The girls are at school and the big boy is at kinder, that just leaves the smallest at home.
Noey is not used to being at home on his own. He’s used to having one, or three big kids to follow around. He’s used to having all his older siblings arguing over who he loves more. He’s used to having them at his beck and call.
I am used to him having the big kids to entertain him!
Sometimes Noey and I are a little lost on the days like today, when Morgan is at kinder, and we have no errands to run. So I’m making a list of toddler activities… a list of things to do when you are almost two!
Sticking
There are lots of variations of this activity, but we just stick a big piece of self adhesive paper, sticky side out, onto a low cupboard and collect a container of collage bits. Noey has lots of fun sticking bits on and peeling them off!
Drawing
Noey is only just beginning to be interested in making marks on paper, so a big piece of paper taped to the table and some crayons are the best art activity for him right now.
Play Dough
With a big brother who adores play dough has had a lot of experience with this activity, and since he isn’t one to put things in his mouth it’s lots of fun. While the big kids like every play dough accessory under the sun, for toddlers less is more. Noey likes a plastic knife and some containers to put the dough in, and take it out, and put it in and take it out…
Loose Parts
The big kids love to use loose parts to create things and in imaginative play, but Noey just likes the bits. He likes to put them in baskets and bags, tip them from one container to another, line them up, and generally just muck around with them.
Stacking Things
Whether it’s blocks or stacking pegs, Noey likes to build tall towers… then knock them down!
Pegs
A recycled plastic container with some clothes pegs will keep Noey happy for ages, and is great for fine motor development.
Cars
We have lots of cars, and one of Noey’s favourite activities is to shoot them down a long cardboard tube and watch them race out the other end!
Pretend Play
Simple dress ups like hats and bags are lots of fun, and Noey loves to put things in and take them out of our toy oven, or pretend to be cooking with a bowl and a wooden spoon.
Cooking
I also let Noey help with real cooking. Ok so he mostly just stands on a step and watches, but he can also stir things as well as get small items out of the fridge or cupboard for me. He can be surprisingly helpful for a 21 month old!
Water Play.
It’s not as messy as it sounds if you only give them a tiny amount of water. Noah stands on a step and ‘washes the dishes’ in the sink with about of centimeter of soapy water in it. He also loves to play with ice blocks.
Get Outside.
Noey’s favourite outside thing is to go talk to the chooks. But he also loves chasing bubbles, swinging on the swing, clinbing and balancing on our tree stump stepping stones and just running around. Even when I don’t feel like going outside, just 15 minutes outside can improve both of our moods! If we can’t get outside something active inside like crawling through our box tunnel is fun too.
What is your favourite toddler activity?
This was a great post. My 15 month old has two older siblings who are now at pre school and school. I like the sticking idea. What is the self adhesive paper? Contact?
Yep, just plain old ‘no label’ contact paper… taped up with gaffa tape. Nothing pretty but it’s fun!
thank you for sharing this – we have fallen into a rut of tv for him and computer for me, and it’s driving me mental (but I had no idea how to change it.) I’m going to hunt out the contact and stick it to a kitchen cupboard tomorrow morning!
Toby and I just spent an hour playing with a balloon….catching and throwing practice with almost non-stop giggles from the little one, and many from me too!
Thanks for the great ideas! I know even my 14 months old will love the contact idea. Thank you!
Hi Kate, you’ve reminded me of some good things I’ve done with both Mr4 and Ms2. Stickers on paper…always cool. Chalk .. The big ones in a bucket for $2 on the concrete or timber fence…paint brushes with mini buckets & paint that fence! … And washing up.. With a brush & soap suds…and it is so peaceful when they do.
Will def do the contact one too!
Denyse
PS how did Noah get so grown up!!
My 21 month old is crazy about his ‘lentils’ a tub of soup mix, dried beans, containers and a dustpan & brush – He will sit & pour back and forth forever (I prob should put a drop sheet in but I just use it as an excuse to vacuum!)
On kinder mornings at home he gets himself a teacup & two little plates from the teaset brings them to me and we sit at the big table and share a cup of tea. Heaven – the best smiles I get all week (the rest of the week most of the smiles are for big brother)
With one just a bit older than your Noey and one a bit younger I thought this list was great! Shion is still into putting absolutely EVERYTHING in his mouth so some things are still out for him but both of my boys love to make noise.
Some home made instruments {beans or rice in containers for shakers or plastic bottles} or pots and pans can create a house band!
Both of mine love in and out exercises {and both do it with playdough too like your little one!} and outside play!
These are great ideas. Thanks for sharing.
My daughter is 2 and I sometimes find it hard to come up with new ideas to entertain her when we’re having one of those days that we can’t get out. :)
Ahhh it’s good to get a bit of a kick up the bottom. I’ve been a bit slack with my youngest. Her big sister and comrade in arms has moved on to bigger pastures (school). So I need a few activities up my sleeve. Thanks.