Tot School is a playful way to teach toddlers. It focuses on learning through activities and play instead of formal lessons, making learning fun and natural.
Research from the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) shows that homeschooled students typically score 15 to 25 percentile points higher than public school students on standardized academic achievement tests. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), approximately 3.3 million students were homeschooled in the United States as of 2023, representing roughly 6% of the school-age population.
What is tot school?
Tot School is a fun way to help toddlers learn. It’s all about play-based activities and hands-on experiences. Unlike a formal preschool, which has structured lessons, Tot School uses guided play to introduce little ones to new ideas and skills. The term comes from Carisa Hinson, who created the blog 1+1+1=1. She got the idea when her 6-year-old said his younger sibling was already 'in school' — and that’s how Tot School got its name.
Core philosophy
The main idea behind Tot School is simple: kids learn through play. Instead of using flashcards or worksheets, it encourages them to explore concepts through hands-on fun. There’s no rush to hit milestones at specific ages. Kids learn when they’re ready. Research shows starting academic learning at ages 3-4 doesn’t give long-term benefits, so Tot School focuses on sparking curiosity.
Typical activities
Tot Trays are a key part of this approach. They’re Montessori-inspired trays filled with activities like sorting, stacking, and sensory play. A typical week might include themed books, fine motor tasks (like cutting and gluing), gross motor play (like dancing), sensory bins, and educational snacks. Skills covered include identifying colors, body parts, emotions, and early literacy. The goal is exploration, not strict instruction.
Tot school for homeschool families
Many homeschool families love Tot School to keep toddlers engaged while teaching older kids. Prepared tot trays give younger kids something to focus on during lessons. It also helps ease toddlers into more structured preschool activities when they’re about 4-5 years old. There are no legal requirements for preschool education, so Tot School is optional. You can make it as relaxed or structured as your family likes.
The bottom line
Tot School is a low-pressure way to support early learning that fits how toddlers naturally develop. It builds curiosity and fine motor skills that help with later learning. For families with kids of different ages, prepared tot trays keep toddlers busy while older children learn. Most activities use everyday household materials, and you can keep it simple or get creative based on your time and energy.
