I frequently recommend great Christian books and curriculum. In addition to intentionally choosing good books and curriculum, we make an effort to set up an environment that encourages active learning, critical thinking, and family bonding. Over the next year I plan to put together a list of our family’s favorite learning tools (which sometimes look like toys!) for your perusal.
For this age, I prefer a Montessori-style approach of natural learning and exploration. We had a shelving system with baskets containing learning toys organized by type/focus so that we could rotate. The girls learned to play quietly for an hour while the boys and I read aloud in the morning.
Mid-morning, the boys did individual work while I spend time with the girls. During the afternoon the girls rested while the boys and I worked together on history and science.
Without further ado, our favorite learning resources for children ages 2-4:
Preschool Learning Resources to Read and Listen To
Wonderfully Made: God’s Story of Life from Conception to Birth
365 Great Bible Stories: Therom Good News of Jesus f Genesis to RevelationPeek–a–boo Bible: 4 Board–BooksLittle Lights Box Set 1Little Lights Box Set 2Little Lights Box Set 3NIRV Little Kids Adventure Audio Bible Vol 1NIRV Little Kids Adventure Audio Bible Vol 2NIRV Little Kids Adventure Audio Bible Vol 3Clubhouse Jr. Magazine, ages 3-7
- Wonderfully Made: God’s Story of Life from Conception to Birth – Take your kids on an adventure of life from conception up until birth. This volume walks kids week-by-week through the way God lovingly created and grew them in the womb.
- 365 Great Bible Stories: The Good News of Jesus Christ from Genesis to Revelation – I highly recommend this Christ-centered Bible storybook by Carine Mackenzie for toddlers and preschoolers. I love that it includes concepts and stories not generally included in many Bible storybooks.
- Peek-a-Boo Bible Board Books – I appreciate Catherine Mackenzie’s gospel-centered board books. I think they’re great for young children.
- Little Lights Biographies Series – I read these to my boys when they were young and loved being able to introduce them to children who grew to give all in service of the King. I really love the fact that these books have two levels of text on each page, so you can read the more simple text and the extended text to early grade school children. Early readers can practice their skills on the simple text, which makes these books that span a range of ages.
- Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse Jr. Magazine (ages 3-7) – In the interest of full disclosure, I’ve been published in Clubhouse Jr. a number of times. I truly love this monthly magazine for children. My younger kids have always enjoyed the Bible stories, games, crafts, fiction, and projects. The quality is high, with amazing artwork. It’s not unusual to find articles and stories written by multi-book authors. Purchase from Focus on the Family.
- NIrV The Little Kids’ Adventure Bible Audiobooks (MP3 format) – We love these audiobooks. We started using them when my boys were about 3 while they were playing or going to bed. Purchasein MP3 format from Christian book.
- Christian Book {Genesis to Proverbs}: NIrV Little Kids Adventure Audio Bible Vol 1 – Unabridged Audiobook [Download]
- Christian Book {Ecclesiastes to Malachi}: NIrV Little Kids Adventure Audio Bible Vol 2 – Unabridged Audiobook [Download]
- Christian Book {Matthew to Revelation}: NIrV Little Kids Adventure Audio Bible Vol 3 – Unabridged Audiobook [Download]
Preschool Games
Chutes & Ladders Game + Candy Land Game � Bundle of 2 GamesMelissa & Doug Bowling FriendsSwanson Christian Game-Noah’s Ark Dominos (28 Pieces)
- Chutes and Ladders & Candy Land – Chutes and Ladders teaches your little people to count, and (equally important) to manage disappointment and excitement! I love Candy Land for teaching color-matching, turn-taking, and sequencing.
- Bowling Set – What toddler or preschooler doesn’t love to be handed a ball and be told to knock something down? These are great to promote hand/eye coordination, gross motor skills, some indoor activity, and they’re super cute.
- Noah’s Ark Dominoes – Dominoes can be a fun matching game for kids. This Bible-themed set is neat.
Preschool Learning Resources and Toys to Teach Reading
LeapFrog Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter SetLeapfrog: Letter FactoryLeapFrog: Talking Words FactoryLeapFrog: Learn to Read at the Storybook FactoryMelissa & Doug Number Train Jumbo Floor Puzzle – 20 Pcs
- LeapFrog Phonics Manipulatives & DVDs – I’ve used LeapFrog phonics videos and toys to promote phonics understanding for all my kids. They’re fabulous. The songs from the videos are catchy and memorable and the hands-on toys help back up the memorization. I think it’s a non-pushy way to help kids identify letter and word sounds early on. While I’m not a fan of media for this young age, I do use a video once-in-a-while when I need to get something done. Like dinner.
- {Manipulative – The Alphabet}: LeapFrog Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set
- {DVD 1}: LeapFrog: Letter Factory
- {DVD 2}: LeapFrog: Talking Words Factory
- {DVD 3}: Leap Frog – Learn to Read at the Storybook Factory
- Melissa & Doug Alphabet Express Floor Puzzle – We love Melissa & Doug products. They’re always well-made. This puzzle is great for learning the sequence of the alphabet, and for letting toddlers and preschoolers spend some quality time on the floor with mom and dad.
Preschool Learning Resources for Geography
Melissa & Doug U.S.A. 51pc Floor PuzzleMelissa & Doug World Map Floor Puzzle – 33 PcsLearning Resources LER7735 Puzzle Globe 14-Piece 8
- United States of America and World Map Floor Puzzles – These are just the right size for familiarizing your kids with the shapes of states and continents. Plus, they’re sturdy, colorful, and fun.
- United States Map: Melissa & Doug USA Map 51 pcs Floor Puzzle
- World Map: Melissa & Doug World Map 33 pcs Floor Puzzle
- Learning Resources Puzzle Globe – Little people are very hands-on, concrete thinkers. A globe is a wonderful way for them to understand the earth. This one is a puzzle with big pieces!
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Preschool Learning Resources for Science
Melissa & Doug Floor Puzzle Bundle – Solar System & UnderwaterUltimate Sticker Book: Bugs: More Than 250 Reusable StickersUltimate Sticker Book: Animal: Over 60 Reusable Full-Color StickersUltimate Sticker Book: Farm: More Than 250 Reusable StickersUltimate Sticker Book: Space: More Than 250 Reusable StickersUltimate Sticker Book: Ocean: More Than 250 Reusable StickersUltimate Sticker Book: Dinosaurs: More Than 250 Reusable Stickers
- Melissa & Doug Solar and Underwater Floor Puzzles – My kids have all loved these. It’s a fun, hands-on way for them to understand the majesty of God’s creation.
- Ultimate Sticker Activity Collections – My toddlers and preschoolers have always loved these. I cut out the stickers in advance and insert them into the right pages, then help the kids affix the animals where they go. These help with matching, animal recognition, and it’s challenging for them. During read-alouds, the older kids would sit near the younger ones and help them when necessary.
Preschool Learning Toys that Promote Life Skills and Encourage Pretend Play
Step2 Timeless Trends KitchenStep2 Elegant Edge KitchenStep2 Grand Walk-In Kitchen & GrillStep2 Handyman Kids WorkbenchMelissa & Doug Puppet Theater8 Hand Puppets for KidsMelissa & Doug Safari Buddies Hand PuppetsMelissa & Doug Waitress Role Play Costume SetMelissa & Doug Vet Play SetMelissa & Doug Veterinarian Costume SetMelissa & Doug Chef CostumeMelissa & Doug Fire Chief Costume SetMelissa & Doug Astronaut CostumeMelissa & Doug Construction Worker CostumeMelissa & Doug Police Officer Costume
I’m not a big fan of lots of small toys, but I do love to have a few specific play-based stations for the littles. We like to have a puppet theater, a kitchen, a dress-up station, and a workshop. It’s so important for our kids to play, and these toys encourage dreaming about the future!
Amazon {Kitchens}: Step 2 Kitchens
Amazon {Workshops}: Workshops
Amazon {Puppet Theater}: Puppet Theaters & Puppets
Amazon {Dress Up Clothing}: Melissa & Doug Dress Up Outfits
Well, friends. That’s it — my survival list for toddlers and preschoolers. We homeschool by making sure our littles have a lot to keep them busy learning.
Bible Resources for Your Kids
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Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible
You want your kids to learn and love the Bible.
You want to teach the Bible…
As parents, we deeply desire the best for our kids. We look for the right schools, we make them eat right and exercise, and we get them involved in extracurricular activities. We take our job as parents seriously.
But are we also putting our time and energy into
teaching them the Bible? Giving them the life-changing, soul-nourishing words of Scripture is not only doable, it’s an essential part of parenting kids for Jesus. And the good news is, studying God’s Word as a family doesn’t have to be difficult!
2 Timothy 2:15, ESV, says:
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,
a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Our job, as parents who love Jesus, is to help our kids become approved workers, unashamed and rightly handling the word of truth.
The good news? Teaching the Bible isn’t hard. Your family can learn the Bible together.
…and you can!
A Crash Course in Teaching the Bible to Your Kids
Danika Cooley’s book, Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible, will give you the tools and confidence to study the Bible as a family. It will help you identify and overcome your objections and fears, give you a crash course in what the Bible is all about and how to teach it, and provide the guidance you need to set up a family Bible study habit.
You will finish this book feeling encouraged and empowered to initiate and strengthen your child’s relationship with the Lord through His Word.
Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible will equip you with everything you need to know to teach the Bible to your kids!
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Thanks, Danika, for the list of resources for toddlers and preschoolers. There are some I haven’t seen yet on the list that we can try for our three-year-old twins.
I’m so glad some of the resources look valuable to you. I’m sorry I took so long to answer your question!
– Danika