Toddler Activities?

[my3sons]

Heidi - This thread is full of practical ideas already! We have all been there, and those little ones keep us hoppin'! When I am feeling tired and like I have a big project ahead of me that seems overwhelming, it helps me to just pick 1 idea to try, rather than feeling like I have to have it all put together before I start. Maybe you could just pick 1 idea from all of the great ideas shared, and try 1 new idea each day of the week? That would help you see which ones will work best with the personality and interests of your little one. Maybe tomorrow you could just pull out your big tub of toys and just choose a handful to set up on a blanket, and give that a try for 20 minutes? The next day you could try the blanket again with a handful of different toys, if it went well for at least 20 minutes (if it didn't, than wait to try it again another month), and then add a time where you set out the whiteboard and markers? The next day you can keep whatever worked, and try 1 more thing. I bet by the end of the week you'd have at least 1 keeper, having tried 5 things, just a different one each day. That's just an idea - HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[raylene]

I have a VERY active 2 almost 3 year old and this saved my life. A friend of mine suggested doing stations for my 2 year old. She is blanket trained and knows when mommy puts her on a blanket or little rug she is to stay on it. I have 3 stations. One is her blanket which we alternate toys each day of the week.. Monday duplo blocks, Tuesday puzzles, etc. I used to just dump a bunch of toys on her blanket and she got bored faster than when there were just a handful. seems she has to learn to be creative with just a few. I set a timer for 15-20 min and she knows when the timer goes off it is time to switch. I usually have her pick up her toys before switching and this gives me an extra 5 minutes or so. Next station is just a little table and chair I have for her where she colors and cuts and there is a chalk board easel right next to it where she can get up and draw on that but she has to stay right there until the timer goes off--again another 20 min. Next is her bedroom which is right next to where we do school so I can easily see what she is doing but she has about 30 min where she can move around more. This did take a little bit of training but she loves it and we make a big deal about her getting to move to the next station and what a big girl she is. She sits on the couch with us when we do read alouds and she gets to pick a book too that mommy reads to her. If we are doing any craft than I try to include her and give her scissors and stickers and stuff too but she must stay at the table and behave if she wants to be a big girl and do school like her siblings otherwise its blanket time again. I know you may think this sounds bad to put them on a blanket but she loves it and it make me a happy mom. If you need ideas or help with blanket training I would be more than happy to help you. Also Pinterest has some really great activities that you can make for them to do at a station like sorting buttons or stringing little beads( as long as you know he wont swallow them) I think under education of kids. My friend who has 7 kids does stations with all of her little ones and keeps them busy for several hours. She even has a snack blanket or station where they get sippy cups and fruit snacks.
Hope this help and stay encouraged..consistancy and developing a habbit each day will really work well in developing a pattern of how school/station time is done and remember this season too shall pass.
Raylene

[Heidi in AK]

I actually have a picture of the two "working" side by side from today. I organized a bunch of toys and because right now I'm limited on totes, I'm going to take a few minutes to rotate toys, books, and puzzles so that DS can have a variety of toys. Also, if I play with him first, before we start DD's school, it is WAY better than if I don't. So my goal is to work with DD, even at 5, to do the RH side (what she can of it anyway) by herself so I can get some playtime in. Of course, this will require a couple of minutes up front to explain the instructions and then start her off, but I think I can do that to get some time with him in. Then he likes to come over for the LH side of LHFHG. The only thing is that I'd like to work in LHTH for him.

I think I'm going to slowly build in LHTH as our playtime together, then have the bin with toys out for him if he gets antsy while we're doing LH of LHFHG with his sister.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1179634935 ... 9083928802

I can't figure out how to just get the picture to show up here. Hope you don't mind clicking the linky!

[netpea]

adorable picture!

[MelInKansas]

That's so cute! I'm so glad you found some things for him to do and he's doing better!