Sugguestions for activities for a two year old

skier1066

Hi,

First time post so be gentle ! Unfortunately my wife and I are seperated and I have my 2 year old daughter every second weekend. Its been working out well so far and I've managed to keep her entertained through the winter - however - I don't want the visits to become too samey and I'm looking for ideas as to what I can do to keep an active 2 year old entertained.

My daughter seems to like various things, the park, the swings, playing with her dolls, playing in her kitchen, drawing , play dough, reading (or pretending to) , swimming and pushing her pram about. She also likes to watch some tv, but I try to limit that - even if cbeebies is very good.

I did try some of the local kids play things but found them very difficult when I was on my own.

We are lucky enough to live close to the beach so thats an option when the weather gets a bit better. What other activies do parents get up to with their toddlers ?

Any suggestions greatfully received.

skylight

All the above. At this age repetition is the key - to many different things lead to confusion. Besides, this makes them all Daddys things!

What about some PC-CD roms? A half hour at a time? The Jump Ahead range is good - try Woolworths or cheaper at Amazon.

Balloons and empty boxes can keep kids amused (I kid you not and free/cheap!). We have had pirate ships, tescos (!), racing cars, truck drivers delivering ice cream (!), treasure caves and guitars - they can be anything you want.

I know how difficult it can be, they don't stay focused for more than half an hour - but, I have to say it again - you can over stimulate a child and she wants to be with Dad more than anything else. What is on your list already is great!

Rachie_B

my 3 yr old loves to don wellies and go walking in the fieldss / woods nearby,we look for flowers ,leaves etc ,anything really

also its great to splash in muddy puddles

what about glueing? you can get all sorts of things together old mags / catalogues with pics cut out,leaves,pasta shapes etc and make a collage

washing her dolls clothes in soapy water in the garden( then peg them on a "line" : ) ) or do the same with her teaset etc

blowing bubbles,this keeps my son entertained for ages ,and burns off energy ; ) from running round trying to catch and burst them

skylight

Actually, another idea would be the local pet shops. We are lucky and have lots round here - not the rabbit type ones though.... the spiders/snakes giant fishes type places.
You obviously dont have to buy anything, just look around. Great at this age and she be less frightened as she gets older.

nickinoo

My daughter is 2.5 & we do finger painting (perhaps a bit messy though), sticker books or just stickers & paper, glue & glitter/sparkly stuff, colouring in.

Also there are loads of great kids websites, https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies, https://www.nickjr.com, https://www.boohbah.com, https://www.thewiggles.com & https://www.hitentertainment.com (which links to Bob, Thomas, etc) are some of our favourites.

We actually do loads of other stuff but I can't think right now, I'll try & get back to you.

Counting_Pennies_2

Learning how to forward roll. We spent 30 minutes of 'lets get ready to tumble' shouted out before each roll, he was so chuffed with himself!

I have spent £5 in Early Learning Centre and bought those magnetic letters with a board to put them on. My son now knows after a week of fairly constant coaching the letter, sound and a word that goes with it. He turned 2 last week. Sorry had to get that in as a mummy boast!! But the reason for me saying about it, is it makes a great play time and good educationally as well (remember to say the sound and not the letter, i.e. curly cur for c and a kicking cur for a k etc.)

Wellies and puddles keep them amused for hours, my son refuses to go on the swings wants to constantly splash instead!

If there is an animal park nearby try and get an annual subscription (most of them are about £30 per year) so you can keep repetition, and have fun but also get some educational benefit.

There is a book called Entertaining and Educating Your Preschool Child (Usborne Parent's Guides) this has quite a few good ideas and it gives you a go at Blue Peter style toys, making things out of cardboard boxes etc!!

Also contact your local library and ask if they operate a toy library. That way you pay just an annual subscription of approximately £10 a year and you can hire for nominal fees lots of different toys all in good condition, and you can have something new for her to play with, or take her with you to choose what she would like to play with. Very cost effective.

Also you say you live near the beach, don't wait for the weather to get warmer, go now. I have just spent a weekend away at the beach and my son has gone wild jumping the waves. It was blowing, and showering at times, but that didn't matter. I had to hold him tight as he was all for walking into the sea and not stopping, but he had so much fun. Don your wellies both of you and take a towel and spare clothes, especially for little one as the water will lap her boots even when shallow. It was the cheapest fun we have had for ages.

Whatever you do have fun with her, and the times you have will be magical.

bobsa1

Near me they have a dad's toddler group which takes place on a saturday. Don't know any details but ring your local council and ask for childrens information service and they will tell you about any weekend activities.

A leisure centre also does soft play (giant soft shapes) for about £1.50 a session and what about swimming- mine all love it.

Also do you have a mini bike with a push along handle (could get one second hand) this makes even a walk to the shops fun.

across

having a two yr old is lovely i have a girl too! and a 4yr old they are great! i hope youre having lots of fun you sound like youre doing everything with her and everybody has given lots of lovely ideas! other things i do with mine is jigsaws, fuzzy felts, matching pair games,hungry hippos and hiding and finding games! making easter gifts and cards (or for whatever seasonal celebration might be nearby!), they love baking biscuits and cakes, and getting wellies and brollies out and splashing in muddy puddles like peppa pig! dancing and singing (involving learning body parts, left/right etc) hope this might help!!
enjoy yourselves!

andycarmi

Hi. What about baking!!! Something as simple as crispy cakes - melt chocolate in a bowl add rice krispies then put into cake cases!!!

Or make up some icing sugar and decorate rich tea biscuits and add sweets for decoration!!! Enjoy eating the too after!!! Simple and fun!!!

skier1066

Folks,

Just to say "thanks" for all the fantastic ideas, I will most definately be venturing out to the ELC for the magnetic letters (she loves fridge magnets already) and down to the beach.

I've already enrolled my wee one in the library but I never even thought to ask if they have a toy library as well. I'll check next time we are in.

I'm certainly enjoying the weekends we have together but I have some great ideas to try. I'll roll out the changes slowly as she has enough change in her wee life.

Thanks folks, great ideas

gingerdad

But with the letters don't push her, as the system starts to push to early anyway.

Our local library does story sacks, which are excellent. I find my 3 y/o does mostly want to do the same things we go cycling walking they love the park and playing allsorts at home. She has recently got quite into scalextric as well. Both my daughters love to play together lots of pretend games.

Baking and cooking, pizzas being one of my 2 dd/s favourites, along with home made burgers and any cakes they can make. They also enjoy washing up, though the wife gets upset, as they tend to wash more of the kitchen than the pots. But hey.

The other thing they love to do is go to Asda and get one of the small trolleys, we can spend a good couple of hours going round Asda, usually when wife has gone into school to do planning. Though we usually do it on a Saturday morning and for some reason some people get annoyed with us. Can’t see why.

We also do lots of family days like the above we have season tickets for all 4 of us to a local stately home, they love the park and cycling on the prom.

GD