something to keep 17m busy

[haydens#1mum]

i'm looking for ways to keep my 17 month old entertained with out having to put him in front of the tv. i tried painting but he only wants to suck the paint off the paintbrush, any other suggestions, id be interested to hear them.
thanks sherry

[caro224]

Hi Sherry!
My daughter is the same age as Hayden and I find it hard to keep her busy, too! What I found works well is playing with water! If you have a backdeck and it's warm enough give him a bucket of water and a cup or whatever. It kept Emily busy for hours.
We also borrowed a little slide from the toy library and she loves it and plays with it for ages (as long as I'm around).
I read stories to her and we play soccer. hmmm what else?? If it's not warm enough outside I sometimes fill up the sink with water and put her on a chair in front of it. It's always a big mess, but at least I can do some stuff in the kitchen meanwhile. :)

Thats about it. Apart from chasing her through our house.

Hope I could help you! :D

[moonblossom]

BOXES...kids love boxes...love jumping on them, pulling them apart...building with them...Many hours of joy from simple cardboard boxes:yelclap:

[Baby Girl]

I used to cut out shapes from potato and other fruit and veg and DD1 used them as paint stamps rather than using a paint brush.

Or one of those clam shells filled with sand - hours of entertainment in our house!!

But yes, if all else fails, water and boxes make for some very happy children!

[Lauz]

oh gosh i have tonnes of ideas... ill just go this one and see how you go.... get a piece of coloured paper and cut out the middle. then put contact over the hole....

get different coloured cellophane and cut it up, let him stick it all over the contact, makes pretty stained glass window effect... :)

[mysonroger]

water is always the winner, but i think children around that age like stacking things too. and letting them run loose in your tupperware container cupboard/drawer is good too.

http://www.humsci.auburn.edu/abell/beeprogram/links/resourceupdates/twoyearolds/activities/activities.htm

i used this website also...........
good luck

[2littleprincesses]

Yep, plastic containers, saucepans, a bucket of clothes pegs, fold up a stack of nappies and let them *unfold* them . . .

[haydens#1mum]

Thank you all so much for all your ideas ill give them all a go.

[draught]

My 18 month old LOVES drawing with textas. It requires supervision as she likes to test different surfaces - but crayons and pencils do nothing for her while the bright and clear colours of the felt tipped pen are magical in her eyes!
She also likes playdough - again you need to supervise but we roll it, cut shapes, makes balls, etc.

[stilldreaming]

Rice is a big winner in our house. I just buy the bigger bags of home brand rice and tip it in different sized bowls and saucepans. Add a couple of spoons, cups, whisks etc and you are cruising!

I set it up on the kitchen floor when I am busy in there........Coop is happy to chuck it everywhere:D

It does make a mess but its easy to clean up and keeps Cooper busy longer than anything else does............

[Chickadee]

Crayola washable markers really do wash off most things, except some walls :( Like Draught said the bright colours sometimes get kids more interested in drawing than crayons do.

Big fat sidewalk chalks are cheap. Take them outside or buy a cheap piece of blackboard from the hardware store. I just lean the chalkboard up and then can slide it away under a bed when we're done. You can also buy chalkboard paint and convert a surface (wall, wardrobe door, etc) into a chalkboard if you're really ambitious.

Balloon play - playing catch, kicking them, swatting them with a flyswatter, balance them on your head, try holding them between your knees, etc. A tip I was given was to blow them up large and then let a bit of air out. It "over stretches" the rubber so that when they do pop it's not quite so violent. Supervise to be sure your son doesn't bite or put the knotted end in his mouth.

Buy a frisbee & turn it upside down or find a plate/bowl with a bit of a lip on the edge, then play at balancing a ball or balloon on it. Roll the ball around the edge - try it sitting with the frisbee on the ground and then try standing up with bub holding the frisbee & doing the balancing.

Indoor plastic skittles/bowling sets are good, although my DD always refused to reset the pins back up - that was my job.

Wooden puzzles were a favorite activity here. Maybe there is a toy library nearby you can borrow some new ones from?

You might find some more suggestions in older threads in the Activities section of the forum: http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=94

[maybe1more]

Buy a scrapbook and some non-toxic crayons and let him scribble.
Playdough is a good one but it can get a little mess, so we used it on a table outside.
Im not to sure if he`d be interested in this but he son used to love playing "connect four" by just putting in the counters (red and yellow) Its good for about 1/2 hour.
Try given him some plastic container with plastic spatuars and get him to "make you a cake".
Hope some of these help!:)

[MissSparkle]

My DS likes to paint with water! I fill an ice cream container with water and give him a paint brush on the drive way and he paints it! Some of the ideas ppl have posted r great! I'll definately be taking notes!!

[yummmmy_mummy]

dd loves the tupperware at her nanas house she sits there for hours theres always tupperware on the kitchen floor no matter how many through the day u put it away she also likes to sit in the cupboard once she has pulled it all out

another one is chalk dd has an upright chalk board that doubles as an esle for when shes older and she has a table that is painted with chalk board paint that was made for her by her great grandad but cerment works just as well it can be alittle messy and they may try to eat it at first but it washes off easily and even if it gets on the floors or walls or lounge it wipes off with a damp cloth:smiliedance:

[BiNdI86]

BUBBLES, BUBBLES, BUBBLES!!

DD and i go outside with a huge container of home made bubble mix and she chases and pops them like mad!! (and even tries to blow them..with help from me!!)

or get a straw and blow into the mixture ( i advise against letting kids try this as i've seen dd drink it :eek: ) and let them play in the froth!!

Give them a fly swatter to help swat the bubbles. DD just loves it!! Actually it attracts all the neighbourhood kids!! :laughing: