What Can I Do With My Squiggly, Wiggly Toddler?
February 1st, 2010 by Teresa Leary Jenkins
When the temperatures are too cold for outdoor play, plan some fun with your busy explorer. All it takes is a little bit of planning — well, okay — and a lot of patience. My secret? I take a few minutes in the morning to draft a plan for the day. That way we have fewer “slow moments” when the television is likely to get turned on. I keep art supplies and clay handy, and I store sticker books and dollar store treats in a closet when a “new” toy is needed. Finally, I mix it up, using indoor days to work on puzzles, art, and memory games with my little one as well as activities that burn off steam.
Relay race ’em
Wipe off the wheels of that trike and let your toddler ride through the house. (Be sure to store breakables and pets away beforehand.) Be creative, make stoplights, include exotic destinations, or add a stop-and-go traffic cop to the mix. Clear a path and let ’em rip!
Jump around
A fun way to work on gross motor skills is to teach your little one how to jump, hop, and do jumping jacks. Simon Says is a good game at this age, since it works on numbers (take three steps forward), as well as naming and identifying body parts (touch your nose, touch your toes). Later, crank up the music and hold your own dance party. Then dance with your kiddo. Children love it when their moms and dads acting silly. Best, all that movement will burn off energy!
Where’s Waldo?
Wake up early and hide objects all through the house. Give your toddler a picture list made on the computer and help them locate each item. Choose objects that are all one color, shape, or letter of the alphabet to make this a more educational challenge. A variation: Hide Easter eggs, then give your little one a basket and let her hunt for treasures in the living room or den.
Create a collage
Using contact paper and colorful tissue paper, have your toddler tear or wad up small bits of tissue paper. Have her stick each piece onto the contact paper. Only fill one half of the page, then fold it over. You can use other items too, like pictures of animals you cut out of magazines or swatches of fabric.
Fill ‘em up!
Bake something together and don’t worry about the cleanup because that can be part of the fun. Toddlers love to do grown-up chores, like wiping off counters or sifting flour. So grab an inexpensive cookie mix and cookie cutters, roll out the dough, and let your child stamp out cookies. You can even have some fun with icing and sprinkles when he’s done. Catch up on your reading by sharing a story while the cookies bake. The whole family will enjoy this sweet treat!
Music parade
This is fun for play dates or parties when several children are present. Give each child an instrument, like a drum, kazoo, shaker, or bell. If you don’t have any instruments handy, improvise with pot lids or beans put in a leftover container. Once each child has an instrument, start the parade and lead your musicians around the house.
There are plenty of ways to have fun with your toddler, the key is to relax and enjoy your time together. Put aside the laundry and house cleaning for the afternoon and simply play.
For more tips and ideas check out: The Happy Toddler Book by Dorling Kindersley.