My work at home “schedule” typically means working during quiet/nap time and after bed, but since I’m spending my kids’ sleep times working, it doesn’t leave much time for other things like laundry, dishes, and getting other household stuff done.
Sure the kids can “help” out even at their age, kind of. Little guy has gotten pretty good at handing me all the utensils from the dishwashe
r. And little miss likes to race me when we vaccuum. That said, sometimes it’s better — or at least more productive — to entertain the kids so I can get some other stuff done around the apartment, or pack boxes for the big move, or sometimes check email. Or, okay, check Facebook or Instagram. (Some links below are affiliates).
When books or playing make believe with the couch cushions or kitchen utensils isn’t enough, here are some of my go to things and activities for my two young kiddos. Full disclosure, Dollar Store knows and love me… and so does Amazon prime. Because, I’ll be completely honest and real here: I am not a Pinterest mom. I’m all about keeping it simple.
Arts and Crafts
It’s amazing how much fun some construction paper, cotton balls, and markers can be. Dollar Tree makes this easy since they have so many supplies, many seasonal based for holiday crafts. But I’m also obsessed with these dot markers. Not only are they washable so even little guy can play with them now, but you really have to press it the right way to make a mess. Less mess to clean up afterwards? Total win in my book!
To make crafting even more fun, we’ve also started to read books and then create a craft (or drawing) around the book. Little Miss’s favorite lately is reading Clever Jack Takes the Cake, and then making her own cake out of construction paper. Win for mom? I just need to cut a circle from construction paper, and maybe a few other shapes for her to glue on.
Playdough
Okay, okay, I just said less mess is best, and I KNOW some other mamas hate playdough with a vengeance. But hear me out on this. Playdough can often keep little miss entertained for an hour. An HOUR. That’s gold in my book! She has all sorts of cut outs and playdough toys, so she’ll often “bake” things to serve to her characters. I love hearing her imagination at work! This is one of my favorite quiet time activities… and hers too!
Activity books
I’m talking about more than coloring books… some of little miss’s current favorites are the dry erase activity books that we get from Usborne. She learns to write her letters or numbers, or heck even learns how to trace dinosaurs, and she has a blast doing it. Another easy clean up… well, other than when little guy participates (and decides to draw on the table too). Sticker books are our other favorite. Buster has discovered the joy of putting stickers all over me, while little miss is regularly in awe of her 600 sticker Disney princess book. The reusable sticker books are also pretty cool, especially with how it encourages the kiddo’s imagination. Little Miss regularly tells me stories about what’s going on with her fairy and princess stickers.
Building Blocks
I have a love/hate relationship with Duplos and Legos. They create such a mess, but the kids adore building things. Little Miss will create the houses and towers… and buster is great at taking them all done. And at his age (just over 1 now), he’s also discovered the joy of putting them back in the bag! For less of a mess, if only because they stick together, go for Picasso Tiles. Little Miss has come up with some creative towers lately and learned a whole lot about construction; they’re great STEM toys.
Water Toys
Warm weather is back – woohoo! With our new house and yard I plan to be outside as much as possible. I’ll get the kids involved with gardening with me, but I’ll also have their favorite water toys out, including this fabulous water table that keeps them (and heck even the dog) entertained for hours.
And okay, I won’t lie… when it comes to quiet time with little miss while buster takes his one nap? Netflix is my friend too.
What are your young kids’ favorite activities lately? Share them below!
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