How to make a Learning binder for Toddler/preschooler

Keeping toddlers sit quietly in one place, focus on something which is at the same time learning for them is a tough task, our moms out there must be knowing about it. Especially during pandemics, it has become an exhausting task to keep toddlers busy inside the home. Learning/busy binder, have you heard about it?

Today, I want to share a DIY binder that I have created for my little one a few months back to learn new words and concepts while playing.

Learning/busy binder is identical to the puzzle where kids can peel off the pieces and put them back in the right spot. Also, you can create flashcards of each cut-out which is beneficial in learning [Check out the below section of how to laminate cut-outs to create Flashcards at home]

Advantages of the busy binder:

1. Gaining knowledge: Kids will be able to learn new words(learn numbers, fruits, phonetics, etc.) Binder can be created or bundled with activities suitable for a particular age and continue to add to an existing one.
2. Fine motor skills: While pulling out each laminated piece from the velcro, it takes full force to strengthen the kid’s fine motor skills.
3. Increase concentration.
4. Handy during travel – Take it anywhere you go, to the car rides, to the doctor’s appointments, on a long trip, to the restaurants, and so on.
5. Easy to manage: All the activities can be piled together in one folder.  

What kids will learn:

This binder is not only for toddlers but it can be customized according to the children’s age. As always, you should keep on reading throughout the activity which will maximize the learning. They will automatically pick up words, try to speak and which will definitely help them to build up the vocabulary.

This binder has the following skills, knowledge, and concepts:

• Alphabets (Capital and small)
• Phonics
• Numbers
• Shapes and colors
• Facial expression
• Learning Body parts
• Fruits and vegetables
• Animal puzzle
• Learning counting with Five little monkey puzzle (Favorite one :))
• Solar system and continents (You can add-on like the country names, states …)

The full version of the binder will take little time to put together, as the tedious task is to cut out each piece but when you are finished with it, you will have a fun knowledgeable binder that your child can use over and over again.

Busy binder PRE:

1. Download and take printouts (There are many free downloads which are available on the internet if you want specific what I have used you can refer to the links  at the bottom of the page)
2. Printer 
3. Adhesive Velcro dots
4. Self-adhesive laminating papers
5. 3 ring binder 
6. Hole puncher 
7. Scissors

How to put together your busy/learning binder:

1. Make sure you have all the materials needed.
2. Download and take printouts(I have taken all the printouts at home through my canon printer)
3. With the help of a self-adhesive laminating sheet, laminate all the sheets on both the front and back sides for better durability. Also, you can make laminate sheets, make the cut-outs and use them as flashcards. It felt so convenient to use laminating sheets and more important you can laminate at home.
4. Cut out all the required pieces for making puzzles.
5. Once all the sheets are ready, take 3 ring binder. With the help of the hole puncher, punch 3 holes on all the sheets which you want to attach.
6. Attach all laminated sheets to the 3 ring binder to bundle all the activity pieces together.
7. Stick one side on the laminated base sheets and another side of the velcro dots on the back of the cut-out pieces.
8. Attach all of the cut-out pieces to their corresponding base pages or place them in a pouch.

Free Printable: Check below links and sheets that you can download and bundle together for your little one. Or you can search various activities available on the internet, take a print and create a binder as per your child’s age.

Special credit: totschooling.net, measuredmom.net, teacherspayteachers.com, and powerfulmothering.com. These sites have amazing free printable of activities based on age.

5 little monkeys
Penguin winter cloth color matching
Shapes ice-cream cone
Facial expression
Continents matching
The solar system

If you need any specific printouts, do connect with me.

You can remove one page at a time for your child to play so that other activity pages will not come in the middle.

And let your child have fun! 

I hope, you will take a look at this binder and give this learning binder a try!

You can check out my little one playing with it 🙂

I can be reached on info@thelittletricks.com for building learning binder for your little one.Happy to help 🙂