What to do with barely-toddlers?

[skybluepink02]

I've got twin 13 month olds and am at a loss for what to do with them during the day. I stay at home with them and by 3:00pm, we're all bored! I do take them to the library and park, but I'm looking more for things to do around the house. I'd love it if it were educational as well. I think I'm just having a hard time shifting from a baby mindset to a toddler mindset.

[AKislandgirl]

My DD is the same age as your twins. lately we have been walking up and down our road a lot. She loves to explore the puddles (pot holes!) in our dirt road, pick up sticks and rocks, and go to the end of the road to check for mail. This can take quite a while and the mail boxes are only about 5 houses down!

She loves emptying her cupboard (plastic bowls and cups and things) and stacking the items. She's also really into boxes. Put the blocks in, take the blocks out...over and over.

She's really into coloring now too. I tape a piece of paper to the table and give her some chunky crayons and she goes to town!

Her grandparents got her a sand and water table. Still too cold around here to set it up but I imagine her getting a lot of use out of that once things warm up and we can be outside for longer stretches.

HTH! I'm looking forward to reading other responses too.

[Everrgreen]

We get bored too! I like to have at least one outing everyday - playgroup, park, errands/shopping, or just a long walk (or bike ride). Anything to get out of the house!! And when the weather's nice I will be outside as much as possible!
In the house we spend time playing with toys (I usually follow DS's lead as to what we do until I get bored and then I will pull out some new toys he hasn't played with in a while), he loves music and dancing, bathtime is playtime here (not part of the bedtime routine so we can do it whenever for fun!), also he really likes helping with chores, he will happily watch me doing something 'boring' like vacuuming, laundry, or other general cleaning/tidying up (although he hates when I'm cooking/doing the dishes)

I hope to get some good ideas from others to keep us entertained in the house

[kgianforti]

Shape sorters and puzzles have been a huge hit with my now 16 month old since about 9 months. I have a few different ones that I rotate.

Our toy tub is also out in the living room for easy access.

She also enjoys wooden blocks.

[Plaid Leopard]

-chalk - on sidewalks or on a chalkboard
-painting - you can get one of those big rolls of paper and tape a long sheet to wall, or even let them paint on windows or glass doors
-throwing balls/beanbags/small toys into a box or bucket
-mixing flour, water, spices, salt, pepper etc in mixing bowls
-playing with matchbox type cars - make hills, roads, and ramps for them to go on
-making tents or hideouts with sheets and blankets
-letting the kids lie on the bed while you "make the bed" (even my 11yo likes to lie there while the sheet billows out and drifts down over him)

[lifeguard]

I find we have to get out of the house every day if at all possible. Many mornings we go to a drop in children's center close by, swimming, the library, shopping (although less so now as he's becoming less tolerant of the shopping cart), visiting friends, playing in the backyard now that it's nicer out, soon the parks will be nice to visit again (they're just mud now), etc.

[sweetpeanz]

There are a few ideas for Toddler Games suitable for one or more (two or more is usually more fun!) http://doingstuffwithkids.com/toddler-games/

To get a constant supply of fresh ideas, you could subscribe to "Busy Kids are Happy Kids" (for free) at http://doingstuffwithkids.com You will get an email in your inbox every couple of days with an indoor activity idea and an outdoor activity idea. It is very convenient and ensures you have lots of variety to stave off boredom.