Mums with toddlers | ExpatWoman.com
 

Mums with toddlers

197
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 March 2011 - 10:13

I have 2 questions for you

1. How do you keep them entertained ALL the time? I read with her ( a lot), play with her, we do puzzles ( which she LOVES) take her to the park/palydates in the afternoon and she does play by herself for a bit but there seems to be SO much time. I have to confess I do use the TV as a babysitter at times ( blush!)

2. How do you get anything done? DD is going through a phase where she is a whine machine...but only with me. With dad she is miss sunsine! grrrrr I work from home as well but she whines for all of England when she sees me near the laptop.

DD is 14 months old BTW. Appreciate your help!

65
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 07:59
Asch, I thinkLeshell gave you some GREAT advice/ideas. I have 3 kids 3yrs and under and I've learned that you CANNOT keep them occupied all the time. You need to teach (train) them to little by little play on their own. I do loads of activities with my kids but i also need to spend time with DH, cook, clean, shop, etc and its not possible (or in my opinion good) to fill kids day with activities every min. When boys were 1 & 2, i would throw some pots/ utensils/tupperware on the floor and let them play with them while i cooked. Also, if i needed to clean, i would turn over the dirty clothes hamper and let him play and crawl around with the dirty clothes. THEY STILL LOVE THAT and can spend 30-40 min trying to put on mommy and daddy's clothes. :-) Or simply throw the clothes around.. they're dirty anyways so i don't mind <em>edited by jeniawwad on 27/03/2011</em>
201
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 March 2011 - 19:32
Oh water play is also great, i use to set DD up on rubber mats out on the balcony with buckets of water, cups, and a few toys and i would get about 30mins out of her playing with that. Dont do it all the time so it will keep it fresh.
201
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 March 2011 - 19:29
Hi asch I had the same when my DD was that age. Also SO clingy and wouldnt let me do anything without her. It is a phase but you can do a few things in the meantime. 1) baracade off a section in your house and thats her play area. Within eye sight of your or not depending on what DD is like (we didnt have a choice, we live in an apartment so DD could always see me) Your going to play in here with your toys for 10mins without mummy cos your a big girl. Then after 10 mins go over. Always follow through with what you promise and eventually lengthen the time she plays by herself. 2) Rotate toys and lay them out for her to play with, sometimes if there packed away they forget about them and/or cant get to them. 3) Also have a set time everyday that she plays 'by herself'. weather it be first thing in the morning or just after nap ect. I use to then say you can play by yourself for X amount of time and then i will come over and play X with you. Although they dont get the concept of time at this age its putting things in place for the future. Sometimes its a hit and miss, DD was like this right up until 20months old and then it changed, thank goodness as DD2 was well on her way by then. Also i sometimes feel that as i gave her all my attention all the time she then expected it from such a young age. At least your LO likes tv, DD didnt watch it for more then 2mins at a time until she was over 2. :( i feel your pain. Hope something works soon. <em>edited by Leshell on 26/03/2011</em>
426
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 March 2011 - 10:41
Sounds like a very well balanced day! What about an organised activity? Kinder music, mygym, boogie babies? She's a lucky LO. ETA. My two (4 and 1) LOVE homemade playdough and painting. <em>edited by BrownEyedGirl on 23/03/2011</em>
 
 

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