Inside: Are you starting preschool at home this year? Take a quick tour of our homeschool room setup. Get easy ideas for organizing your homeschool supplies, plus inspiration for toddler & preschooler learning spaces.
2020 has thrown us some curve balls and we are just rolling with it.
Homeschool or virtual distance-learning? Just add that to our resumes as moms. It’s just another hat we need to wear this year.
If your kids will be learning from home this year, and you’re looking to set up a simple homeschool room, you’re in the right place. Today I want to share with you our simple space for playing and learning.
First things first: you don’t need a separate “room” to homeschool. Any space with a table will do.
Our homeschool room is half of our kitchen area!
There’s something about raising little kids that makes you realize, your home is whatever you need it to be. My playroom is actually supposed to be a dining room. Whatever we need, we make it work, right?
Our kitchen is the most popular spot in the house. This is where everyone gravitates.
One second the kitchen table is filled with a playdough workshop and the next we’re eating dinner on it. This is naturally the best place for us to do school.
My best advice is to find a space in your home that has a similar “vibe” – playroom, office, corner of a bedroom, outdoors? Whatever works.
This post may contain Amazon Affiliate links. You can read our full disclosure policy, here.
What do I need for my homeschool room?
For me, there are a few basic “non-negotiable” items I need to organize this space (or close by).
- Table with chairs (we love the Ikea Latt table for toddlers)
- Art supply storage drawers
- Supply caddy (I’ve linked one here for convenience, but you could definitely find a cheaper one at Target Dollar Spot, Michael’s, or the Dollar Store).
What materials do I need for homeschool?
- The exact materials you need may depend on what is required by your school district.
- This is my go-to learning & play-based preschool at home curriculum
- Melissa & Doug Daily Calendar
My Simple Homeschool Room Setup
Here is a quick “tour” of our homeschool space for my 3 & 5 year old. For more daily inspiration & ideas, follow me over on Instagram.
Our “main” space – the kitchen table.
This is where we do most of our learning activities.
The chalkboard – one of my favorite spaces for learning & play.
- This chalkboard slab was $10 at Home Depot
- We attached it to the wall using Command strips
- The chalk holder is a piece of PVC gutter (also from Home Depot) we affixed to the wall using Command strips
- You can watch the reel of how we made it, on IG
Sensory & Manipulatives Play Table
This Ikea Latt table is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. While our kitchen table is our main learning space, this smaller table is great for sensory bins, magnetic tiles, building with Duplos, and doing playdough or kinetic sand.
You can learn how we “upgraded” our Ikea table (in 1 hour!), and made the surface easier to clean for messy play.
Related: Easy Make-Ahead Breakfasts for School Mornings
Toddler Learning Shelf – read more on my Instagram to find out how to set this up.
This simple bookshelf, which I bought years ago at HomeGoods, has become a focal point in our kitchen. The top two shelves house my cookbook collection, and the bottom two shelves are used as a rotational learning shelf.
This is a great way to keep toddlers engaged with their toys and to encourage open-ended, independent play.
So there you have it! Our simple homeschool room setup.
More resources for Learning at Home:
- Preschool at Home Daily Structure
- Back-to-School Resources (In Person & Homeschool)
- Sensory Play for Preschoolers
- Ultimate Preschool Lunchbox Guide