Okay, so keeping a toddler entertained? That’s a mission, a daily mission. I’ve been there, done that, got the t-shirt covered in who-knows-what. I remember one day, I was trying to work from home, and my little one, bless his heart, was just not having it. Needed all the attention, all the time. So, I had to get creative, and fast.
First thing I did? I grabbed a bunch of pots and pans and some wooden spoons. Instant drum set! He went to town on those things. It was loud, sure, but he was busy, and I could finally answer some emails. That bought me like 20 minutes of peace.
Then, when the novelty of the “kitchen band” wore off, I moved on to the next trick. I filled up the sink with some warm water and bubbles. Oh boy, did he love that! I threw in some plastic cups and toys, and he was splashing around, having a blast. I supervised, of course, but I managed to get a whole hour of work done while he was playing “sink chef.”
Fort Building
- Gathered some blankets and pillows.
- Draped them over chairs and the sofa.
- Created a cozy little hideout.
He was in his own little world in there. I even joined him for a bit, and we read some books inside our “secret base.”
Next up, I got some old cardboard boxes. And let me tell you, to a toddler, a cardboard box is like a spaceship, a car, a house – anything they want it to be. We spent the rest of the afternoon “driving” around the living room.
By the end of the day, I was exhausted, but I had figured out a few ways to keep him entertained. And I managed to get some work done too, so that was a win. I remember one particular day when I managed to keep him entertained for a solid hour with just a roll of painter’s tape. Seriously, I made shapes and a mini obstacle course on the floor with it, and he had a blast following the lines and jumping over them. It’s all about being a little creative and a lot patient.
