At-home activities to keep the kids occupied?

[Jessica Sperling]

Hi all-

My parents still watch Eve 2x/wk, and while that is wonderful in so many ways, I am learning that they spend A LOT of that time having her watch TV/ipad.  I'm certainly OK with some screen time, but not ideally as many hours as they have her do during a day. Neither of them want to take her outside - both have issues with stairs - and they say they just can't think of things to do with her all day.  

So, I'm trying to come up with lists of non-screen activities.  I have some thoughts, but I thought I'd also solicit suggestions.  I'm thinking those of who who stay at home might have particular insight!  What do you do to keep your kids occupied?  Any specific games/activities/etc?

Also, if anyone local (or the nanny) would want to come over for play dates Tuesdays or Wednesdays, that would be excellent!

Jess

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Jessica Sperling
917.797.4678
jessica....@gmail.com

[Kathy Byfield]

Hey Jess,

I run into this dilemma a lot, because toys often overstimulate Emmet, so we have very few around. I clean up with the kids a lot. I run the big vacuum and give Emmet a dust-buster and point out stuff to suck up and he loves it... 

And we bake a ton.... don't know if your parents have a mixer, but Emmet loves making cookies, anything really. It can get messy of course, but it's fun.

We do lots of music. I play records or pull out the guitar. Emmet has a harmonica and a tambourine.

I have a hard time getting Emm to sit and color, but Owen seems to like it more. Do the girls like arts/crafts?

Winter is tough, man. I'm so thankful for preschool these days :)

Good luck! 

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[Jessica Fischer]

Hey Jess, 

Work on scheduling play dates!  The kids keep each other occupied at this age, it gives your parents a break and they can stay inside. 

Lincoln loves playdoh, coloring and cutting paper with scissors.  We also will fill the kitchen sink with water and I'll put all kinds of toys in there- he can stay occupied for awhile with that one...and most of the time he runs his trucks all over the apt but if I'm not racing him it doesn't last long.

The winters are so tough! Lincoln is also obsessed with his iPad- it's the only thing that will keep him occupied if I'm nursing.  Definitely a double edged sword. 

I wish I had more suggestions for you!

Jess F

Sent from my iPhone

[Olivia Racanelli Annicq]

Hi Jess,

Understand your frustration and also where your parents are coming from - it is so tempting to use the screens as a crutch. Here are some ideas, may similar to Kathy's!

- Cooking fills in some gaps - I let Celie help make lunch/snack/prep dinner whatever task possible, even if it means a little more mess. 

- Arts and crafts I use a lot - play dough, stickers, gluing whatever to a page, paint, oil pastel, watercolor, marker, crayon you name it.

- Lots of books

- Mother Goose Club Songs & Frozen Soundtrack music she really likes

- I've gotten a few ideas from this blog: http://tinkerlab.com/ (look up: jello excavation & water beads, Celie likes both of those)

- If she toys hold her interest there are a few toy subscription things out there where you can pay by month and they send a new batch when you send back the old... think this is best for a baby because todllers get too attached to stuff but thought I would mention.

Will send more if I think of anything!  Good luck!

xx

[Nell Reid]

We read lots of books!  Just bought some art supplies - pop sticks, Pom poms, Googly eyes, etc. 

  I bought that kinetic sand stuff and put it in a big bowl w lots of little spoons/bowls/etc and let him play - that usually gives me a good 45 min!  Also can use dried beans/barley in a big Tupperware tub!  

Been learning coins lately and yesterday I had him sorting coins into different bowls and putting them into a piggy bank from a big bowl for like 40 min!

Stickers.

Play in bath?  W bubbles or playing w water over bathtub?  Pouring to and from different vessels.

Learning new songs/poems - watched supercalifragilisticexpialadocious on YouTube the other day and then sang it over and over again until he learned it.  

Give his toys a bath in the sink.

Ummm... I think that's all I can think of for right now.  Oh - had a lot of fun running his cars down a wrapping paper tube the other day... 

Playing in/decorating large cardboard boxes!

Ok.  Will write more if I think of more.

[Lorena Ramirez]

Hello Everyone!

I absolutely love this thread and just last week, asked Gabi the same question. I am in the same boat, Jess, as your parents. Going outside to play in the cold is fantastic for Arie, but Lili isn't always up for it---and recently we've been under the weather so very home bound . Arie also doesn't nap and his day is from 5:20-7pm so I run out of ideas and sometimes steam. So, there are days when I thank god for iPads and tvs. That being said, here are our go to's (some already mentioned):

1) pretend play: we use blocks, tegus, play doh, boxes, kitchen pots and pans, you name it and go on trips and take figurines on adventures. Although, A can sit and paint and draw, and color, giving it a purpose makes all the difference--it becomes a -1.5 hr activity vs . 20 minutes. We pick out "amigos" and make their houses, decide the setting, and then play with it all.

2) water play: sometimes it's the sink, other times I just turn on the shower and give him soap, bowls, spoons, Etc., sometimes it's a dropper ( from a colors mixing set) and a very small bowl. 

3) participate in housework! Big hit! He helps load the dishwasher, helps spray the multipurpose everywhere (I usually end up having to wipe surfaces that don't need it, but it's worth it.) Baking, we bake twice a week, have 3x a week smoothie for snack and make that (he washes fruit helps cut). Loves to vacuum (most recently, he's the one that vacuums all the Christmas tree leaves that fall on a daily basis.). 

4) play with sister. At diaper change times he hands me wipes, diapers, etc., chooses the onesies. He has to pick out her toys throughout the day. He also spent several months crawling to show Lili how to do it. Now that she crawls, he's teaching her how to walk and run. We  play hide and go seek, race up and down stairs, play basket (literally throw things into a basket--either to organize or sort laundry). He blows bubbles for her, and shows her how to dance, etc.,

5) play kitchen: big hit! He has a play kitchen, And we're getting lots of play time.

6) storytelling: this is more like a 20 minute activity, but A loves to hear stories--reading is great, but he loves to hear oral stories and we've started to get him to help make them up.

Along the lines: we sing/dance ring around the Rosie, pop goes the weasel--all those nursery rhymes. 

7) this is pretty spectacular and lasts for 30 minutes.  Arie becomes  ( Mr. Rampelmann) a very famous and important person who can jump, sing, dance.... Etc., he performs a one toddler act and it's pretty awesome. Lili loves it, I get to sit back and watch and he's the center of attention.

8) A has a lot of energy so we fight with pillows, jump off couches/beds, create obstacle courses, run around and chase eachother up the stairs and around the house, we play red light, green light, simon says, etc., and when we're drawing or playing and we make a mistake or miss something we have to jump x number of times. 

9) lastly activity books are awesome: A's been loving this one:My First Book Of Tracing (Kumon Workbooks) https://www.amazon.com/dp/4774307076/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_H0KIub1DP2DVG

And 

I hope this helps and keep the ideas coming!

Big hugs,

Lorena 

Sent from my iPhone

[Kathy Byfield]

This thread is giving me tons of new ideas!!! I'm impressed with all your creativity, you awesome Mamas!

xoxo

ps. Dara had mentioned Endless ABC app. a long time ago and I bought it and use it CONSTANTLY. Doesn't get them off the screen per se, but Emmet is learning his letters, so I don't feel quiet as bad. We also play with wooden (Melissa and Doug makes them) blocks a ton these days. Both of my kids like them.

Here's that app again:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/endless-alphabet/id591626572?mt=8

[Gabrielle Maxwell]

I'm loving this, too. Thanks for all the great ideas!

We 

​also spend a ton of time playing with a little doll house that Maddie was given. It's a small plastic one (nothing fancy), but Maddie spends a long time making "picnics" for all the people and setting up the furniture. 

She loves Magnatiles, play kitchen, any kind of blocks (including legos!), painting, drawing, putting stickers everywhere, play doh, millions of books…we "wash dishes" in the sink, too, as our version of a water table. I just give her a couple of her cups to pour water back and forth.

Her friend Michael is obsessed with Mr. Potato Head right now, too.  ​

​I hope everyone is doing great! Michelle - how'd your move go? 

Gabi​

[Kristin Ahern]

I LOVE THIS POST!

[Kristin Ahern]

Oops. I pressed send too soon.

We have been at home a lot with the newborn so these suggestions are AWESOME. The only 2 things I can add are:

1-shaving cream - spray it on his art table and let him draw designs, build houses etc. 

2- paper bag puppets - we make them then do dramatic play with the characters.

kristin

[Michelle Neuringer]

Hi all!

I'm finally getting a chance to respond to emails after a week of moving madness.  This thread is awesome and I've already put some ideas into practice.  I marvel at all of your energy and creativity!!!   

Jess - my parents are the same way and don't understand why we make such a big deal about limiting screen time.  But when my dad watches Zoe, he engages her by involving her in activities that he does around the house:  checking for "fluff" in the dryer, fixing things, learning about tools, cleaning, visiting the boiler and hot water heater, etc.  And when my mom has the energy, she takes out her mah-jongg or scrabble set and they play with tiles, make words, etc.  So perhaps your parents can introduce her to things that they like?  

Happy holidays, all!

Michelle