Salaam all.
I need some help here, I’m a working mom and very limited on time.
When I come home I pretty much jump into the kitchen to get dinner on the table for the kids.
It usually just the kids and myself as thier fathers comes home later.
When I’m in the kitchen I often leave the kids to watch TV.
I’m not liking this trend. What else can I entertain them with?
I can’t just say go play with each other - WWIII usually breaks out.
Thanks:)
Re: Entertaining Toddlers
Can't u freeze fd for the week n weekends? That would leave u free to spend time with em when u get home from work.
Mine r the same... They will kill each ther if left alone.... Luckily my eldest is into feminine things and kitchen is a place of worship for him... So genie stays outside the kitchen and him in... I leave whatever she likes to do about her... And get midget to help me out in the kitchen..
Maybe u can get the lil one to sit in the kitchen with plastic boxes etc.. And let the older ne entertain himself with whatever it is he likes doing... Just no tv.
Re: Entertaining Toddlers
give them colouring books to colour or something to draw
Re: Entertaining Toddlers
Khawa - I do cook in spurts and have like yakhni on hand and make the pulao when I come home. So its already semi prepared but still takes me a minute to get it on the table and then afterwards the clean up and packing lunches for tomorow takes sometimes.
I can't imagine them in the kitchen - I'd get nothing done. My spawn arent the kind to play with anything. They want to be the center of attention all the time. Daniyal will empty out the panty or all my tupper wear if in the kitchen. Ayman poses less of a problem.
Devilish - yes I try that sometimes, ran into two problems they want each other's books and they draw on themselves and the walls. I think I may need to try color pencils rather then crayons and markers.
Thanks ladies - keep um coming.
Re: Entertaining Toddlers
yeah give them colour and pencils.
or any puzzle game to solve or if they are little older ask them to organize their study table and cup board :D
Re: Entertaining Toddlers
haha… God bless 
Im gonna be waiting for replies too cuz I’ve given up… I let them scream and fight and just deal with it, sometimes… cuz I’m just too bz doing a chore and don’t wanna take a break or the hundredth time …
I don’t think kids of these ages, especially when put together … Can do much… Cuz its rivalry.. U could give them the same colored stuff.. They will still fight.
Fine.. Go fight.
Re: Entertaining Toddlers
Devi: the older one makes the puzzle and the younger one breaks it up. War I tell u!!
oo vacationing made me forget.... I get the older one to sit in his room and play or color or play dough a project and I shut the door (don't do this if ure kid is the kind that will climb out the window daredevil etc)... The younger one is free to roam around and do what she likes..
Theynstay out of each others hair and mine too!
I work at super speed cuz I know it won't last long!
Re: Entertaining Toddlers
Khawa I have to try that - divide and conquer seems to be the key here
Re: Entertaining Toddlers
lolz i only have one right now so cant say much
but read this on fb
having one child makes you a parent
but having 2 makes you a refree 
Re: Entertaining Toddlers
Mine loves to do the cooking stuff with me. So sometimes she counts out a certain number of something that I need (blueberries, spoons, bowls, etc), she has to help stir almost everything, etc. She also has some toys and things that are specifically for the kitchen (bowls, cups, spoons) etc that she will play with while I'm cooking. Could you involve them in the process? It takes ten times longer, but it's a nice break for them and you.
Re: Entertaining Toddlers
Mine likes to play with her kitchen and utensils when I am cooking,though it is not very usual.She also loves her lego blocks.Can your kids use those?I know is hard to keep two entertained while you do something in the kitchen.It must be easy to keep one occupied for a while…
But try it,kids love it no matter girls or boys..
Story books..??..My toddler will sometimes start reading if I am not around.She does not color unless I am with her ,so that does not work for me.
These days the thing that works a lot is when I tell her go and check if abu is coming.She goes and stands in the window peeking outside and I keep telling ‘abu is coming..abu is coming..watch out for the green car …do not move…he is coming’…Works for about 15 or so mins at times..muahhaha.
Re: Entertaining Toddlers
great tip chips6!!!
Re: Entertaining Toddlers
^^ I Know,right.It works even if it is 10 am or 6 pm (her father comes home around 7 pm).
She sees other kids and birds and trees and whatever is out there and that keeps her busy.I also know it will not last forever....:(
Re: Entertaining Toddlers
^aww but then she'll grow up she can fairly help u in kitchen....my 4year old neice used to wakeup in sehri specially to put plates n omelete on table for us :)
n ur method also reminds me....when we watch horror movies my sis used to give her the bowl of saunf n she tells her to separate the pink colored n green saunf in 2other bowls n she gets busy in it....
Re: Entertaining Toddlers
What is wrong with them watching TV for half an hour or so?
Re: Entertaining Toddlers
I let my kid watch TV if I’m in the kitchen. She’ll stay put for half an hour so I try to do everything as fast as I can.
Will they play with toys?? Color? Read?
Re: Entertaining Toddlers
TLK we’ve set a routine of sorts. After the day is done, the two of them run up and bathe and then jump into my bed with thier milk and watch a half hour of Dora - they love it and it calms them in preperation for bedtime. They don’t seem willing to give that up - so add the TV they watch while I’m making dinner and the pre bedtime ritual adds up to about 1 - 1.5 of TV and thats a total :nono:
Thanks all - yesterday I tried Khawa’s deal - seperated them. Gave them a snack and let one sit on the kitchen table and the other in the den. Was an improvement from the past. 