Activities

Earlier this week I asked on Facebook for people to suggest things to do with toddlers. I have a lot of friends and family members that either have toddlers or have a lot of experience with toddlers. The reason I did this was because I was talking to someone about how much I have to get on Aaron to find things to do, spanking him for getting into trouble. Is he actually getting into trouble or am I "spanking him out of annoyance?" Ultimately, sometimes I honestly think I may be spanking him out of annoyance. I think my generation has so many different things distracting us, like the internet (namely) that we must combat. It lours us. Constantly. Maybe it's just me. Or maybe it's just me that will admit it? :) So here is the list that people from all decades of my life have contributed to (even JUNIOR HIGH!!).  Some of these things may be written a couple times, I think Play Doh is VERY popular, but there are different ideas with Play Doh.

• Play Doh
• dress up
• sing
• shaving cream/paint (with fingers, brushes, sponges)
• follow the leader
• hide and go seek Scooby (or whoever you want to hide and seek, the kid(s) like to watch you search for the item), or hide and seek each other
• forts or tents
• blow bubbles in the garage or sit on the counter and blow bubbles over the sink if you can't go outside
• Pudding painting
• Tape freezer paper on the table, strip the kids down to undies or diapers and let them be picasso
• corn starch and water mixed together on a cookie sheet, add a little bit of food coloring and put him/her in some old clothes
• Bubble bath in the middle of the day
• small exercise trampoline
• washing plastic dishes in the kitchen sink with lots of bubbles
• put a line of masking tape down on the floor and walk on it jump over it etc. 
• computer games on disney and nickjr sites
• crank up some tunes and shake it (hips, shakers, whatever)
• make a busy box with an assortment of empty food containers and lids for him to figure out which goes with which
• let him/her use a glue stick to make a collage
• get a cookie sheet and shaving cream (or he could do it right on the table, it will clean it), they can put cars/trains in it, you could put glitter in it, you could put food coloring in it
• Paint brush and a cup of water to paint on the driveway
• Fill a shallow plastic bin with dried corn or beans, hide bugs for him/her to find
• make Play Doh and let him "make" things using cookie cutters
• using a cookie sheet and shaving cream, let him/her create pictures or play (similar to Play Doh)
• put in Silly Songs with Larry and let him dance around the room :)
• read with him (anything - magazines, books, the story behind photo albums)
• let him create cards for family and friends (use construction paper or scraps of scrapbook paper)
• make a tent (anywhere - his room, under the kitchen table, etc)
• make cookies (for someone else or for ya'll) :)
• when you do a load of dishes in the sink, let him throw in a bath toy or two and "play" with you
• story time at the library (not sure how often this is at your library)
• crayons and coloring books
• skype with family and friends
• play computer games (pbskids.org, etc)
• give him a rag and let him help "clean" house with it :)
• Walk the dogs (it would mean you or Chuck would have to go too)
• sidewalk chalk - he can draw roads and things for his tractors to drive on
• blow bubbles
• walk to Safeway (or your local store) for any "Extra" items you're out of
• go to the park
• give him a disposable camera and let him take pictures with you (especially if you're at the park, church, etc.)
• play at the basketball court
• ride bikes (or big wheel)
• go swimming
• have a picnic in the yard (invite a neighbor to join you if possible)
• play ball (or fetch) with Skeet/Copper (or your dog)

This is by no means a complete list.  Please feel free to comment and I'll add to it!!