How to Keep from Going Stir Crazy with a Toddler

(While I'm away, I didn't want there to too be too much silence over here! So, enjoy this post from my sweet, blogger friend Chandelle!) 

Hello there! I'm Chandelle...Stay at home mommy and blogger over at Midwest Mama!

I'm so excited to be entertaining all of Nicole's readers today! Praying for you sweet friend as you head to Haiti and even swing by Minnesota!

As you may have guessed, I'm a stay at home mommy to our sweet little boy, Christian James living life in Minnesota! Not sure if I can even be considered a first time mom still now that Christian is over 18 months old... nearly 20 months old, actually!!! Seriously, where does the time go!?

 Just over 2 1/2 years ago I was married to the good looking guy in the picture below {the adult, not the small child ;)}...then nine months later (well really more like 10 months...)...voila! Along came Christian! We actually found out we were pregnant on our 4 week anniversary of being married. We have quite the story, though. You should check it out now by clicking {here}. You won't want to miss the video of our proposal, either!

In case you missed it...I'm living in Minnesota! Can you say Brrrr????

Not only that but I think I often feel like I'm going crazy as I'm cooped up in my house day after day just trying to stay warm...AND keep a very active toddler entertained. Well, actually, let's be honest, it's more work keeping mommy entertained than my toddler some days. Christian is easily entertained. 

4 Tips to Keep from Going Stir Crazy with a Toddler 

1. Get out of the house 

Visit the library 

Go to the zoo

Walk the mall and play at the mall play area

Play at the Children's Museum 

Go for a walk 

Play at the park (even with snow!)

Play outside

Visit a pet store and look at the animals 

Walk around a toy store 

Go to a Moms Group 

Attend a music class 

Attend classes at the library 

Join an ECFE class 

2. Plan one structured activity every day that you will be cooped up at home 

Fridays are our "Free Play Days". On these days, I try not to plan anything and we just play. We often stay in our jammies all day and we just play whatever Christian wants to play. I can do this one day a week, but not 5! So on the other days of the week I try to structure our days and build in activities. 

This is a sample weekly schedule at our house. 

To see what a full day in my life looks like, click {here}

Monday - Music Day -- we use our rhythm instruments and other toy instruments to play along with music and dance the morning away

Tuesday - Moms Group Play Date at our house -- we play and hang out with other mom friends and their kids and end the morning with lunch before nap time

Wednesday - Snow Flake Painting -- we will be doing this but with painters tape on regular paper instead of a canvas 

Thursday -  Felt Snowman 

Friday - Free Play Fun Day! 

During each season 

{Fall, Christmas, Winter/Snow/Valentine's Day, Spring, All About Me, Colors, etc}

we visit the library and check out a bunch of books on a focus topic. Then I plan the activities for that month around the focus topic. 

:::Some of my favorite ways to entertain a toddler:::

Toddler Approved Fall Crafts

Toddler Approved Christmas Crafts 

Making a Gingerbread House with a Toddler

Allow your toddler to help with daily household chores. 

At 18 months old, Christian was able to put the pillows on the bed, wash windows and mirrors, "Sweep" the floors, "mop" the floors, help with dishes, vacuum, wash the table and counters, dust, and help cut foods in preparation for meals {with a dull knife of course}.

At this young age, he of course doesn't perform these chores fully or perfectly, but he is involved and happy and safe and out of trouble. He LOVES being mommy's little helper. 

Shake the dice game. 

I will give Christian a dice cup full of dice and let him shake it and then dump the dice out. We will practice counting the dice as we put them in the cup after each shake. 

Masking Tape Car Roads

I just made simple roads and went up over furniture for added "adventures" but you could add parking spaces and included more toys {barn, doll house, a zoo, etc} to allow your toddler's imagination to really flow!

Play Games

One of Christian's favorite games is Connect 4. This is a great fine motor activity and also creates some problem solving for your toddler as they try to figure out how to get the chips back out. 

Color Sorting Activity

Give your toddler square pieces of various colored papers and a handful of fruit loops and let them snack and sort the colors. You will probably need to help them a lot but its a great opportunity to talk about color words. You can also go on a scavenger hunt around your house to find "all the red things" or "all the blue things, etc" 

Color in a Box

Save a big box and let your child get in it and just color! You can even create a fort or a car or an object to use in pretend play. This will keep your little one entertained for a while!

Create an Obstacle Course with Pillows 

Christian LOVES to just run on the pillows! You can just put them in a straight row or weave them around  or make an actual obstacle course. Fun and great for gross motor skills as your little one has to practice balancing on a squishy surface

Sensory Bins

Buy a cheap plastic bin (one with a lid is great for being able to store the sensory items). Fill it up and let your little one explore! Christian loves to scoop with measuring cups and to also use some of his pool water toys sometimes. You can also add various items to the bins to go along with your themes (Mr. Potato Head pieces - talk about body parts, toys of a certain color -- red, etc, Farm animals, etc) 

**Please note: Depending on the age of your toddler, some of these sensory items can become choking hazards -- However, once Christian started trying to eat the dried beans, I gave him some black beans for lunch (which he usually won't eat) and he gobbled them up!

Sensory Items Ideas: 

Beans

Rice

Cotton Balls

Water

Cooked spaghetti

Ice cubes

Snow

Dry noodles 

Corn

Popcorn kernels

Sand

Flour

Be sure to follow me on Pinterest and check out my theme boards for more activity ideas. 

3. Have other moms and kids over for play dates

Building adult conversation into our days is really helpful to me in enjoying my time with Christian and allowing myself to be fully present with him when we are playing. Creating these real connections help me to disconnect from social media. Plus, Christian loves getting time with friends and its good for him to learn to play well with others and share his toys. Added bonus: he usually takes a really great nap after an active play date! 

4. Build in time for Mom too! 

Whether your toddler is still napping or is just having some alone time in their room for quiet time each day, be sure to use that time to refresh yourself! Maybe that means relaxing while you watch some tv or read a book or some blogs. Maybe it even means napping yourself! Make sure you do whatever you need to do so that you can be interested and ready to be present and enjoy your toddler when they are awake and at the ready! 

How do you keep from going stir crazy with a toddler? What are your favorite activities to keep your little one entertained? 

Blog ::: Facebook ::: Instagram ::: Pinterest ::: Twitter