Indoor Activities

reading writing, coloring, crafts, painting,
sticker books, puzzles, bottle bowling, decorate the vaccum to look like a monster,

join a moms group , have playdates, go to the library ,
mom and me classes, gymboree, music and me class,
art classes
dance classes, soccertots, YMCA,

M

Hi B.,

Wintertime is a great time to snuggle up with a book and read to your kids. Check out your public library's children's section for Story Hour. Sometimes you need to sign up but it should be free to the community.

As for home activities, your 2 year old is ready for some art fun. Dot a Dot washable markers and a pad of paper can keep a toddler busy. Read a story and then encourage him to draw a picture about the story. Naturally it will look like only dots but you can encourage him. Playdoh is great as long as he doesn't put it in his mouth. I am a speech language pathologist specializing in preschool play so you might be interested in my article on how to use playdoh to expand play and language at http://www.playonwords.com/articles/2008/09/08/a-lot-of-p...

Also, kids love water play so fill a tub, roll up your sleeves or get in the bath with "Pirates of the Tub" by Alex toys. You can squirt cannons and pirates as well as make rafts, floating islands and caves. I have never seen a 2 year old boy who didn't love this.Here is my review of it:
http://www.playonwords.com/reviews/2008/02/03/rub-a-dub-p...

On my website, www.playonwords.com I have lots of book, toy and play ideas that enhance language.

Good luck and enjoy your two little blessings!

S. Artemenko

2 winters ago I was in the same boat - 2yr old and an infant. I tried to get out as often as I could. A friend and I started walking the Palisades mall. Another friend and I would meet up at Ikea and let the toddlers play in the kids' area and sometimes "try out" different couches/chairs.

In terms of indoor activities:
I'm a big fan of "swimming" in the bathtub. It gives them exercise and it's a fun way to break up the day. You can give your 2 yr. old tub crayons/paint or just blow bubbles into the tub.
Stickers, watercoloring, and play doh were favorites for that age.
Cook simple things like cornbread where they can pour in the water and help stir.
We got a blow up pool and filled it with ball-pit balls (you can get a lot really cheap) and let our 2 yr old go nuts. She wore herself out and it gave her a lot to do - every time she knocked all the balls out - she had to stop and gather them all and then "shoot" them into the pool.
Making forts with blankets and furniture was fun.
Play dress up with my old scarves - we even used one like a mini parachute where we shook it to music, etc.
Music was always a good way to transition too - have a dance party or just play soft music if your child is getting antsy with whatever activity you want them to do.
I got my 2 yr old involved in a lot of the daily chores the best way I could - she handed me clean laundry to fold, she used her little broom while I swept the house, she looked under the couch before I vacuumed.

The thing that kept me sane during the winter was to create almost like a school schedule for us at home. For the first hour we were in the livingroom, then we spent an hour in her bedroom, then we spent an hour in the basement, etc. We both got bored quicker when we were spending too much time in one spot or randomly went through the house. If you can make yourself a list of things to do during the day and just go through them, it's a lot less exhausting then constantly trying to think of something on the fly.
Good luck!

Hi B.~
If you have a long hallway, use a small plastic ball and some old soda bottles and "go bowling". Get some old blankets and cover the floor with them and have a picnic in the house. Play games that also include your 4 month old, and I understand that could be difficult but you really should try.
Good luck to you and these cold months that are coming up...
J.

Hi B.,

We use shipping boxes and put a blanket on top and make beleive that its a cave. I also, converted one of my son's closet floor and a hiding place to where they go when they want to be away from the dogs. Also, if your budget permits. I saw someone in my area which the converted their 2 car garage and a play area for the kids. I thought that was great because it has rubber mats and padded padded walls.

My four year old will go on the computer and play educational games. Crafts are always good - rolling the ball around on the floor, have movie time. My daughter loves to play "GO FISH". She is 4 and I let my 2 year old daughter say go fish and pick the cards. Teaching the older one to play board games and letting the younger child "help" is always good. YOu could also get a fitness video and do that with them. My daughter used to love when we did that - I actually need to get back to that. I also walk the mall - they have a play area and it gets us out of the house. Chuckee Cheese is a good place to go and tire them out or Jungle Gym of some kind. Anyway - good luck and I know how hard the winter can be.

My friend had a daycare going & one of the most fun things I've ever done was fingerpainting with chocolate pudding - get ready for a mess, but the fun the children had was well worth it. It may be a bit much for your little guy but your 2 yr old would love it.

We just scooped it on their highchairs and let them go at it! Have fun!

Our library has a book called 365 TV-free activites -- everything from making a guitar out of an ice cube tray & rubber bands to scavenger hunts and such. Things are versatile enough that you can make them good for a 2 yr old.

My 2yo just discovered coloring and Play-Do and she loves them both. She did Play-Do the other day for 2 hours. I tried to get her to do something else and she screamed. I figured why mess with a good thing! The 4 month old will be entertained by anything. Also I got a water table for my 2yo this summer and I dried it out. I have a big bag of mixed dry beans that I'm going to put in once in a while and they are easy clean up. Also a big bag of cheap rice in a big bowl or bucket can be lots of fun and easy clean up. The dollor store is a creat place to get coloring books and craft supplies. They are cheap and when they get destroyed your out a whopping buck! Have fun!!!! A.