From time to time I will be posting the ideas and contributions of other homeschooling mothers of preschoolers.  You all have so much to offer! The following list was initially submitted on The Well Trained Mind K-8 General Board by one_1_michele in response to the question posed about what items might keep a 30-month-old busy during school.  She then graciously elaborated in an email to me so that I could pass along her terrific ideas. Craft Items That Aren't Very Messy -twistable crayons (little ones can't peel the paper off and the crayons don't break) -foam sticker shapes or shapes with a jumbo glue stick - my boys like to make their own designs and patterns with these -hole punch -stickers (can decorate with them, or use blank labels let them make their own stickers)

-simple coloring pages (let them color the pages/book, then go back through and cut out the pictures to decorate other things or make their own scrapbook - we love the crayola spiral bound sketch books sold at Wal Mart for this) -connect the dots - rubbing plates- these from Amazon are really great -true stencils aren't a hit here, maybe too detailed, but they love tracing shapes from the Lauri puzzles, then coloring them in and cutting them out -Perler Beads - they love the tweezers too, good for fine motor - these get pulled out daily here, my kids can't get enough of them, the Perler website has some fun ideas as well -pipe cleaners - bend into creatures or use to string bead patterns -modeling clay for the preschoolers -painting with water colors -save empty containers/boxes for back up

Other Ideas -retractable measuring tape (I think mine are broken annually. Buy cheapies!) -dress up clothes & a laundry basket -toss a king size flat sheet over the kitchen table

-pattern blocks and boards (my kids like Super Mind)

-Leap Frog DVD's -Fisher Price Little People flash cards -Leap Frog Fridge Phonics -puzzles -Kid K'nex -Primary Bucket Balance -Melissa & Doug Wooden Clock (numbers, shapes, colors/shades & telling time) -Touch & Feel cards - we have colors/shapes they are board type flashcards -music favorites that don't annoy mom (Kendra here- we love Go Fish!) -Discovery Toys

Activities With Mom -Brainquest - love the 2-3 & 3-4 year sets

-games: Sequence for Kids, Blokus, Letter of the Day Bingo, Sesame Street Bingo, Animal Upon Animal, Cranium Hullabaloo, Hi Ho Cherry O

-books, books, more books