Home Learning - Tracing Tools for Children

Now that our little one is home almost non-stop for the seventh month in a row, we’ve started setting up morning mini lessons designed for his current interests and skills. At 4 years old, he’s ready for some semblance of schooling. But due to the ever-rising cost of pre-school in Los Angeles coupled with the COVID-19 rates throughout the city, my husband and I made the tough decision to not send our child to classes for the foreseeable future.

West has been spelling out short words and expressing a more in-depth understanding of numbers (particularly since counting down to his birthday), so we introduced some tracing tools to his daily mix of learning materials.

Our friends at Timberchild (who, years ago, crafted the wooden plates that our kiddo still uses daily), sent him this beautifully made, double-sided tracing board for his recent birthday.

These number boards are made from one solid, smoothly sanded piece of wood. With one side, children can start to recognize and learn numbers 1 through 10, and then progress to 11 through 20 on the flip side. The numbers can be traced with a finger, or by using the wooden stylus provided. Our son likes to invent various ways to count out the numbers, scrounging up crafting supplies, rocks, marbles, and even the annoying ficus seeds from the garden to fit into the numerous, divots — perfectly sized for tiny fingertips — on the board.

I appreciate the minimal design, which allows us to keep the board out without contributing to a feeling of clutter or overcrowding. This is always a consideration for us given the small size of our home, and the lack of a dedicated play space / bedroom for our youngest family member. 

For those looking for a beautiful, useful toy + tool for the holidays for a child who is learning from home, this delightful, family-owned and operated small business sells their number boards here and their letter boards here.

Choosing a Single New Toy

Time and time again, Adam and I are reminded that our child (who is now 3½) rarely needs new toys to keep him happy— even in the familiar and rather confined setting of our tiny home and garden. Instead, he simply replies upon a handful of crucial goods: library books, toy trucks, rocks, bubble solution, and toy building materials.

While other objects and activities certainly entertain him and spark new experiences, these are the cornerstones to which he always returns. 

We get new library books weekly. (And last week we stocked up on the largest haul yet since we’re now practicing social distancing.)

I try to keep West’s collection of trucks on a random rotation, so he doesn’t become weary of or reliant upon one distinct style or another. 

Lately I’ve been considering what items we should ideally have here in our home to entertain West in case prolonged distancing / confinement is recommended to help keep our community’s most vulnerable members safe during the pandemic. 

With the exception of library books and a wooden pulley, he hasn’t gotten anything “new” since the holidays.

Since then, I’ve had my eye on a bundle of magnetic, wooden Earthtiles from Big Future Toys.

Not only are they beautifully designed, but I appreciate that they can be used for hours of structured or unstructured creative play and in numerous permutations.

They’re made of non-toxic wood that’s sustainably sourced from FSC-certified sources, and with every purchase from their site, Big Future Toys plants a tree. 

But before introducing ANYTHING new into our home, we consider what happens to that item at the end of its life cycle.

Ultimately we decided on these tiles, as we’ll undoubtedly enjoy them with West for years, and can then extend their use by donating them to our library, or returning them to Big Future Toys for refurbishment and rehousing. 

We’re giving away a set of these brilliant lil’ tiles over on Instagram. Visit the post to enter for a chance to win what has quickly become our favorite toy here in the tiny house.

Space-Saving Toy Tents for Kids

Children (and pets) so enjoy tents and forts. But in a small home, a store-bought toddler tent can easily eat up an entire room (if it even fits at all), and a DIY fort can quickly eliminate the limited space required for your daily routine.

Tablecloth tents could be a handy solution for your little one(s) in your little home. I found this one via Etsy, and it's a big hit here at our tiny cottage. Folding card-table sizes are also available, and custom-sized options are also commissionable. Throw one over your dining table or desk to encourage a child's creativity while also working within the realities of your square-footage. (And if you can't fit a tablecloth tent, not to worry-- use a doorway or hallway hanging playhouse instead!)

Update: Many of you loved West's beagle pants, so I thought I should share the details on those! They're handmade by an Etsy artist-- some of my favorites from her shop are below: