I Tried Tot School With My Toddler — Here’s How It Went

What Is Tot School?

Tot school is basically like a pre-preschool. It starts to put intention and purpose behind play. We will still be playing the entire day, but it’s directed more toward a learning goal.

For example, I will be choosing themes each week for our activities to center around. We started this week with colors and shapes, so we will play with toys of a specific color, sort shapes, talk about colors while we play, etc. Easy peasy!

Interactive game for toddlers to learn colors in Tot School — Courtesy of Rheanna Turner

Why I Chose To Do Tot School

What can I say? It’s back-to-school season and I got roped in!

But for real, I chose to do tot school because we were both getting a little restless with the monotony. My little needs that extra stimulation because he has a busy brain and even busier feet AND I honestly needed to feel like I wasn’t lost in the day-to-day grind of being a stay-at-home mom. So…I decided to add some more structure.

Stay-at-home mom wearing a sweatshirt that says "MAMA" while carrying her toddler son — Courtesy of Rheanna Turner

Our First Day

So exciting!! Obviously my little doesn’t know I’m starting school with him, but still.

Our schedule for the day looked a little something like this:

Wake up
Morning activity while we wait for breakfast*
Breakfast
Daily walk
Circle time and books*
Free play
Lunch
Nap
Snack
Afternoon activity*
Independent play
Dinner
Get ready for bed

*structured time added for school

Toddler painting with a round sponge on a white canva during tot school day — Courtesy of Rheanna Turner

Final Thoughts

Tot school is going to be a great change for us. As a stay-at-home mom, I feel like I have a little more purpose again. I really enjoy planning activities and figuring out fun things to do (and this is where some of my college education and job experience comes in handy, so that’s a plus!).

I also think our days will have a solid direction going forward, and I KNOW my son will get the learning and stimulation he needs for his little active self.

I’m so glad we started and I’m looking forward to the weeks ahead!

Stay-at-home-mom taking a selfie with her toddle son at the playground — Courtesy of Rheanna Turner

This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Rheanna Turner of A Little & A Latte. You can follow her motherhood journey on Instagram and Facebook. Submit your own story here and be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.

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