Quick toddler activities

Dawn - posted on 08/15/2012

Pinterest!

Our new fave game is easy as pie: We put each color of construction paper on the floor and she has to find at least two items of each color and place them on the paper. Another one we like (because it's over 100 degrees outside) is using painter's tape to make a hopscotch in the living room. Once we're tired of hopping, we push a ball back and forth to see what square it'll land in.

Jasmine - posted on 08/15/2012

Are you on Pinterest? There are always TONS of toddler activities. One I just found the other day is to mix 1.5 cups of clear glue (the lady used Elmer's), 1.5 cups liquid starch (apparently you can find it in the laundry section of the grocery store; she used a brand called Sta-flo). Get your hands in there and mix it up really well. She split it into 4 sections and coloured each one. (Just a couple drops of food colouring). It gets all stretchy and slimy, and is great fun to play with. Her 3 year old played with it for 30 minutes, uninterrupted. I'm looking forward to trying it out with my 4 year old!

Amanda - posted on 08/10/2012

I did something really fun with my son the other day. He may be four but I got the idea from my friend who has a one and half year old. I took and framed canvas, ten bucks at walmart, used painters tape and used it to put his name on it (Spelt his name with it). Then I had him finger paint all over the canvas with as many colors as he wanted. We let it dry and peeled of the tape and now I have a work of art. It stays white where the tape was so you have their name with finger marks all around it. I have also seen it done where you make blocks with the tape and let them finger paint all over. Peel the tape off and then put their hand print or foot print where the white is. Just make sure the spot is big enough for the print. My son loved playing pretend at her age. We were spacemen one day and rescue heros the next with all his stuffed animals in trouble all over the house. But you could also collect stuff by the water and make a really nice collage. I have also seen sand wands somewhere but can't remember where. Also home made bird feeders are fun, but no peanut butter or you will have sick birds all over your yard! He loved to make them with lard and pine cones. Or toast cut into shapes with lard spread on it, once it cools, then putting bird seed on it. I found that one online, I typed in homemade shaped bird feeders. Have fun!

Elfrieda - posted on 08/10/2012

Tape some circles on the floor and have her jump from circle to circle. If she likes there to be a story, she can be a ladybug (possibly a craft opportunity there for spots and antennae) and she's visiting all the flowers.

My 2 y.o. son is very keen on food, and loves the play kitchen my sister handed down to him. He flips pancakes (nursing pads, lol) and pours me coffee, makes toast, etc. Sometimes I help get him started by setting out some teddy bears at his table and telling him what to give each of them. (a plate, a fork, and a cup). Or I put some cereal and raisins in various pots and he stirs them and pours them and eats them all up, "feeding" them to the bears first.

Brooke - posted on 08/09/2012

I have a two year old boy who loves to go go go! We play hide and seek, build towers out of pillows, finger painting (with paper covering whole floor), and follow the leader. Then we do it all over again so it's like a new thing.

Rebecca - posted on 08/09/2012

My daughter will be two this month. She loves to have dance parties! I usually put on a classic disney movie (one with a lot of singing. Her favorite is Robin Hood) and she likes to bring out all of her stuffed animals and dance with them and me. We also like to make bean tambourines (two plates, let her put beans on one of them, flip the other plate over and staple shut) and she colors them with crayons or markers. She is entertained by those for hours. We also made "firefly" jars with glow paint. Put her in some old clothes (or none) and on an old towel is best. I let her dip a paint brush in the paint and splatter it inside a mason jar. That's an idea I found on Pinterest and it was pretty enjoyable for me too. Different colors work really well and it's a nice addition to her room at bedtime. We also like to make forts out of pillows and blankets and chairs and sit inside to watch Backyardigans or Sesame street. She also likes to use my left-over yarn from crocheting to make necklaces out of with large beads or macaroni. Hope these suggestions help you!

These help me keep her entertained since I don't have many friends here and don't get out much to meet other moms. I got pregnant at 18, so the friends I had before are still in their party phase (i'm 21 now). Happy Crafting!

Kimberly - posted on 08/08/2012

My daughter is almost three and she loves anything to do with arts and crafts so coloring,painting, cutting and gluing, etc. Also loves setting up and playing 'shops' or 'cafe' where we take turns role playing and her 'friends' ( stuffed animals) help and play too. We read lots of stories and sing songs and put on shows, she has puzzles and dvd's too. Dress up, she also helps me in the kitchen with preparing dinner or baking. I try to follow her lead on alot of things and encourage her to use her imagaintion. When it is nice out we are always down the beach or park. Also remember things you liked from your childhood and play some of those games.

Amy - posted on 08/08/2012

Finger painting, playdough, finger drawing with shaving cream, coloring, playing with blocks, legos, having a tea party, tag if you have the room to run inside, and puzzles to name a few.

Chaya - posted on 08/08/2012

Paper chains, coloring pages (colored pencils work best with that age) daisy chains, walks on the beach, or in the rain, puddle jumping is fun if you don't mind the laundry, playgrounds, beach balls are fun, kicking or throwing them, good at the playground or in the yard.