Toddlers can wear parents out quicker than sprinting around the block. Mom needs to build a repertoire of fun, everyday activities for toddlers to keep everyone happy and sane. Use these tips for parents to fully enjoy the magic of raising a toddler.
Outings and Activities for Toddlers and Parents
There are few activities for toddlers more fun than going to the park. Toddlers have an innate need to run and climb. Find a local park with safe, appropriate activities for toddlers. Jungle gym type playgrounds with high, open areas are not for toddlers. Look for play areas dedicated to activities for toddlers. Most parks will have the intended age group of each play area posted.
Library story times make fun and educational activities for toddlers. Children love the books and many story times feature songs with steps and finger play for toddlers to do with mom. Look for a library that offers story times specifically for toddlers.
Toddlers benefit greatly from outings with other small children. Socializing with other small people from an early age is crucial, to learn the importance of social skills with peers and satisfy the need that all children have to visit with others close to their age and form friendships. Look for toddler playgroups.
Local playgroups can be found through newspapers, the internet, churches and other public gathering places such as libraries. One of the great things about becoming involved with playgroups is the combining of ideas for activities for toddlers from many parents. What one mom doesn’t know about, another parent will. Also, sharing of child raising tips for parents is very helpful.
Just as a toddler needs to hone social skills and form friendships, so do parents. A mom (or dad) who stays home with a toddler all day can benefit beyond measure by creating a supportive network of mom friends through playgroups. Activities for toddlers are exponentially more fun for everyone when shared.
Games and Art Activities for Toddlers
Games for toddlers are easy, as they usually require few or no materials and can be played anywhere. Blowing bubbles for a toddler is a fantastic way to enjoy a nice day outdoors. Encourage the toddler to see how many bubbles he or she can catch. This is usually an activity that mom tires of before the toddler! Puzzles make great activities for toddlers. Choose easy, chunky puzzles with few pieces to avoid frustration.
Dancing is always fun for toddlers and mom. Recorded music can be used or toddlers and parents can sing and clap together to make their own music. Toddlers also adore musical instruments made for small children. Shakers, tambourines and small drums are terrific to have on hand.
Children enjoy listening to the varied sounds of different instruments. The toddler years are the perfect time to begin instilling an appreciation for music in a child. While the child shakes a tambourine or listens to music, encourage him or her to jump, roll, squat and twist along with the rhythm. This is as much fun for mom to watch as it is for the toddler to do.
Other great activities for toddlers are arts and crafts. Yes, this is messy, so be sure there is plenty of time to complete the activity plus the clean-up. However, art is important for toddler development. Art activities for toddlers help nurture self-esteem, develop fine motor skills and are just plain fun for children of any age.
Finger painting with edible materials is super fun for a toddler. Peanut butter, pudding, yogurt and colored applesauce (like blueberry or strawberry) can be used. Be creative. Look in the pantry and fridge to find all kinds of things that can be used for this purpose. Mom can paint, too!
More art activities for toddlers include using sidewalk chalk on patios and walkways (play in driveways only with extreme caution, as cars regularly use private driveways to turn around in), bathtub crayons, tub paints and foam soap and supervised crayoning on paper (loose crayon pieces are a choking hazard).
Reading Books to a Toddler
Besides parental love, there is absolutely nothing more beneficial for a parent to give a child than a love of reading. Read a variety of books every day. Toddlers love books with flaps they can lift and textured surfaces to feel. Try to branch out of baby board books as well and include picture books for preschoolers.
Have Fun With a Toddler Every Day
Among the best of tips for parents is to simply relax and enjoy watching a toddler develop and grow. This precious time fades all too quickly. Join toddler playgroups, play games and read books to toddlers to make every day a good day.
Find this article useful? Read also Make an Outing Fun for a Toddler and Stop Toddler Tantrums.
Johanna England - Johanna England is the mother of four young children between the ages of ten and three and a recent graduate of the University of Houston, ...
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