Trying this again: What do you do with toddlers?

[OnTheBrink]

The toddler I watch has given up morning naps. She can escape the pack-n-play and I need ideas on what to do with her in the mornings when dd is working on school.

Any ideas?

[j.griff]

How old is this "toddler"? Is there a safe play room she can play in? She can still have "quiet time" whether she sleeps or not. I always made my day care kids lie down for an hour- so I could regain my sanity, whether they slept or not they knew it was quiet time and they had to lie down. Usually, they would also end up falling asleep after lying still for a bit.

[momtolgd]

I often will put my 16 month old in the high chair with some activities he can do during school time...crayons (he's eating them less now and trying to write more!) :lol:, cups and cheerios (he likes putting them in the cups, and eating them keeps him busy), other small toys....these kind of things buy us some time.

I also wear him in my patapum carrier sometimes, and he enjoys the ride (I'll walk around while teaching).

I will also have one child play with him on the floor while I work with the other child...that helps a lot too....oops, I just went back and read that you have 1 child, so that won't help.

Keeping him in his room with the gate and working in the hallway helps also (his room is babyproofed), and I can watch him while teaching...

I'll be watching this thread also for more ideas! :001_smile:

[OnTheBrink]

I initially thought I'd just put her in the pack and play with toys and let her play, but she can escape it and this morning, even stripped to the skin, came out and told me she was cold.

I wonder if I bring the PnP out of the bedroom and have her play in it while she can see us, if that would help a bit.

I could try crayons and paper. Hadn't considered that. She's 21 months and quite smart, the little stinker!

[j.griff]

You could try that, and I'd also try to have a set of toys or a really special toy, that she can only play with during school time- that would make it "special" for her too.

[Brenda in FL]

TV watching may not be an option, but if there are no objections and it wouldn't be disruptive to the child you are schooling - these dvds really are entertaining and educational - and a 2 year old will not get sick of watching the same dvd a few times a week.

Maybe this idea could be one of those last resort ideas.

Other than that - just have a play area nearby for her to play by herself. Toys that kept mine occupied - duplo legos, Little People play sets, a set of plastic dishes, magna doodle, coloring.

[Emmy]

You mean flinging snacks and the occasional board book his way isn't the answer? :)

My youngest is nearly 20 months now and while he can't escape the pack n play, I don't like to put him in there too much because then mommy guilt ensues. During school time he is next to us playing. I don't let him watch tv so he pretty much just plays toys or snacks on cheerios. I have our toys sorted by theme in baskets. So I'll start out by directing him to a basket of stuff (mr. potato head is popular now) and when he starts getting bored, we pick that up and I direct him to another basket. He likes duplos, puzzles, board books, little people and most of all he likes to climb in and out of his booster seat at the kitchen table and graze....I have a little plastic picnic table that folds up for storage. Sometimes I pop it up and put crayons and paper there for him and if I'm truly desperate - play dough. :p

He's getting better and better at playing while we do school. I try to schedule history, science and the stuff where I'm doing a lot of reading to the older boys when Sam is napping. The interruptions don't seem as problematic during math and language arts because I'm hopping back and forth between kids all the time then anyway.

HTH

[OnTheBrink]

LOL, I wish board books and cheerios were the magic answer!

I'll have to pick up some more toys for her. I could have her mom bring some, but then they'd get mixed in with mine and that's a headache. I'll go shopping this weekend for some inexpensive toys.

[KIN]

Check out www.preschoolersandpeace.com. This is Kendra in CA's site, she has great advice and ideas!

[OnTheBrink]

That's a great site! Thanks!

[Emmy]

A magnadoodle is a great idea too, and measuring cups. My youngest loves to play with my measuring cups. I put them in a kitchen drawer that is low to the floor and he pulls them out, stacks them, puts them back, repeat, repeat, repeat.... Good luck!

[Mrs Mungo]

I gave my toddlers things to do. I used books such as Montessori Play and Learn or Montessori at Home to give me ideas. Mine never would have tolerated being stuck in a playpen in a room alone. Some thingsI would do that the kids liked when they were little:

put a large towel on the floor (linoleum floors), a rubbermaid tub of water and various scoops, spoons, etc for them to play with.

let them wash doll clothes and hang them on a line.

make play-dough for them.

give them a tray of cornmeal to draw pictures in.

get down the blocks or lego for them.

sorting games.

Just a few ideas!

[Musical Belle]

This was the first thing that came to mind when I saw this thread, and maybe it's indicative of the kind of day I've had with my (toilet-swimming, crayon-eating, plate-throwing, knife-wielding) toddler. . . .

Ours is fascinated with our math manipulatives, so I put him in his high chair and let him play with the counting bears. He likes sorting them into plastic food containers; that keeps him busy for a few minutes.

So far the best solution for us came from MOTH, which recommended scheduling time for each older child to play with each younger child. Dd plays with the little guy while ds and I do Latin; later ds plays with him so I can work with dd. And I am praising the Lord for that 3-hour afternoon nap!

[Natalieclare]

All of my kids have really loved nesting dolls. They are something special, treated with reverence, and only allowed at the high chair. Even my 16 mo old enjoys the nesting dolls. I noticed that amazon and ebay both carry them for fairly reasonable prices.

And I think Mrs.Mungo had some excellent ideas! I think I'll break out the water project tomorrow.:)

[Pencil Pusher]

I wonder if I bring the PnP out of the bedroom and have her play in it while she can see us, if that would help a bit.

I have a neighbor who does this. I'm not sure what her dd does while in the pnp, but I know it's a permanent fixture in their living room, & her dd is about the same age as the one you're caring for.

Mine's *much* younger, but we do many of the things mentioned. I also put her on the porch in her exersaucer w/ the front door open when she wants to go outside for a bit or needs a change of scenery. Yours is prob too old for that, but I'm having trouble remembering! My middle child is nearly 5.

Another thought: what if you take in another child? I know it's radical, & I'm mostly joking, but consider how a 4yo could be a blessing. Someone to entertain the little one, etc. The thing about a 4yo, though, is that then you'll need one more, to entertain the 4yo. (Ask me how I know.)

So in short, move the pnp to the LA, & take in 2 more dc. At the very least, you'll have a different set of problems!:lol: