Bored & Stir Crazy with 14 Month Old During Winter! Coatesville/Parkesburg Area

Updated on December 03, 2008
A.L. asks from Coatesville, PA
5 answers

I am a stay at home mom with a 14 month old daughter, but I work 20 hours a week from home, which means during my daughter's naps I have no free time to myself since I have to make sure I'm putting in hours for work. When she's not napping (and now that she's getting older, those naps are getting shorter, or she's phasing out one of them!), I'm totally at a loss for what to do to keep her entertained, and to keep myself from going crazy. I'm a big stressful mess when my husband gets home, and I feel guilty dumping her on him the second he walks in the door.

So here's what we've been doing--We read books, then she gets bored with that. We play with toys, then she gets bored. I bring her around the house as I put away clothes, or put in laundry, explaining to her what I'm doing, and that works for a little while.

I feel like I'm resorting to sticking her in front of the Disney Channel way more than I'd like to, partly because I just don't know what to do to keep her from getting really fussy because she's bored, and partly so I can have some time to get chores done that I couldn't do during the naps.

It's way too cold to go on a walk (she loves going outdoors in the nice weather), and we just moved (west of Coatesville near Parkesburg), so most of my mommy friends are at least a half hour away.

Anyone have any advice of how to keep a 14 month old entertained without plopping them in front of the TV all day? Or know of good play groups or attractions in the Downingtown/Parkesburg area? How I can keep from going crazy on these cold winter days? Help!

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J.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

Listen to the other ladies here and join your local mom's club http://www.momsclub.org/join.html !!!! You will meet local mom's and other kids to play with & they schedule all kinds of creative activities, events, playgroups, picnics, walks, and lots of indoor activities during the cold months!!!

What about the playareas at mcdonalds, chickfila, etc? Santa at the mall? Some malls have merry go rounds and the quarter rides.... local library should have readings for kids, too! Look online at your local library and see what kind of activities they have.

i remember someone mentioning a book - maybe look on amazon.com about creative things to do with toddlers.........

The malls are great right now b/c the little ones love to look at the decorations, lights, trees, etc.

Good Luck to you!!!!!!!

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S.K.

answers from Philadelphia on

Sheena,

contact your local MOM's club. It's the only thing that keeps me sane. They plan outings, activities at other mom's house's and many other things. The favorite event of mine is MNO, mom's not out (without the kids). Just google MOM's club in Coatesville and you should find something.

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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

I know some library's have story time which they include stuffed animals and a craft. Also check out Makin Music which starts back up in January in different areas (go on line) this is perfect for your 14 month old. Also the YMCA offer some Mommy and Me classes. But most of all enjoy every minute with your baby, time go so very fast.

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M.B.

answers from Philadelphia on

Your daughter is likely just transitioning to some new abilities and likes. Over the next few months, she'll likely develop a little more ability to play independently, which should help you out some. Just be sure to give her some practice with entertaining herself (I speak from experience as with my oldest I entertained her too much and at 7 she still needs more help finding something to do than her younger sisters do). Try setting her up with a few toys and letting her play (and sometimes fuss) alone for a few minutes, gradually increasing the time you leave her alone. Be sure to make it short at first though - like mommy has to put this away/go to the potty/etc. and will be right back. I'm not saying to expect a child at any age to be able to entertain themselves all day, but giving them a chance to do so for short stretches of time is in her best interest as well as hers.

Anyway, there are also other things you can try to introduce to keep your daughter entertained. She can probably color some now. At that age, mine tended to like standing while coloring, so I could tape a piece of paper to a box or low table and give them a few crayons (fat ones usually easier to start with). You can introduce color names and let her get creative without a big mess. Most kids will just scribble for quite a while, but some will surprise you with their early artistic abilities. Just watch out for eating the crayons - they should be non-toxic, but if they get a chunk off choking is a possibility.

If you're open to a little more mess, you could also try play doh. A length of plastic sheeting will make clean up easier. Again, watch with the mouthing/eating.

Old magazines that you don't mind getting torn apart can also entertain kids. Pointing out familiar objects and giving names to things will also help with vocabulary building. And because you're really just looking at a wide variety of pictures, it sometimes keeps their attention better than a regular book. For regular books, though, ones that have flaps to lift, textures to touch, or (if you can handle it) noises to make are also much loved around that age.

To get out some energy, you could try Hulla Baloo. It's great for a wide range of ages, and while most 14-month olds won't necessarily get the right color/shape, they'll still enjoy dancing around on the pads, especially if mommy joins in with a silly dance. Or just turn on some music and have a "dance party." Or set up a hopscotch game with foam pads or even just tape on the floor.

My kids also love playing beach party - let them put on their bathing suits and sunglasses and lay out blankets/etc. to be the sand and water, play beachy music, etc. Really just anything different than the norm works.

Another one for getting the energy out is an obstacle course. Make it appropriate for her abilities, but climbing over couch cushions on the floor, going under a table, jumping aver a tape line on the floor, rolling a ball down a ramp or putting it in a bucket, etc. seem to work. Once she gets through it a mess of times, ask her to try it backwards.

Simple puzzles may start to work soon, and Little People are always popular here - mine have a ton of them and they're played with almost everyday.

Hope some of those ideas help. Just know that eventually it does get easier!

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B.

answers from Philadelphia on

Get on line and find the local Moms Club near you. That is what saved me when we moved here and I met many many wonderful women and freinds through the group. There are many activities, playgroups, moms night out etc. through the MOms Club. Also, check your local library for story time.

As far as getting things done at home, maybe you can find a neighbor boy or girl that is about 12/13 to come in and be a moms helper. You could still be home, but getting work done for a few hours after school from 4-6.

Good Luck

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