Toddler To Do List

A friend of mine (and fellow blogger mom) made up a list of things to do with her toddler when she was pregnant with her second child. It was winter and she was constantly exhausted, and rather than putting on a movie every afternoon, she decided to do a little research. The result was this list. As I mentioned in my last post, I am also pregnant...in the winter...with a toddler. That's a sure recipe for boredom. I've referred to this list many a day and it has saved everyone in the house. And now, my friends...I share the list with you. Enjoy the warmth of your house and a fun afternoon with your toddler!

•Bake, bake, bake!
•Play with pizza dough/make pizza (rolling pin)
•Wrap old toys w/ lots of wrapping paper/ribbon
•Premade cookie dough/large sprinkles
•3 drops food coloring in bathtub
•Plant radishes/water them
•Meals of all one color foods
•Collect rocks/sticks/leaves. Make a collage
•Play hide and seek with stuffed animal. Hiding spots get progressively harder
•Make fake mailbox. Create letters for family members/toys, mail them, open box and deliver them
•Give (hard plastic) baby bath in large Tupperware. Have towel for baby
•Pretend cook rice. Measure, dump in bowl, stir, etc.
•Pretend to be a robot. Respond when nose is pushed, ear is pulled, arm is moved, etc. Respond same way to each action
•Play doctor with doll. First, parent be Dr./child be parent to doll. Go through a standard check up (weigh doll, heartbeat, check ears/eyes). Then let child be Dr.
•Set up fake grocery store. Go shopping with cart. Collect money, bag groceries, put them “away” on shelves of toy kitchen.
•Make objects with play dough. Explain objects
•Create ramp off of sofa/chair. Roll round objects down it (fruit, ball, toy cars). Let child pick objects. Explain round vs. flat/square.
•Feed dolls in toy high chair. Encourage child to talk to dolls. “Mmmm, that’s good, good job” etc. Use bibs during meals and washcloths after meals.
•After diaper change (lying down), say “where should I plant this kiss?....Ahhh, hand” (kiss hand). Ask again but let child answer or point. Name body part before kissing it.
•Sing “If you’re happy and you know it” but create different verses with new emotions (if you’re sad/shed a tear. If you’re angry/stomp your feet, sleepy/say nuh-nights etc)
•Make birdfeeder with pine cone, butter, oatmeal. Hang in tree by window
•Make caterpillar out of egg carton, pipe cleaners, paint
•Make puppets from paper plates and popsicle sticks, yarn for hair. Create happy/sad expressions.
•String multi-colored ziti or cereal on yarn to make necklaces and bracelets
•Make paper bag animal puppets with lunch size paper bags and construction paper
•Make blanket forts
•Create a “today’s weather” chart with a sun, clouds, rain clouds, wind etc. Discuss weather for the day and put applicable item on chart depending on weather for that day