Activities, Ideas and Suggestions for Living with Toddlers
I was invited to join ABC radio’s Baby Talk show to talk about toddlers, and it was so much fun!
When we talk about toddlers we are usually talking about children who are between the ages of 1 and 3. During the toddler years children are learning to walk, talk and to explore the world around them. Toddlers are just beginning to develop social skills and learning to interact with others, and they usually have a strong bond to a handful of caregivers.
Toddlers are busy and curious and always ready to discover new things, and they are so much fun to be around… and of course a little challenging at times!
I’m sharing lots of fun ways to engage your toddler, and keep them learning, and also some information and tips for parenting toddlers and staying sane!
Toddler Activities.
There are so many fun activities you can do with your toddler.
Here are a few tips for successful toddler activities:
- Look for age appropriate activities to do with your toddlers – many toddlers challenges can be due to frustration, so be sure the activity you choose is not too complex for your child’s age and stage of development.
- Make sure the toys you choose are safe with no small parts, sharp objects, long strings or pinch points.
- Choose open ended activities – activities that can be done in lots of different ways will reduce frustration and they can be done again and again by your child.
You really don’t need to do any ‘fancy’ activities with your toddler, just enjoy some basic activities and allow your toddler to enjoy being with you. Go for a walk outside, knock down block towers, let your toddler help you with the shopping, sing songs together, read books, and simple spend time enjoying your toddler!
If you are looking for some activities and ideas to keep your busy toddler engaged, here are some of our favourite, easy activities for toddlers:
- Make a sensory bottle.
- Build some blocks and sing some building songs.
- Try some easy water play ideas.
- Set up some simple imaginative play
- Older toddlers can try some threading activities.
- Make some music with these simple music shakers.
- Have fun with some toddler dress-ups.
- Introduce your toddler to drawing.
- Encourage some indoor gross motor activities with a box tunnel.
If you are looking for some great ideas for toys you can get your toddler check out our huge list of our favourite toddler toys!
Parenting Toddlers.
Got a biting toddler? Here is how we deal with it at our house – When Kids Bite.
How about tantrums? I’m trying to find compassion when dealing with tantrums and other difficult moments.
Picky Eaters? I’ve been mulling over the ‘food fights‘ for a while now.
You can find more of my ponderings on parenting here, I’d love you to join the conversation and share your wisdom.
Living and Loving Toddlers.
I am often asked how to get kids to play on their own…short of having two at once so they can play with each other (which I wouldn’t recommend) here are some of my thoughts on this subject- Just Play.
I know that it is called the ‘terrible twos’ but here is what two looked like for us, the fourth time round.
And just so you know, we all have ‘those days‘ and sometimes it’s ok to let your toddler eat chocolate chips off the floor, because parenting is hard.
