It is a beautiful weekend Summer day. You don't have anything exciting planned but you are hoping to get a little rest. There is only one problem, your toddler missed the memo. Suddenly your toddler is awake and ready to destroy the first thing in sight. You still somehow wish you could get some rest while also occupying your child's time and while I may seem nearly impossible there are ways to keep your little one busy:
Play Dough
Play dough can get super messy but kids love messes. If you need playdough that doesn't stain, consider using a non-staining playdough that also doesn't have the horrible smell of regular playdough.
Go for a Walk
Going for a walk during the summer can be tricky especially with the heat constantly reaching triple digits; however, there are many summer days that don't reach such high heat indexes and on these days it's important that you show your little one the importance of being physical fit. Encourage your little one to go for a walk with you or if you don't trust them to walk with you plop out your stroller and strap your little one in for some fresh hair.
Youtube Videos
Many parents are against using cell phones to distract your children. I am an advocate of educational videos on Youtube if done in moderation. One video in particular that seems to keep my little one occupied is the surprise eggs for kids videos. I'm not really sure why this particular video is so intriguing but she has now become obsessed with play eggs. I don't ask questions I just use her time on youtube as a chance to get some last minute things done.
Building Blocks
Legos are still a staple in children's toy collections. Legos or building blocks in general are great for helping embrace the constructor side of your child. Not only can they build blocks as high as they can go but when they're ready they can knock the structure down and rebuild it all over again.
Puzzles
Kids seem to be obsessed with puzzles even if that means they may or may not know what pieces go to together. The important thing is to show your kids what pieces go together while also encouraging them to learn as they go. Puzzles are complex for most adults to handle so don't get upset if your little one puts the wrong pieces together it's all a part of the process.
Cooking
For some reason kids love doing adult tasks (if I were a kid again I would totally tell myself to enjoy playing with toys). Nonetheless, because kids do love doing things they see their parents doing, embrace it. If you're cooking something fun such as a cake let your little one crack the eggs or stir the batter. They may have no idea what they are really doing but having them participate will not only keep them quiet but it will teach them how following directions can lead to something great such as a cake.
How do you occupy your toddler's time? Share comments below.