Routines and Toddlers

My daughter has no schedule aside from the bedtime routine that happens 90% of the time. We have playdates at least once a week and also go to the library storytime once a week. We do random trips to the zoo, pet store, park, museums, etc. I sometimes feel bad for not having a routine but I know in due time when we have child #2, a schedule will more than likely be a most. Enjoy having no schedule while you can.

My daughter loves wooden blocks, dolls, Sesame Street, Fresh Beat Band, hats, parks, going for walks, riding toys outside, chase: where I hide and jump out and scare her (go figure), anything music of any kind (drums, keyboard, etc.), crayons/pens (I have to watch her on these...she likes to eat them), ...
She loves the full length mirror we have set up. She will try on hats, wrap blankets around her so she looks like she's wearing a hood, and tell herself jokes and laugh. It is a good imagination tool. She also takes any type of container and "drinks" from it and sighs, so I got her some play teacups at a yard sale. I am looking forward to our first tea party. That is if she can sit still long enough. LOL.
I have read that unstructured play with items like the blocks boosts their imagination as well as dexterity and so on. Sometimes, I let my daughter decide what we will do. She likes to take my hand, get her shoes and leave. It works for my daughter as long as I have her naps, food and bedtime on a tight schedule. Hope this helps.

we have a routine, but it is very flexible.
Mornings, we do activities. In the summer and on nice days, we most always are out of the house by 9-9:30 am and return anywhere from 11:30-2 (depending on the activity). We go to parks/playgrounds, zoo, farms, walks, playdates with friends, or sometimes it is just shopping and running errands. Sometimes we eat lunch out or come home for lunch. I always let my little ones know what we are doing before we leave the house. and sometimes i even give choices like- do you want to go to the zoo today or playground? then go whereever he picks. We also go to story time once a week too.
when we come home itis nap/quiet time and then we usually spend the remainder of the afternoon at home- playing inside or outside, cooking dinner, etc.

If we stay home during the day, i have my son "help" me with chores. He loves to sweep, vacuum with his toy vaccuum, and when i clean the bathroom, i give him a spray bottle of water and a washcloth and he helps me clean. He also loves to cook and stir. give her some bowls and spoons and that will keep her busy for a while. We do arts and crafts, read stories, play hide and seek, dance, do flash cards, play cars. if your daughter seems to be outgrowing her toys, check out craigslist for new cheap used toys. or find things around the house that can become "toys". He can playoutside for hours, help me garden. kids love to help- you don't always have to be "playing" with them...they just want to be with you.

after dinner we play, watch a TV show and have snack, get ready for bed.

About getting new toys:
Are there any thrift/consignment stores near where you live? You can find second-hand toys for a fraction of the price. I got lots of blocks, legos, books, stuffed animals (wash inside a pillow case before use) for my son.
You can also join your local freecycle group. I got a big box of books for free from a freecycler and even shared some with my neighbor.

Other ideas:
She may not be able to do real crafts yet but I am sure she will enjoy coloring/drawing. My son loved drawing at that age, and also puzzles (the wooden kind with knobs or easy to hold pieces).
Is there a children's museum near where you live? That may be somewhere to go on colder days.
You may also consider finding a play group, or attending music classes for a change...

I too have an 18 month old daughter, who I think is turning out to be quite a tomboy. But I know how hard it is to fill the day up. I have had a lot of success with letting her use washable crayons and coloring books/construction paper, and helping her put stickers on paper. She also loves using sidewalk chalk outside, and matchbox cars (and throwing them down the slide). My husband set up some little boards that act as ramps and she makes the cars or choo choo trains go up and down the ramp. And lastly, you'd be surprised at all the little stuff you can find at Michael's Crafts. They have an aisle with really cheap random stuff, like sticker books and little toys, that is super cheap.

Definately not too early for routines. Our son is now 23 months and we did have a nanny come to out home everyday. You might want to try to have some things scheduled. We found a great toddler music class, every thursday morning. Then she found some reading programs at the local library so they would go either on Mondays or Fridays, it's ok if their attention span is limited, they are getting used to new places, other kids, etc.Our son just liked looking at books, so maybe do a library time once/week just to expose them to it. We also did crafts very young, finger paints, stamps, crayons, etc, he always loved it even if he couldn't really do it. She would just put him in the highchair and show him all kinds of things. Never easy, good luck.

Hi A.,

At 18 months old the only scheduled activities in our house was sleeping and eating. I work from home in the mornings, so after breakfast my son would play on his own. I took frequent breaks to get down on the floor and play with him or read him a book. My son chewed on everything he could get his hands on, including books and puzzles. If you are reading a book, give your daughter a teething toy to hold onto. Encourage her to only put teething toys in her mouth. Our pediatrician recommended using a vibrating toothbrush a few times a day and within a day or two he stopped mouthing toys and drooling.

We also went to the library for story time and play time, the kids he's met there he still plays with, they are all in pre-school together. On rainy/cold days you could go to an indoor playground, or if money is tight some McDonalds have playgrounds ( I just order a coffee, I don't let my son eat that junk and since he's never had it he doesn't want it or miss it), Barnes & Noble and other bookstores sometimes have story times and/or nice play areas in their children's section.

Before you know it she'll be off to school and you will wonder what to do with all your free time!

Good luck,
R.

If she's outgrown her toys, get her some age appropriate ones. Do a lot of reading together - get her little board books that she can "read" herself. Get a magnetic board and alphabet magnets. Let her play with your kitchen stuff - tupperware, non-metal spatulas, etc. Find a class for her to enjoy some socialization - gymboree, storytime at the library (this is usually free), mom and tot swim lessons, a playgroup. If you have a local childrens museum, pumpkin farm, aquarium, etc, she is old enough for some day trips.

Good luck

Check if your local library has story hour, playgroup or other programs for toddlers. In my area there are programs different days at different nearby libraries and they are free. Nassau county has a great library system and I know one of the librarians at the Bellmore library (Patti, one of the reference librarians). She has is a longtime friend of mine and she usually knows whatever local events are going on. YMCA also has inexpensive Mommy and Me classes in my area.