What kinds of activities do you do with your toddler?

Question

I recently started my maternity leave. My daughter is 3 years old and my son is 5 weeks old.

I'm letting my daughter watch more T.V. than I would like as we start to try to get into a new routine. I feel guilty that I am not doing more day to day activities with her, but I am also running out of ideas and caring for her brother.

So far: on Mondays she has a tumbling class and on Fridays she has farm animal class, on Tuesday mornings we do arts and crafts and on Thursday mornings we go to the park before it gets too hot. We also read stories in the afternoons.

Any ideas as to what else we can do?

Answer 1

I just have to say, kudos to you. I'm glad your still trying to give your eldest child attention.

Anyways, Just doing little things (playing with dolls, playing house, etc.) Will probably keep her extremely happy and not feel left out.

Answer 2

take her to her favorite food placeee !

play dollls with herr . <-- haa

good luck.

Answer 3

with my baby cuzzins, i play with them, take them out, i avoid  less tv, and some other cool stuff, swim, zoo, central park, motorcycle rides when the cops aren't around or when my street is dark like h**l, bring them to my  friends house and much more.

Answer 4

Let her color and draw. That inspires creativity.

Answer 5

I have four children, ages almost-7 down to 13 months, with #5 on the way.  We do not have a television, and we don't run around to activies, so my children are used to playing on their own a lot during the day, which I think is a good thing.  But for activities:

One of the best is reading together, not just "fun stories," but also educational type books at their level about the world around them.

Going outside to play, even if it's just on a porch to blow bubbles.

Singing together.  This doesn't have to be just kids' songs.  In fact, most of the singing I do with my children is hymns and other spiritual songs, few of which are considered children's songs.

Have her help you while you bake/cook.  She'll love it, and it's good experience.

Puzzles on her level.  Lacing toys.  Coloring books.  Playdough.  Make edible peanut butter-based dough for real fun.

Play with bubbles and water in the sink or in a dishpan.

Play with her with her toys, whether that's with blocks or baby dolls.

Answer 6

show her a new thing every day around the house ANYthign is fine just make sure one new thing a day

Answer 7

swimming

and bike riding

playing games Uno Is easy

cooking together

jam the radio and dance and clean the house

I think what you have scheduled here is a lot your doing just fine !!!

Answer 8

I don't have a toddler but here are some ideas anyway.

1. Mother and toddler swimming group

2. colouring books

3. toddler aged games

4. jigsaws (when I was that age I had some that where 2-5 years)

5. visiting Mums with children of that age and going out together.

Answer 9

just go on walks and talk about what you see.

Some time for independent play and using her imagination on her own is always good too.

Answer 10

Cook together.  If it's lunch or dinner, let her help out.  Give her a few mixing bowls, some flour, salt, water, let her make whatever she thinks up in her imagination.

Answer 11

All the activities you're doing with your 3 year old is great but.....kids really need to have some time by themselves: whether it's to play or listen to music. There are 2 reasons for this. One, it helps them be comfortable with themselves and it encourages independence.

Answer 12

me and my almost three year old brother go to the library all the time.  he only watches t.v. right before he goes to sleep, so i get him movies. and, we check out books so whenever he wants to read we will.  he plays outside all the time too.

Answer 13

that sounds like quite a busy schedule. but something you might think about doing is quieter stuff just to bond, like reading books or preschool puzzles. set a time limit for tv watching and find some toys that she can play with by herself for a few minutes if you need some time with the baby.

Answer 14

We rely on park district classes quite a bit.  5 weeks might be a bit too young, but we love going to the indoor pool as well -- they have infant and toddler swims so that the teens don't take over.

You have any other moms in the neighborhood with childern the same age?  You could meet up, go to the park, cut them loose outside a bit.

I don't know if your daugther is closer to 2 or closer to 4, but McDonald's playland has saved me on occasion for a few hours....

Answer 15

You have your work cut out, super mom! Well i think it sounds like you're doing a great job, do things as simple as drawing, colour in books, dress up clothes for your daughter to play pretend... She will probably like being a little mother hen to your new baby too, get her involved with him, i bet she loves it! Good luck :)

Answer 16

lock him in the closet. Just kidding! Read books, go on nature walks .

Answer 17

Let her help you care for the baby and with household chores. My daughter loved to help with folding towels, rinsing dishes, gardening etc.

Also, just turn the TV off and tell her to find something to do. Don't feel like you have to entertain her every second.  You would be amazed at how creative she will become. My daughter built her first cardboard box hut when she was about that age. Decorated with glitter and full of weebles and all!

Answer 18

it doesn't seen like your doing so bad!  thats alot to handle!  my 4 yr old has one of those v-smile gaming systems, she got it for x-mas 2006... i thought it was just a toy, but it has really helped her with matching, numbers, abc's, science, math, its really good & she has so much fun with it too!  its better than just tv!

Answer 19

U shoud spend lotz of time to gether so u create a special bond together u should be exposing her to things she never seen and teaching her about them i hope everything workz out and u find lotz of ideas