How to Entertain a Toddler All Day!

On: August 23, 2019

Being a mother is awesome. But it is also challenging at the same time. Your toddler is your pride and source of joy. They have a lot of energy but also a short memory span. Besides that, toddlers are easily distracted. You need to keep him entertained. You can use his short memory span and ability to be easily distracted to your advantage. There are various games that you can play with your toddler all day long and he will be entertained with everything you do together.

|Because of his high energy levels, ensure that you keep him active so that he will not be bored. Depending on the age of your child, you there are things that are age appropriate which you can do with your child|

Due to their high energy level, he can run all day without becoming tired. Also, his short memory works to his advantage, he can engage in activity over and over again and never get bored. You cannot keep up with your toddler. But with various activities, you can succeed to make him engaged and entertained until bedtime.

Let’s create a schedule:

It helps to have a schedule. It’s best to include fun learning activities and games in this schedule. Make time at the end of each week to plan the following week’s activities

Once you take into account eating, bathing, napping and sleeping, you’ll probably be left with three to five hours a day of activity time
You may plan a good mix of physical activities and learning games and choose from indoor sports to arts and crafts, to letting your toddler watch some television, but not too much, for pure entertainment
Plan your activities around the time your child is most energetic, for example, after an afternoon nap

The following are some of the activities that you can use to keep your toddler entertained all day:

1. Walk with him to the mailbox

Sometimes it is good to let your child out of the house and let him stretch his legs. Walk with your child over to the mailbox. Allow him to open the mailbox and get the mail for you.

Allow him to move around for a few minutes. He will enjoy running around which will kill some time. Then walk back to the house with him. You can do this several times during the day. This will help him to burn some extra energy.

2. Have a coloring contest

Give your child a plain paper and different colors. A plain paper gives your child the chance to use his imaginative abilities to color the paper. It is more helpful than giving him an already colored book.

Then write on small pieces of paper the names of different animals or objects. After that, mix the papers up. Then let each select a piece of paper randomly and draw whatever animal or object that comes up first.

To make the drawing contest more fun, let each color the object or animal they draw. This game will not only keep you and your child busy but also it will help your child to use his imagination.

3. Organize a Stage Performance

Help your child to come up with a stage script for an adventurous play. Then allow your child to set the stage for performance, choose the costumes and then act for you.

It will take your child plenty of time to set the stage, rehearse what to say and finally select the right costume for the performance. To enhance the performance, record it and then play it after a while as both you enjoy the performance. If your child is in the mood to act, let him take as much time as he needs. Do not make him stop halfway.

4. Clean the House

Are you finding it hard to get time to do house chores and cleaning? Well, allow your child to help. You can assign your child some cleaning chores which will not only take most of his time but also he will be entertained and busy.

Which animal does your child love? Does he love the tiny ants? If so, pretend that you are the ants and start cleaning your house together. If there are other family members around, let them play different roles in the cleaning exercise.

It will be not only a cleaning exercise but also a time for a family fun time. Everyone will be involved and at the end of the day, everyone will be happy.

5. Set up a swing at home

It is easy to set up a swing to a toddler at home just like the one at the park. However, ensure that he swings under your supervision to avoid injuries. However, there are some readymade swings that are secure that you can purchase and install in your house for your baby to swing. Children love swings. There are high chances that your child will spend most of his time on the swing.

6. Use Cardboard Boxes to Make a Maze

Collect as many cardboard boxes as you can. Cut them up into different sizes. Then fix them together with tape. Then cut out arcs at different points. Cut big enough arcs that your child can go through without getting stuck. A maze can be your child’s greatest fun in the house. He will be going in from one end and move in drink directions and arcs and come out on the other side. This is guaranteed entertainment for your child all day long.

7. Bake

You can turn your kitchen into a bakery. Feeding your family needs a lot of cooking. You can let your little boy become a chef and help you prepare different meals in the kitchen. To spice up the cooking, dress your kid as a chef.

Children like making their hands dirty and create things. Allow your child to work with his hands as he helps you prepare different meals. If you are making cakes or cookies, assign him a portion of the dough as you take your time to cook. He will spend hours working on the dough as you finish your cooking. At the end of the day, he will feel useful and everyone will be smiling.

8. Play with Toys

Get some different toys for your child. Grab some animals, train, blocks and so many other animals. While playing with some of these toys he might create a lot of mess but you can clean it up afterwards. The toys will keep your child busy and entertained hours on end.

Read:

Encouraging Baby to Walk

Babies start to walk at different times but most will try their first steps around their first birthday. Encouraging your baby to walk is a crucial developmental stage for your child. If possible, record your child’s first steps.

The following are some simple ways you can encourage your child to walk:

1. Hold His Hands

Holding your child’s hands from behind as he tries to walk is the most common way of encouraging him to walk. When you hold him, ensure you hold him firm enough that he will not topple over and fall. However, ensure that you do not hold his hands so high that it will strain his shoulders.

2. Buy Him Squeaky Shoes

Squeaky shoes make a child’s walking a lot of fun. Babies are inquisitive in nature and he will want to know the source of the sound. He will want to take another step so that he can hear the sound. Squeaky shoes can be a great encouragement to your child to take another step.

3. Peer Models

Take your child to where other toddlers of the same age are. Some places that you can find other toddlers include the playground, local supermarket and library. Look for any toddler who is trying to walk around. When you see another toddler walking, point your baby to the toddler and encourage him to walk over to the other baby to say hi. A little competition to walk will do your child good.

4. Offer a Reward

Standing some distance from your child with a present and encourage him to come over to take it. First of all your child loves you and he will want to get the present. Even if you stay the other end and offer to hug him if he comes to you, he will make the steps to get the hug.

5. Purchase a Push Toy for Him

There are a variety of push toys to choose from. Choosing a ride on toy with a handle with a walker option can be a wonderful walking aid for your child. The toy will excite your child to spend more time trying to ride it and it will encourage him to walk.

Encouraging Baby to Talk

Before your child will learn to talk, he will start making sounds. Although you cannot rush your child to utter words, you can encourage your child’s language development. The following are some of the ways that you can encourage your baby to talk.

1. Use real words

According to baby psychologists, the best way to encourage your baby to talk is to talk to him all the time. Do not talk down to your baby but use proper words. When you use real words, you expand his word vocabulary.

2. Read correctly

When you are reading for your child to put him to bed, ensure that you read the story correctly. Do not mumble the words because you are tired and want to put your baby to sleep. If there are pictures in the story, show the picture to the baby as you talk about the picture. If there are animals, ask your baby to make animal sounds. This way, you will encourage him to talk.

3. Give Feedback

When your child speaks to you, speak back to him and acknowledge his attempt to speak. Even if he says the word badly, do not correct his speech. Instead, jump in and add a few more words.

4. Follow His Lead

When your child is curious and wants to know about something, he will probably point at it. Pay attention to what he is pointing and either explain to him or tell him the name of the thing.

5. Change Your Tone

Usually, when you are in the house you speak gently as compared to outdoors. Make different funny voices that will interest him. Ask him to imitate you and try making the sounds. This will help him learn to use different tones depending on the circumstances.

Board Games for 2-Year-Olds

Is your toddler 2 years? Are you looking for educative, unique and entertaining board games for your child? If your answer is yes to both questions, you are on the right platform. At 2 years, your child has reached a developmental stage where his cognitive abilities are well developed and he can be able to enjoy a game.

The following are some of the best board games that you can get for your baby:

1. First Orchard Game

This is a game that can be played by up to four players. The game can take up to 10 minutes to finish. A toddler’s concentration time is approximately 10 minutes. Therefore, this is an age appropriate game.

The aim of this game is to pluck all the ripe fruits from the trees before the Ravens can eat them. The game allows you as a parent to teach your child how to cooperate with others to reach the goal. Your toddler can play it over and over again hence keeping him busy and entertained.

2. Ladders and Chute Game

The game comes with a superhero makeover which many toddlers love. The object of the game is to climb the ladder without falling. The game helps a child to learn to count, patient and cognitive skills. Playing this game with your child with the help you to bond with your child. Also, your child will be greatly entertained.

3. Toddler Learning Kit Activity Game

This is an engaging and fun game that will enable your child to learn numbers, letters, colors and different shapes. The game comes with a practice book, stickers, crayons, bright posters and flashcards.

The game can be played in various ways including matching, singing and guessing. It is a great game that will keep your child educated and entertained at the same time.

How to Entertain 3 or 4 Year Old

Three or four-year-old are preschoolers and their activities are meant not only to entertain them but also to educate them. The following are some fun games that you can play with your 3 or 4 year old child:

Cooking together
Playing hide and seek
Taking pictures together
Writing a journal with crayons, paints, stamps and markers
Playing at the playground
Painting with water paints
Making balance beams and trying to balance or find another kid to balance with
Playing doctor with toys or dolls
Looking at family album together
Reading through a catalogue
Reading books together
Playing sports in your yard
Coloring with color wonder markers and coloring sheets

The list of games that you can play your 3 or 4-year-old toddler is endless. Find games that can educate your child and entertain him at the same time.

Conclusion

As the child grows, so does his mind. He needs a game that will keep his little busy hands occupied and entertained all through the day. The game should also act as a stimulus to his inquisitive and developing mind.

Sometimes don’t just choose to simple games for your child. Choose even advanced games that will give him the challenge to play. It will help him to develop his imaginary skills as he tries to get the game right. However, ensure that you do not force your child to play a game that he does not like. Doing so might make your child frustrated or angry.

Always ensure that whatever game you choose for your child is fun. Play for children is an important aspect of their growth and development.

Therefore, choosing a game that is appropriate to your child’s age and that is entertaining will not only keep your child entertained but also learn some important skills that he will use later in his life.

You don’t have always to rely on games to entertain your child. You can entertain him yourself. Sing children songs for your baby. Singing is a great way to bond with your child and also to teach him. Even if your child will not be able to understand the words in the song, you can make some body movements. Act the song as you sing it and your child will be glued to your body movements and he might even be willing to try it. Dance with your child if you can as you sing or let him clap his tiny hands as you sing. Singing is a great way of entertaining your child and educating him.