My toddler is driving me nuts, need activies for her? HELP!!?

Question

Ok, so I have an 11 month old and a toddler who will be 3 next friday. My husband is in Iraq and I live in a small town, where I have only 1 real friend and she works full-time. We don't have a mall or any playgroups. I love my daughter dearly but she is driving me absolutely nuts. I need things to do with her, any idea's would be great. Also it rains alot here too. I am at my stress limit and don't know what to do. No I don't have any family close enough to take them for an hour here and there. Thanks for all your help.

Answer 1

Treasure hurt, playdough, put a big piece of paper put it on the floor and let her draw all over it.(for some reason it's really fun for them to draw on the floor). If you have a big box let her color it and make it her little house. Good Luck.

Answer 2

Check with your local public library.  Many have preschool programs that will let you sit back and watch your child interact with other kids and allow you to chat with mothers going through the exact same things as you.  You may find more friends, I have a feeling your friend that works doesn't have children.  -Am I wrong?  You might find someone to do things with like going to a park.  I love hanging out with my kid but you know, it's not enough.  I still get lonely.  You have to make friends with other mothers, preferably with small kids so you can have play dates and unwind with someone that can share your ups and downs of motherhood!

Answer 3

My sil husband is deployed in Iraq and she told me that she can get free daycare(I think it is 16 hours a week). I do not know if you live on base or not but that might be an option for. It might be a positive experience for you as well to give you a brake.

Answer 4

http://www.amazon.com/Toddlers-Busy-Book...

I've been there. This book is a life saver, lol...

Answer 5

there are plenty of games  you can get for her these days. put on the tv to a baby show she likes. if you have a pool nearby, take her to the pool in a little raft for a while. maybe get her some ABC books. go for a walk down the street with her and point out things. maybe tell her to go on a scavenger hunt inside the house and look for things to keep her busy. if you have a zoo or amuzement park around you can take her there...or if there are any neighbors with toddlers her age maybe you can invite a friend for her over so she has company while your doing chores around the house. you can even get an older child to keep her company while your taking a nap or something. there are lots of crafts she can do like painting, coloring, coloring books, etc.

you can also hire a babysitter to look after her so you can have the day off for shopping or a trip to the spa.

good luck!!!!! xoxo

Answer 6

As the other response said, the toddler busy book is a good resource. www.familyfun.com has a wealth of craft and recipe ideas. You can even search the site based on their age and interests. Here's another good website http://www.makinglearningfun.com/index.h...

Playdough is fun and you can even make edible playdough since they may still be into putting stuff in their mouths. My kids love to have tea parties and indoor picnics. With my three kids (all under 5) I've noticed if we just switch up our routine a little, it makes all the difference in our attitudes.

Hope this helps.

Answer 7

Make rice crispie treats together, playdough is fun (just remind her not to eat it!), educational movies (discovery movies are great!), give her something to look forward to...set a time to play time, snack time, movie time, etc.  

Answer 8

I am in the same position, at home all day with a 2 year old and a 4 month old.  The days can be really long.  My daughter used to be in daycare before I had my second baby, so now I plan out each day ahead of time and schedule activities for her in between her meals/snacks and naps, as if she is at a day care.  If you try to keep to a schedule as much as possible she will know what to expect, it will give her a routine and it should help her.  Some ideas of things you can pencil into the daily schedule are drawing, reading books, flashcards, playing outside, exercising/dancing (with me), making "art" projects, playing games.  You can set some time up for "alone" play each day, where she plays by herself with her toys (this would give you a break too).  You could check out the local library and see if they have story time, or sign up for a Kinder music class, if you have these things by you.  Check out some parenting websites for other activities and things to do with her.  These are the things I have tried.  Hope that helps.

Answer 9

Take a medicine dropper and fill a muffin tin with water (you can color it with food coloring) have her transfer the water from one tin to the next and so on and so on through all six (or twelve!) muffin cups.  

Give her a paint brush and a bucket of water on a sunny day and have her "paint the fence" (it's great because one part is dry before she gets done and she needs to repaint over and over continually).



Let her stomp in rain puddles, it's messy but fun.  Give her a jar to collect the snails or worms (they always come out when it rains).