three trays can vary — here are some ideas:
  • Color tray (whether it is a color review or a color of the week tray).  I have set out a color sensory bowl (to play hide and seek with a cloth on top) or put out crayons and little pictures to practice early coloring skills.

DSC01889

  • Shape tray (again, this would work for either a review or a shape of the week tray)
  • Letter review all the uppercase letters we have officially worked with so far.  For this, I pick a laminated set of letters from Homeschool Creations, 1plus1plus1equals1, Confessions of a Homeschooler, or Making Learning Fun. And….
  • put in simple envelopes with a cute mailbox

IMG_6202

  • drive on them with matchbox cars
  • throw a ball or beanbag at a letter that you call out
  • play musical letters: turn on music and dance around the cards turned upside down, pick one up when the music stops and yell the letter out, when all the letters are done, you win (they don’t really win anything, but they love this!)
  • make these letter discs and slot them into an old plastic container

DSC01873

Or try some Practical Life trays:

  • Transfer beans or poms with tongs

  • Sort buttons or other small objects with a spoon or tongs
  • Give some clothes with zippers or velcro to work with
  • Fold some clothes or towels
  • Practice “spicing” or pouring water (or colored water) from glass to glass

IMG_6486

  • Wash a toy (a little toy cat, for example) with a washcloth or sponge
  • Cut strips of paper with a spring scissors (check out Delightful Learning last week)
  • I love all the ideas I find at Counting Coconuts

I hope this has given you some fun, creative, and simpler ideas to enjoy your time with your little one!  Tot School need only be learning though organized play!  The most important part of learning is that you are present with your child during your set Tot School Time.  For me, defining what we do helps me stay sane and be a better teacher (and mom!)

Amy writes at Wildflower Ramblings, a homeschooling and healthy living blog she started when she became a mother.  Amy obtained her Masters in Elementary Education from the University of Michigan and is a former Kindergarten teacher.  She lives with her husband and two and a half year old son and seven month old daughter, and all three are the loves of her life.  You can find Amy on Facebook, Twitter, Bloglovin’, or Pinterest.  

Related Posts

  • learning sounds with montessori alphabet objectslearning sounds with montessori alphabet objects
  • dear mama, you are not in controldear mama, you are not in control
  • What is Montessori? Tea pot water play!What is Montessori? Tea pot water play!
  • 85 things i am thankful for {after breaking my arm}85 things i am thankful for {after breaking my arm}
« making a handprint on canvas every year
around here: spring flowers »


Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Connect

Amy is a former Kindergarten teacher, M.Ed., turned homeschooling mom. Sharing her imperfect life and her love of teaching & learning, reading, herbal remedies, parenting and more.
Read More →

Search

follow

I heard about Wim Hof “Iceman” from a convention last June. Simple and free ways to improve my health, yes please!
Happy Monday friends! I'm so glad I can brighten your Monday with another giveaway!
Who else is enjoying the beautiful snow?! My son found Narnia! ✨ #snow #childhood #family
Did you know that we have a FULL tab dedicated to alphabet resources? This is a gold mine for any parent who is ready to start teaching the alphabet. There are plenty of articles on teaching techniques and activities for every single letter! Head over to the blog and click the ABC tab today!
Happy Monday friends! I'm so excited to share a copy of this lovely book with one of you.
Art is not something I’m familiar with. Growing up, I thrived in theater and music, but never art. Unfortunately, I always felt like “I wasn’t good” or “that’s not my thing.” I’m sad about this! Since homeschooling my children, I’ve come to realize that I’m indeed a wonderful artist!! I can draw plants and bumblebees and even an octopus! I just need a bit of time, good materials, and a good teacher.

<script>” title=”<script>
<script>

banner-001

Favorite Posts

1legos 1quiet memories 1act 1chants 1closet hyp note classical dots 15act 1reggio 1turtle 1around 1bible1 sidebar bible1 crafts reggiomath essentialoils print

Note

Unless otherwise stated, all words and photos on this blog belong to Wildflower Ramblings. You may pin from my site, but do not use a photo, or any text, without my permission. All content is copyrighted. This is a for profit blog. I use affiliate links on the sidebars and in posts. I only share products that I love and enjoy with my family. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, I receive a small commission. Occasionally, I will receive products free of charge and share them here.  Words and opinions expressed will always be my own. Please email me with questions or comments. Thank you for visiting. Amy Smith, M.Ed. wildflower ramblings @ gmail . com

instagram

I heard about Wim Hof “Iceman” from a convention last June. Simple and free ways to improve my health, yes please!
Happy Monday friends! I'm so glad I can brighten your Monday with another giveaway!
Who else is enjoying the beautiful snow?! My son found Narnia! ✨ #snow #childhood #family

Facebook

Facebook

More

Categories

Archives

search

Copyright © 2023 · Wildflower Ramblings [footer_backtotop] · Genesis Framework · WordPress