fun things to do with a 2 year old

Lillibet_2

freyasmum wrote: »

M

I will probably be shot down for this but she absolutely adores the jungle book and the singing kettle so sometimes I let her watch those dvds. I have tried her with other ones, but those seem to be her favourites. So much so that when I dropped her off this morning, my mum put it on (to distract her) and when I asked her for a kiss, she begrudgingly gave me one but didn't take her eyes of the tv!! That will need to be stopped!

My 2YO is currently sat watching the Polar Express! But worse, that is his 3rd DVD this morning:o, he has already watched the Snowman & a Bob the Builder, but the 1st 2 we watched together & sat & talked about them & what was happening, had a lovely cuddle, sang the songs together (well, he la-la'd through Crocodile Rock:rotfl:), looked at his Snowman book at the same time as the film & he picked out matching pictures etc. Watching DVD's (and especially TV with lots of advertising:eek:) is not ideal but does have a benefical side,especailly when balanced with creative play time, trips out to the playground, walks etc. I do plan to cut Spuds TV time down in the new year but he seems to have suddenly got the hang of talking in sentances (or at least more than one word at a time) which has concencided with an increase in his watching dvd's so for now I am letting it happen. I've come on the Internet to print off some colouring pages from the Bob the Builder website, he made a lovely snowman at nursery last week, we've popped popcorn & mixed it with dried fruit for him to eat as a snack whilst watching tv, we've been on Spud the scarcrow spotting walks (only one scarecrow in the area but fun looking for more!) etc, so it doesn't have to be just about sitting them alone in front of the TV & can have lots of good active off-shoots!

So don't feel too bad about it!

pixiegirl

I have worked with children for a few years now and good things to do are

Jelly play - make a big bowl of jelly, when its set empty it into a washbowl or a tray add toys (plastic animals etc) the kids will love the texture and if they eat it so what - as long as hands and toys are clean!

Spaghetti play - cook a pack of spaghetti maybe add some food colouring whist cooking and use as above

GLOOP - get a pack or two of corn flour and mix with water and food colouring if desired. you can squeeze the corn flour and it solidifies (kindof) and open your hand and it will run off - again add toys spoons cups etc

Washin up - kids like to wash the babies and their clothes, make a mini clothes line and hang the clothes to dry.

hope these help??

If you want to know more just pm me

x x x

bluebell13

I would echo the post by howskint. Happy hens is brilliant! If you want to know about indoor soft play centres in the area pm me and I will give you directions. Some are better for younger children than others.

Alikay

Another vote for Markeaton Park (and a visit to the McDonalds just outside always goes down well!) and Highfield Happy Hens.

But if she seems anxious and asks for her mummy a lot, its probably better to concentrate on making her feel at home in your house rather than going out and about too much. Maybe letting her choose a few knick nacks for her bedroom at your house, making a little indoor picnic (our kids loved making a den with sheets draped over chairs to eat it in!), lots of bath-time toys, decorating a special box for her toys with her. Maybe establish some simple fun routines that she always does at your home - sounds simple but our kids loved walkng to Granny's local shop for a comic and choosing a packet of biscuits when they stayed at hers!

shoequeen

Since you're on an MSE thread I'm imagining you can't throw huge amounts of money at the problem. Join the library with her. Never too young!

Have you checked out the charity shops? Lots of books & toys of great quality end up there cos kids grow out of stuff quickly. For a pound or two you can come away with loads, then just donate it back when she's a bit older & fetch another lot. That way she has 'her' toys at 'your' house but for a seniuble price. After all if she's only with you once a week it would be silly to spend lots.

If that gives you a bit more spare cash in your budgret maybe some of those days out become a possibility? In the car don't forget the power of nursery rhymes: get a cd to help you and remember the sings you loved when you were pre-school. She'll want to sing along woith you - and she'll be practicing memory, counting & other skills without knowing it.

Have fun!

afsana_2

hi

my daughetr is 22 months old and I am trying to think of things to do when I have a week of work next week. I don't get much time alone with her and i want to do something she would enjoy and so could I.

been given some money from family as a birthday thing so can do this. but she is at an awkward age. too young to appreciate a lot of things.

the seaside is out because she hates the feel of sand on her toes she thinks of it as dirt

any ideas

my daughter is not into tv. i have never left her in front of tv and nor do my parents who look after her. I heard somewhere that under 3's shouldn't watch tv. But its difficult not to

thought it would be nice to go for walks so thats what you could do with your child in derby are there must be some nice places-do an nature walk. showingher bits helping her do a tree rubbing-she is young but if yu hold crayon with her it is all possible

mrcow

At 22 months, there is loads she'll appreciate.

Take her swimming, or to a playground, or on a picnic, or do some cooking with her, or take her to a play farm where she can see/feed the animals, make playdough, play a computer game, take her shopping, go out on her bike, take her out to feed the ducks, go to the library, or a toddler group or a music group where she can bash some instruments. Lots of places have special activities on this time of year as it's the summer holidays.

dooj

empty your cupboard of all your plastic pots and bowls and get all your wooden spoon, let her play with them. Also playing with bowl of water, let her wash up pots. I think tv is ok with a 2 year old as long as you watch it with them- check out your local library do they loan dvd's and cd's. Do you not have a toy library near, search the internet for your local toy library. Finger paints? and painting. Making musical instruments out of yoghurt pots and pasta to shake. my daughter is about the same age and she loves to play with toy animals (bought at asda for 99p) and dinosaurs. Also she has a bag of material she likes to play with, some bits we make clothes, hats and scarves with, other we make camps with,we also use it to wrap dolls in. Asda and wilkinsons sell lots of cheap toys. Charity shops have even cheaper toys.

Pippilongstocking

My kids use to love putting some (and i stress only a little) food colouring in the bath, they cost about 30p each - and do no harm to skin.

We make great combinations of colours and they swril around, not really needed for proper bath time, but here with the weather sometimes being so erratic we opt for 'swimming' in a rainbow bath.

We can often opt for swimmers, goggles etc and just have fun with toys in nice coloured water.

Just a thought really....

scottish_lassy

go for a short walk and collect some leaves, twigs etc and then she can stick them on the back of some wallpaper and make a lovely picture to take home to her mum!. Empty cardboard boxes are great fun to, they can be boats, cars, garages, dollshouses. It does not need to be expensive to be fun for a 2 year old - helping making a picnic to have at the swing-park makes it all the more tastier (for the 2 year old that is!!)
:j :j