Entertainment

So as a mom to a 18m old girl who has a bigggg personality and likes to be active, I need new ways of entertaining her while also learning at the same time. Her dad usually works from 4pm to 10:30-11pm and so I’m with the baby all day. I usually take her to the park, set up a play area with her toys in it to let her play independently (I also try to play with her as well but then she gets frustrated when I stay for too long) and occasionally I let her draw, but she keeps trying to eat the crayons so I kinda limit it. I don’t really know how else to interact with her, and I don’t want her to feel like we just repeat everything we do until she gets bored. I want to excite her with new things and activities. I also try to limit her tv time to 30 minutes a day (15 minutes during the afternoon and 15 minutes after dinner).

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I’m having the same issues right now, my daughter is also 18months typically I go on a walk in the afternoon she has a bike with a handle that I control I try and go on a walk for an hour stop at homes with dogs to look and really just make it. Time for her to make observations Christmas decorations help lol but honestly I feel that this stage is just difficult and challenging you kinda have to just do what feels right and on some days just allow yourself to rest as well if not you’ll burn out. Good luck Mama 🩷

These are the things we do: Dance/singing party Sensory activities (on a sensory table) Bubble party with a bubble machine Reading time Craft time (painting, sticking materials like tissue paper or cotton balls on tape or with glue sticks, coloring) Active time (climbing the Pikkler triangle, playing in a play tunnel, etc.) Silly games like putting a play scarf over our faces and pretending no one can see us or wrapping her up in a blanket to make baby burrito! Even if they're not saying a ton yet, they're picking up a ton of receptive language right now so you can practice that with questions like "where is your [body part]?" Or "where is the baby" on a books page and help them identify things that way. Kids love showing off what they know and celebrating when they can show us!

Playtime can vary too. We rotate toys and focus on ones can play with independently but also with us for learning/interaction. Like she has shape sorters, stacking toys, and other container/item type toys that are fun for practicing words like shapes and colors. Blocks for stacking and practicing numbers and colors. The Lovevery play kits are great because they come with guides for different ideas to play with each toy and what it does to help with development. Tiny Land's boxes are similar and are on Amazon.

My daughter is very active too. At home we do her slide, trampoline, paint, chalk, crayons and markers, play dough, water table (I’m going to bring it in and do sensory bin things), dancing. We go out to the library, free play places at the mall, walk around the mall, indoor playgrounds, our community centers have pay a $1 toddler play time with so many toys, play dates at friends houses, if it’s not freezing we go on walks or to the playground. Also indoor pools.

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