Linda asks…
Toddler activities for busy mom?
I need some ideas of activities to play with my toddler and ones for him to do alone.
I am a stay-at-home mom but also have a four month old son who I am nursing. It is hard to give both boys attention, make meals, do housework, etc so I end up putting the TV on for my toddler A LOT.
It is all educational shows but I want something else to do with him and mostly for him to do alone. He has toys to play with but it seems he gets bored of them and wants to come find me. I will play with him as much as I can, but I need to give attention to my younger son. And I have many things I need to get done around the house as well.
Ideas of activities we can do together? Ideas of activities he can do alone while I’m doing housework or taking care of my baby?
I should have mentioned that my toddler is only 17 months old.
And I am a stay-at-home mom…I love my son and want to give him attention but cannot afford to be hiring a babysitter like that!
I mentioned his age because he is not old enough yet to just sit and color on his own or to help me w/ chores.
I just have to say this – please so remarks of “get a babysitter”. We can’t afford one plus we actually believe PARENTS should raise their OWN children.
And just so I don’t get any other comments about me writing so many details – both my sons are napping right now and I’m waiting for the dryer to finish so that’s why I am online quick trying to get some bills paid and am looking for answers to this question.
Thank you.
I make sacrifices so we can afford for me to stay home w/ my children so I don’t appreciate the responses saying that I should just go out and hire a babysitter as a way to remedy my situation – that’s all I was getting at
Each to their own on daycare or not….I believe it’s wrong but that’s my right as it is your right to disagree.
.
admin answers:
My older two are 17 months apart, so I know about where you are right now. For what it’s worth, it does get easier, and my girls are now very good friends (at ages 4 and 5 1/2).
Anyway, here are some things that worked for us while I was nursing the baby, cooking dinner, etc.
Play an interactive game where you’re talking a lot, but don’t have to *do* anything with your toddler. One that my daughter liked was “baking.” She’d mix up some imaginary food in her toy kitchen and bring it to me to taste. I’d take a little taste and then respond, “Hmm, needs more cinnamon.” She’d take it back and mix the imaginary mixture again. We’d go back and forth for quite a while with me recommending a variety of ingredients and saying that it tasted yummy or yucky each time.
Read books while nursing.
Make up a “treasure box” of things that your toddler can only play with while you nurse the baby, and swap items in and out occasionally. I used a shoe box and put in several small things like a deck of cards, small board book, measuring spoons, toy necklace, toy car, small doll, etc. Most of the stuff was just whatever I found around the house, but I might occasionally buy a new toy, too.
You might want to consider getting an Aquadoodle. It has a water-filled pen, so there’s no mess, but it allows the child to draw all over the mat. When the mat dries, they can start over. That was a wonderful purchase when my oldest was about 18 months old.
Have you tried play-doh yet? I’ve found that play-doh in the high chair (or at the kitchen table) can be great for keeping a toddler close but occupied while I make dinner.
Another thing my youngest really likes to do while I work in the kitchen is play with water. When he was a few months younger, I’d put him in the high chair and pour some water into the tray. Then, I’d give him a cup or a spoon to splash around in it. Sometimes, I’d put an ice cube into a cup and let him play with that (while watching carefully that he didn’t put the whole thing in his mouth, of course). When he got a little older, he liked to stand on a chair at the kitchen sink, and I’d turn on a slow stream of water from the faucet for him to play in. Yes, it’s a little messy, but it’s just water.
Do you have any good toddler CDs or anything that your little one likes to dance to? That’s something else that has kept my kids occupied for longer periods of time. I interact and dance around with them while I clean, but I can still get stuff done.
If you’re taking care of the baby, let your toddler take care of his own baby — feeding, diapering, etc. And don’t worry if he tries to nurse his own baby, too. 
If you’re doing housework, let your toddler help as much as possible. I know he’s little, but he can use a dustcloth, push a toy mop/vacuum, use a wet washcloth to wipe a table/counter, etc. My 20-month-old likes to help unload silverware from the dishwasher and put laundry into the washer/dryer.
Finally, accept that the cleanliness of your house may not be up to your standards for a little while. I now have three kids under the age of 6, and my house definitely doesn’t look the way I want it to, but it’s worth it to spend more time with my kids and less on housework. My husband jokes about a “10-year plan” — in 10 years, the kids will be old enough to keep up the house a little better. In the meantime, we’ll just keep doing the best we can, but try not to stress about it.
and teenagers. This works for me. I enjoy it very much and have a gift with kids that I can reason with. My weakness is toddlers. I just don’t get them. Sorry if my question was harsh. Nowadays no one is really supposed to say anything negative about children, and I should have remembered to keep my mouth shut. haha
)
