All you parents of young children, I am looking to you for some help. Ideas. Suggestions. Something.
What can you do with a toddler, either inside or outside the house, that is fun and new?
We have the standard trips to the many museums or zoo, playing with toys or reading books in the house, but then we get hung up. Especially in the winter when it is cold outside. Yes, I know, we are not very creative. So share your ideas and help a sister out!
(One thing we are doing this weekend is meeting some friends at a jazz club that does Sunday afternoon "Baby Bop" time. The kids can dance around and play some of the instruments, and everyone eats pizza. Sounds pretty fun!)
And, as a preemptive thank you for anyone who provides suggestions, I offer you a tip to making the best meatballs ever: Duck Egg. Yes, a duck egg, found at asian markets and who knows where else. Use a duck egg instead of a chicken egg will make your meatballs sing, even if you are using low-fat beef or turkey. You are welcome.
2 comments:
I would say start buying big kid toys. I just got a Barbie for our older kid but the little kid loves to play with it. Crayons, markers, Duplos Legos, going for walks. Go to the mall, give the kid a baby soccer ball, and just follow her (better during the daytimes when the mall is emptier), I did that for weeks in Virginia. Feeding food to oneself can be quite entertaining, or letting her feed you :) Helping to organize: Jacob & I would be in different rooms (trying to clean) and we would have Hazel take turns delivering things to the other person. As long as she got a good applause she would keep doing it. A baby stroller for her toys (one meant for her to push around, not the one she sits in), the toy that has been consistantly used by both girls. Playing music & dancing. Wrestling. Tickle wars. Letting her run around naked at home for a few minutes, kids love that. IHOP (pancakes, waffles, eggs if not allergic). I don't know about Colorado, but even in Virginia there were some places that had kids movies during the daytime (at a library or something). A playhouse or kitchen or tent. Make a tent with the couch & sheets. Maybe email Jacob for more ideas, he's the creative one in our family :) Good luck!
One word or maybe it is two PLAYDOH! IT is cheap and fun and you can use cookie cutters and teach her how to use scissors (they make plastic ones just for playdoh).
Finger Paint- Elmer's (like the glue) makes a great package that comes with paint, smock, paper and a plastic protector for the table. With your & John's artistic abilities I bet she will be a NATURAL! Plus you can make pictures for family as gifts.
Sew a teepee, canopy or a fort cover- someone gave me a teepee but recently I have seen these fort covers for tables. This one is simple but I have seen fancier. (http://makeitandloveit.blogspot.com/2009/02/fort-table-cover.html)You can probably even buy one off of etsy.com (I have also seen canopy tents that you hang from the ceiling and put a pillow inside for a little reading or imagine area.)
Flannel board and felt shapes- let her arrange the shapes and see what she makes.
Felt food- at oneprettything.com they have tutorials on Felt food that you can make. This and a cheap tea set = hours of fun. She could "cook" with you.
Sandbox- Ryan made a sandbox last summer for less than $30. Scrap wood from home depot, a little garden felt stapled to the bottom, some brackets screws and Sand, with a tarp for a cover. Kids use dead tupperwear and cheap sand toys from Target and have hours of fun. I enjoy it too. They use the same toys for the snow.
You can also use dry beans like sand inside for an indoor sandbox. Just pour them on a sheet for easy clean up.
Make homemade musical instruments or buy some and have a music time. Let her play along with music- my kids love Bare Naked Ladies album SNACKTIME.
Above all I have learned that you need to keep it interesting for baby and mom & that alone time is good for them too.
Last summer when the kids were home I tried to do a theme a week. Gardens & plants, fish, insects, weather, music, ect. We would check out books & videos from the library on the topic. I would take them to places that would coordinate and discuss it with them, for the smaller kids I'd have them draw the subject or sculpt with clay or playdoh.
Finally, out of necessity I had to teach my kids how to help with laundry at about 2. They can unload a dryer by then into a basket. Now that I have a front loading washer they can even load the washer without launching clothes behind the machine;)
Good luck and if you ever need a break give me a call.
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