I need to know how i can keep my 13, soon to be 14 month old busy. We do physical play, she plays with plastic containers, a cooking pot or two, sits in the fridge if she sees it open etc. We also go out for a walk almost everyday and she loves loves loves doing that. We used to do reading time at the library too but havent been there in a while. I am running out of ideas to keep her busy and entertained. She doesn’t play for too long independently, she will spend maybe 5 mins in the play pen. She loves company and i sometimes take her to my friends’ who have kids her age but i don’t like doing that all the time (friends don’t drive and i don’t want to be over at their place all the time).
So what other activities can i do with her? She isnt too interested in crayons and coloring yet but loves reading books.
Does she like activity books, Fisher Price has soom good large books with tons of pop out pictures/shapes etc...I know my son loved those. Also for an hour maybe show her some learning video/cartoon that is educational. How about an activity table, which has like abc's, numbers etc....that also keeps the kid busy and occupied.
Afro, she doesnt have an activitiy table, but does have a lot of vtech toys that has abcd 123 type activities but she rarely uses them unless i sit next to her and "help" her play with them. She does love flipping through books so maybe i can get an inexpensive large picture book to flip through.
^ They have a really nice one at Ikea. It has two chairs and a table, made out of wood, for $50. I'll be getting one for my son.
Ira, I'm having the same problem. My boo needs to be kept busy. See if you can put her into a playgroup twice a week. My problem is that there is nothing in my area and they are all during weekdays when I work.
Sahar she loves getting in and out of chairs, might get her one of those as well. I just feel like she has so much stuff that she rarely touches. Thats why i get a bit hesitant buying her more things.
Afro, she doesnt have an activitiy table, but does have a lot of vtech toys that has abcd 123 type activities but she rarely uses them unless i sit next to her and "help" her play with them. She does love flipping through books so maybe i can get an inexpensive large picture book to flip through.
Perhaps invest in the activity table, you can get a Fisher Price one for $30-40, and it does keep child entertained while learning...it is so interactive.
Also you can get a few coordinating sets of Lego's or building blocks(they even have soft ones)....that she can explore...there is a world of possibilities with that.
Also get construction paper, safety scissors, glue....and maybe cut out a bunch of shapes and pictures...teach her how to once she is older....show her how to glue and make little designs....
get her big grip crayons/washable markers and tons of large sheets of papers and let her loose...just learning to use her hands...actually finger paints are another excellent idea...my son loved doing that....they sell a ton of safe finger paints in toys r us....u can get cheap large sheets of paper...and help her with that...its so much fun...
also she is old enough to be introduced to various flash cards....for ABC's/123's/shapes/colors and also arabic letters. What my cousin did is print out each alphabet(arabic) on a piece of paper and she hung up the sheets all over the house on the walls. So thru out the day she would point out alif...be...thay..se...jeem....etc....and slowly the child starts associating sounds to the letter...etc....its great for learning and fun at the same time.
Also get her a shape sorter bin, my son used to play with that often...and they learn as they go.
Great ideas from everyone. I have one too… get the fisher price jumperoo, my daughter loved jumping in it when she was that age… she would wear herself out in 45-60 minutes and even fall asleep in it
My daughter is 5 months but I got this gym for her with the idea that she will play with it even after she is 12 months old (Insha Allah) currently this toy keeps her busy for an hour or more everyday. You can check it out for your daughter too.
Like Afro said get her books and make flash cards. Someone told me that she started Alphabet books after her daughter turned 9 months. Offcourse she couldn’t talk at that time but she used to point out things and alphabets whatever was asked. Similarly a friend of mine started teaching her daughter by asking "where are you eyes " , “where is your tongue” and with eyes question she would put both her hands on her eyes and for tongue she would just stick it out.
Few weeks back I went to this toy market in Karachi there I saw something like multiple board. Blackboard on one side and white board on another. On white board magnet could also be used so they have plastic made Alphabets with magnets to stick on it. Like you draw an apple on it and ask her to put the alphabet for apple , give her all the alphabets and let her find A.
^ They have a really nice one at Ikea. It has two chairs and a table, made out of wood, for $50. I'll be getting one for my son.
Ira, I'm having the same problem. My boo needs to be kept busy. See if you can put her into a playgroup twice a week. My problem is that there is nothing in my area and they are all during weekdays when I work.
I saw a really nice one with I guess Lilo and Stitch (sp) characters on it, tiny little chair and a small table and another one with 'hello kitty' on it but when these children are so restless, how do you girls expect them to sit at one place and play. I was so tempted but had to let go because I know my daughter will not sit instead she will try to stand on it and god forbid eventually fall from the chair or the table.
Are you registered at sites like babyinfo and what not? My wife used to receive regular emails about the growth of both our kids, what should be their normal behavior, their expectations and all that. Those emails were quite informative and helped my wife to plan the activities according to the mental capabilities, expectations and energy levels of the kid.
TLK, we recieve similar emails from our local hospital but those havent helped too much in terms of activities so far.
My daughter loves getting in and out of chairs. She has a rocking chair that she really likes. So she might like the little table and chair. But i also understand Miverva's concern (btw Minerva, CONGRATS, didnt know you got married and had a baby).
Afro, i love the flash cards idea but she isnt into them too much yet, i think. She will like flipping through them herself instead of repeating after me. I got her some crayons and she is more interested in eating them than scribbling. I will try finger paints or even pudding for smearing on paper instead!
I was thinking of putting some paper on my fridge with magnets since my daughter is always following me around the kitchen and have her paint/crayon there when she is ready. Maybe this way half my pateelis wont end up in the rest of the house, lol.
Thank you for some great ideas everyone, please keep some more coming.
