battlemaiden Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 My 2 yodd is on my leg. Needy, needy, needy. She needs a fresh activity. Can you briefly tell me your favorite to spur my brain? I'm at a loss. Thanks. Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Year Round Mom Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Maybe you could empty out your purse/diaper bag and put kid-friendly stuff in there, like a spoon and baby food jar to feed "baby", a diaper, some wipes in a baggie, a play cell phone, etc. and give it to DD to play with for awhile? Get out some of your shoes and clothes to put on? I know my toddler and pre-school daughters love playing with my bags and shoes. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Dry beans w/assorted containers and spoons to mess around with? Boy, I miss those days, yet I don't! Have fun! Chelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battlemaiden Posted March 16, 2009 Author Share Posted March 16, 2009 Excellent suggestions. I just got back from floating leaves down the flowing storm drain- this was highly entertaining, but now I *have* to work with the older children. I'm going to get all my purses out of my closet and let my 2 and 4 yodds go at it. This should hold them for a while. Beans are on deck- but the mess factor might keep me from starting that activity.:D Thanks. Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Playdough, messy but effective during times of desperation. Stickers, I keep an inexpensive stack on hand at all times for little ones. Science toys, do you have a big magnet and a couple of items for her to pick up with it? HTH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyinNNV Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 bathtub + shaving cream=lots of fun! you have to supervise for safety-but my kids would spend hours! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacey in MA Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 (edited) He learned how to pull the stool up to the sink himself, and just started splashing away one day! At first I was adverse to the idea, but he was so persistant, and when he was up there, he was content for quite a while. So I made sure there were no knives in there, and let him go to it! It made a mess, but nothing a big bath towel can clean up! A few plastic toys or cups in there help out. If you don't like the idea of the stool and the sink, how about just letting him take a tub in the middle of the day while you and one of the other DC sit in there with him? You could do some school work on the bathroom floor while he splashes around! Good luck! Right there with ya....:-) ETA: Also, FYI, we don't fill the sink right away. What we do is stop up the sink, then let the water trickle into the sink. Eventually it ends up full enough, but he REALLY enjoys capturing the water in a cup or bowl as it's coming out of the faucet! Amazing how these little things fascinate them so much, and buy so much TIME! ha! Also, another thing that DS2 loves lately (since the weather has been a little nicer) is going for a bike ride on the back of my bike. He did it a little last year before the cold weather, but I don't think he remembers. But now that's he's been reintroduced, he's HOOKED! Very cute, and keeps him happy for an hour at a time.... Edited March 16, 2009 by Stacey in MA Adding more detail... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Governess Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 I give mine some safety scissors and a piece of paper and let her go to town. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clementine Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Shaving cream on mirrors or cookie sheets Empty cardboard boxes and rolls of tape Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battlemaiden Posted March 16, 2009 Author Share Posted March 16, 2009 The purses only worked on the 4yo. :glare: My 2yo is killing me. Nothing is holding her. I even set up a tent under our school table with full darkness and a flashlight. It didn't work. I'm doomed. The tub is looking like a better option. I might resort to a sprinkler later. Those are the "big guns" around here. It must be bad..... Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Large empty box with a cut-out door/window. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Shaving cream on mirrors or cookie sheets My 2 year olds tasted the shaving cream, so I switched to store-brand Cool Whip. I did this outside only and gave them little bottles of liquid food coloring too, and I hosed them and the table off before I let them back in the house. My kids were never neat, is why this was a warm weather activity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Chelle took one of mine. Dry pinto beans and lots of yogurt containers. A sink half full of water with the faucet running on low and a bunch of tupperware always works, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Rice...in a clean container with measuring spoons and cups and various other items like muffin tin, funnel, bowls, etc. I place it all on a freshly swept kitchen floor. It gets all over but it is easy to sweep up. If the floor is clean before you start, you can reuse the rice several times before it is too dirty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunnyFarmMom Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Bubblewrap was a big hit here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 When dd was a toddler, and I needed to work in the kitchen I put a chair up to the sink, filled a quarter full with water and suds, then dumped the spoons in for her to wash. I'd generally get 45 minutes out of that most every night while I cooked dinner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Chelle took one of mine. Dry pinto beans and lots of yogurt containers. A sink half full of water with the faucet running on low and a bunch of tupperware always works, too. I'm sorry! You can have it back! ;) Chelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Rice...in a clean container with measuring spoons and cups and various other items like muffin tin, funnel, bowls, etc. I place it all on a freshly swept kitchen floor. It gets all over but it is easy to sweep up. If the floor is clean before you start, you can reuse the rice several times before it is too dirty. She vetoed my beans, JoAnn! No way is she gonna go for rice...:D Chelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoughCollie Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 The trouble with beans and a 2 year old is that the child may put one in his mouth and choke on it. I wouldn't use the beans unless I was closely supervising the child. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Year Round Mom Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 :001_smile: Yay for the purses and the 4yo!!! :sad: Bummer! regarding the 2yo! I really like the sink ideas. I'm going to try that tonight with my girls. They're always being shooed away from the sink anyways! Might as well go with the girls' flow!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalicoKat Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 My 2 yodd is on my leg. Needy, needy, needy. She needs a fresh activity. Can you briefly tell me your favorite to spur my brain? I'm at a loss. Thanks. Jo a clean, empty soda pop bottle with a handful of cheerios in the bottom. :D Caution, only use in carpeted areas of your home if it's a glass bottle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldilocks Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 I read about this one last night: Use small shoe boxes and show her how to put them on her feet and shuffle around. Set up a start and finish line. Squeezing glue onto paper. Glue stuff on, or not. Easter egg hunt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Virginia Dawn Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 If you don't mind noise, pots and pans and a wooden spoon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim in SouthGa Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 old school books and crayons dry erase marker and board big sister's basket of shoes baggie with stuff in it she can take out-baby spoons, cookie cutters, medicine cups, etc. puzzles little plastic animals blocks DVD basket of clean washclothes and towels basket of her laundry some hot wheels cars a couple of cups with a little water in them to pour back and forth band-aids or clean, um, sanitary napkins if you are desperate. I have pictures of my oldest at that age with pantyliners stuck all over him! I can't believe the 2 year old didn't go for the purse. My 2dd thinks my purse is the highest prize in the house. Anytime she sees it within her reach she runs for it and then runs from me when she gets it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama2Three Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 :lurk5: I need all the help I can get on this one, too! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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