Activities for 1 yr olds

[Doublejoy]

Hi

I'm a mum with twins in a small rural country town. Our day consists of staying at home and playing, watching Nemo or Toy story, and pointing out what things are(the usual stuff). My problem is that i'm stuck with coming up with new idea's to keep the twins occupied 5 days a week-(They need variety). PLEASE can anyone help me in giving me new idea's so that mum and boys do not get bored being at home all the time.:banghead:
NB: nearest suburban town is an hour and half away-we try to do this on weekends with hubby.

[Oscar's mum]

Have you got a Tupperware/plastics cupboard if so open the doors and let the kids play.

Sit outside with icecream containers of water and let them play in it, tip it over etc.

Paper and non toxic crayons are fun at that age.

Bubbles (Need I say anymore about that)!;)

Let them help you wash the dishes (not the knives of course)!

Get them to help you fold the clothes

Give them the dustpan brush whilst you sweep the floor.

[Doublejoy]

Hi Oscar's mum,

Thankyou so much for your input. They are great idea's (which i did not think of :eek: ) I will definately be putting all of them in action-it will keep them going for a while. If you happen to think of any more i would be very grateful.
Thanks again:smiliedance:

[Oscar's mum]

I'll put my thinking cap on and let you know!;)

[Chickadee]

A few decks of playing cards or similar and somewhere to "post" them. I used a kleenex box, so DD could shake them back out too.

Big sidewalk chalks are good, either outside or invest in a cheap piece of blackboard ($20 at Bunnings) for inside next time you're in town. The red chalks seem to taste best :laughing:

To add to Oscar's Mum's suggestion for water play, I used to fill the baby bath outside and let DD play in it. It's a good size for emptying easily and the sides were low enough that she could sit and reach in with toys. A clean paintbrush together with the water outside - let them paint the walls, grass, pavement, each other. Watering flowers is good too, don't expect them to have good aim.

Sandbox. If you don't have anything yet then you can buy play sand from a hardware store (might be called washed sand) and put it in an old baby bath or similar storage box in the short term.

Blow up balloons and give them each a clean fly swatter to try to hit them with. Or just bat them around and practice kicking.

[Doublejoy]

Thanks Martha M

Your idea's are good. Will definately put them in practice.

Thanks:)

[kiwibird27]

Are they toddlers?????


Make some playdough - just use the recipe from a packet of cream of tartar (it will last up to 6 months in the fridge) Instead of using a pot just microwave it for 2 minutes!!!
Do something different with it each day - e.g. cutters one day, pop stixs and patty pan's another, keeps little ones really busy, don't get it in the carpet though!!!

Some P>V>A glue , brushes and little sequins or feathers, or anything non toxic, for glueing onto paper, or plastic bottles (PVA glue drys clear and washes well!!)

Large paintbrush and a small bucket of water for "painting", outside - like the deck or concrete, no mess it's just water and they LOVE it!!!

Shaving cream on a table for finger painting, or make slime from LUX flakes

Baking is always fun - if your culinary challenged (Like me) use the just add egg packets, then at least the end product will be edible

Save a few small boxes for them to paint and turn into whatever happens to be interesting them (e.g.a bus) Make spiders etc out of newspaper stapled together and stuffed with newspaper, just keep a small box of collage stuff somewhere u will be amazed at how useful it can be!!!

Throw a large sheet over your kitchen table and turn it into a cave or tent for the day!!!!

Keep an old T.shirt each somewhere as their art shirt

U probably need to write a shopping list and get everything in one trip - go to your local cheap craft shop, and buy some little containers 4 storage, colouring books and texta's are good too.... If your kids are young invest in the Crayola washable textas - they're worth the money and come out of and off everything!!!

Could go on for adges!!!! Been a nanny for over 12 yrs and involved in Longdaycare for 2 yrs - tell me what else u need!!!!!

[Tea Lady]

Have you tried finger puppets? If you can play an instrument (even badly) that seems to work a treat as well! We also watch a lot of playschool (9:30 and 3:30 on ABC. I also find if I'm having a shocker it can help to move to a different room in the house with some toys that haven't been seen for a while - the change of scenery is great :)

[stilldreaming]

You have some great ideas there...... give us more kiwibird27!!
I have a very busy 18 mo boy who loves to be outside but of course it isn't practical all day!
I find it hard to keep him amused for longer than 5 mins at a time when he is inside........any more ideas would be fab:yelclap: :smiliedance:

[annb]

this is a great link...there are 22 different fact sheets on all aspects of play and learning for all different stages, lots of ideas for home made toys...activities you can do in and around the house

http://wchs.health.wa.gov.au/health/child_development/play.htm

[JessandKirra]

my dd likes fridge magnets at the moment. I can see her while I work (ugghh in the kitchen) also loves
the duster (yucky)

I giver her teething rusks from time to time (even though i dont think shes teething)as she takes longer to eat them than an arrowroot and she enjoys the challenge

we sit outside a lot under the palms! Old sheet over the grass (no anty bites this way) plastic cups or whatever I think off to bring out and off she goes.

I find boredom sets it very quickly for them but outside she could stay there for the day if I let her.

I have put her toys in her room now where as they where starting to take over the lounge room. She spends time in there now and seems to really enjoy it. (not that I leave her alone..I am always supervising!)

ohh and singing...anything:)

[kiwibird27]

would suggest with toys put half of them away and put them in a cupboard, then when u notice your toddler starting to destroy the house instead of playing with there toys swap the toys over, it'll be like Xmas to them!!!! Do the same with books etc!!!!

[PinkBinkie]

Great to read all your ideas. I too put half of Lucy's toys away and then do a swap after a couple of weeks (as mentioned by kiwibird). My bub is 9 mths and it works a treat. She also has her own drawer in the kitchen filled with containers, lids, plastic measuring cups......
Someone else mentioned fridge magnets, they are great and you can buy actual toys and activities just for your fridge.
Lots of fun too is "goop" that your kids can play with (or in, v. messy!). Just mix corn flour, water and add food colouring. Put it in a baby bath outside on a tarp. It has a great consistency.
Have fun!
Jodi:thumbsup:

[busylizzy]

anneb - thanks for that link. found some great ideas:smiliedance:.
Liz.

[DevilChild]

Wow, great thread girls. I've got twins too, girls but we are in town but still have trouble keeping htem occupied! I am going to try that goop one when they get up from their nap(soon). Mine are nearly one too.

We play blocks, shape sorter, read books, look at photos of all our relations and places we hae been on the computer, draw with crayons, crawl around the back yard and stuff. They love their little sandbox and playing with dirt and their trikes.

That idea with water and a paint brush sounds good have to get some brushes.

Thanks for all those great tips :yelclap:

Liss

[Jack'sMum]

Bubbalucy - that goop is fantastic! Just made some for ds and he cried at first (quite tired) and I found it more fun than him. Will try again soon.. I hope he likes it because I love it! Thanks.