I'm having a friend over in a couple of days (whoo hoo!) for an early dinner, and she is bringing her 2 kids, the girl is 5, (my daughter is almost 5) and the boy is just turning 2. My daughter knows both kids and they all get along great. At the moment, my place is very small and there aren't a lot of toys, and definitely no boy toys. I was trying to think of a few activities for them, or just something to keep them busy so us moms can talk. I'm already making dinner, nothing extravagant, but l don't want to add too much to the hostess duties. If it were just the 2 girls, no problem, but I'm blanking out trying to include the 2 year old boy. I know I can ask her to bring something for him, but when I do that for my daughter, she's not that interested in her own toys when we're out. Any ideas?? TIA!
As I just stood in my daughter's room, I saw her (huge) doll house, art easel, 2 riding horse sticks (one with sounds!) a wood castle with a KING and a queen, and tons of books, even ones with sounds, and there are toy buckets with all kinds of things in it, and lots of crayons and coloring books, AND we have Netflix (last resort), so I'm sure they will be all fine! This is the first time I've entertained at my place (and a young boy), so I was just feeling unprepared. Thanks for all the replies and making me feel better !
2 year olds are interested in anything that's different. He doesn't care about boy toys - he'll just play with anything :)
Duct tape?
God it has been a while since I got to use that response. :)
Toy guns. I know not every parent is for toy guns, but if it doesn't bother you, get a couple of guns that light up and make noise. They can play cops and robbers.
Let the t.v be your friend. Just saying....
While it doesn't fall on your shoulders to provide a boy with toys you don't have, it sure is nice & you'll actually get a chance to visit wiith your friend.
I would buy some inexpensive blocks, a medium size ball to roll around & some cars/trucks.
You can let the older girls put in a DVD for a little while. I'm sure the older girls will love playing with her toys.
Maybe you could get a couple in-expensive cars or trucks for him to play with? Can't go wrong with cars & trucks! I think his mom is responsible for his entertainment, but it would be a very nice gesture as the hostess. He will likely also follow the girls around and that will entertain him as well. Or maybe he could have a movie to watch. Cars or Toy Story are good choices at that age.
Don't stress over it.
Really.
The Mom, should be bringing over things for her kids TOO, to play with.
AND please make sure... that for YOUR kids, don't make them, or expect them... to "share" all of their stuff. It is perfectly normal that they may not want ALL of their stuff, touched or made public.
Kids also need to learn, that their special things, are just that.
BEFORE I have kids over at my house, and ever since my kids were Toddlers... I told them before the guests came "Which toys do you want to put away, or are too special to you that you don't want touched?" I told them, we'd put it away and they don't have to share, everything. That solved a lot of the problems... per young kids, bickering over toys.
And I also taught my kids... to say politely "that's special to me, please don't touch it...." My kids never had problems sharing things in our house... because they knew, their more special things, were put away. Beforehand.
Depending how long the visit is... young kids will probably call you and the other Mom a lot, even if just to show you stuff or say something. Even if they are "entertained."
Play-doh and coloring books are great "quiet" activities. And blocks etc. But again, the boy's Mom, should be bringing things for her son to play at your house, especially since she knows... her son, would be the only boy, there. And she knows, you have a daughter, no boy stuff.
You should not have to, buy toys for this or for only that boy.
When my daughter was younger, we'd have boys over to play too. My daughter's friends. This was before I had my son. And they were all fine just playing with whatever we had. Which was girl toys.
If you have a few minutes, maybe you could run into the dollar store or a thrift store. You can find all kinds of little cars and things at the dollar store, but you could probably find a very inexpensive set of legos or blocks or something like that at the thrift store.
I would try to find some cars, action figures (without small, removable parts), books, blocks/legos.
Honestly...he's 2. He's so not going to care what kind of toys you have...as long as you have a few! I'm sure he'll be able to entertain himself with a couple of your daughters toys. Do you have crayons and paper or coloring books? Set some out and let him color. Set out books that he might like to look at. I wouldn't worry too much about it :)
Have fun!
A small bucket of Mega Blocks. Then they can build their own guns.
Little boys love doll house and baby dolls. Really, kids that little do not mind playing with girly toys. If he has a big sister, he probably plays with her toys at home. Two year old boys also love cars and trucks, but no need to buy anything new. He will probably want to follow the girls and do whatever they are doing anyway!!
Don't do anything special to prepare! They'll be fine! Only thing is if your daughter isn't used to sharing (or having people over), you'll want to "prep" her for this! Throughout the next couple of days remind her "Oh, remember so-and-so is coming over on Friday! Won't it be fun to show them your easel/dollhouse/etc!" So, by the time the dinner event comes around, she knows what's going on and what's expected of her (share, be nice, let the mamas talk). Have fun & relax!
