11 month old activities?

[Beauchamp]

I'm feeling tired and lost over here. DH travels for business about 50% of the time, so I am a SAHM, plus a part time single mama. I love my DD soooo much, but she's almost 11 months and nearly walking, super intense, and into evvvvvverything.

What do you do with your LO's all day?!? She's too loud and won't sit still for our library. She can't take the grocery store for very long. It's HOT and muggy here (92*, bright sun and mosquitos galore today....UGH) but we tried a stroller walk anyway. (Bad idea, mama!)

I am at a loss for things to do with her. She is in that phase where she will cry huge tears and throw herself down when she can't have certain "toys", aka the remote control, my digital camera, laptop, cordless phone... She doesn't seem to like to play with her toys. She loves to yank out drawers of folded clothes. (Sigh.) And neatly stacked/stuffed cloth dipes. (Sigh, again.)

I just can't crawl on my hands and knees and play "I'm gonna get you" or our version of Hide & Seek all day long!!!

Help!

[liliaceae]

Well for inside play, we have a cupboard in the kitchen at ground level just for her. It's full of tupperware and the like, so she can pull stuff out and make a mess with it.

Another good inside activity is to spread out a sheet on the floor, give her a bowl full of oats and a bunch of different containers and spoons, and let her play with that.

For outside, my DD loves her brother's sand box and his sand and water table, and your DD might enjoy a little plastic pool filled with water (mine doesn't like actually being in the water. ).

[liliaceae]

Also see if you have any children's museums in your area.

[jammomma]

I find that my son gets bored being around the house all day, which is why we are starting classes soon.

I just signed my 10 month old son up for Gymboree classes, and soon we are going to start swim lessons and I am hoping to find him a baby signs class soon.

He loves to go to the playground and swing in the baby swings, he also loves going for walks in the Ergo carrier, he will not tolerate being a sroller at all.

He is either in the Ergo or riding in a shopping cart when we go shopping (he loves shopping) and he has even started to enjoy car rides.

Some days we will just go sit out in the yard and watch birds, he loves watching birds!

[MommaCrystal]

Lots of water play! If outside isn't an option we just spread a sheet on the floor in the kitchen and I put down tubs or bowls of water. I like to try and find something big enough they can't just topple over.

Walks in the carrier. Swings at the playground. If it is hot then indoor mall play places (if you don't mind the germs). Play museums too of course. Like others said...plastic containers in the kitchen. I keep a box of scarves and we dance. I keep a box of kid safe instruments and we make noise.

HTH!

[Beauchamp]

Don't they just dump the water out? I think my DD would do this.

[ElsieLC]

That is a hard age. It helped me to have activities that both DD and I liked, which were:
- playdates with another mom friend and her kid. Like once or twice a week.
- as someone else mentioned, children's museum or other museum that YOU like. For me it's the zoo. DH takes DD to the airplane museum. Once you find one you like, buy a membership and a guest pass so you can take another mom friend with you (often the kids are free).
- visiting new parks. DD didn't mind driving around, so I used it as my chance to get to know the city better.

(And they do dump the water out...just put a lot of towels on the floor and call it clean when they're done!)

[maddymama]

Depending upon your child's ability level, you may be able to start doing art activities with your LO.... such as crayons, finger paint, etc. Just keep a close eye on your LO, use non-toxic supplies, and have a wet rag at the ready. DD1 loves to do art. DD2 is almost at the age to start art projects and I am so excited for her.
~maddymama

[berry987]

I remember taking my one year old on hot days to the mall and just letting him walk while I followed. We'd stop for a pretzel and otherwise just walk and he'd explore. Not an everyday activity, of course.

[Comtessa]

Beauchamp, I had to chuckle at your post because my DD is just exactly the same way!!! (BTW, I also always love reading your posts b/c we were pregnant together and your posts in the homebirth forum were always so good... can you believe it's been a year already since then???)

I had to think about this a little bit because I'm not very conscious of doing very many "baby activities" with my DD. I part-time WAH, so I have to get stuff done during the day while I'm with her. Mostly I do my stuff and she does hers -- she can usually be found playing quietly at my feet while I work on the computer or on paperwork, or while I cook/do dishes.

It's not that she's a quiet baby, really, but like your LO, she's very intense and into everything. So, she gets very focused on whatever she's doing, and I take advantage of that focus whenever I can. I've found that some "toys" (pots and pans, bottles of spices from the cupboard, an old newspaper that I'm done reading) can keep her busy for a VERY long time while I'm working. I let the laundry be a toy, too: I put the basket of clean laundry in the middle of the floor and let her pull everything out (she often puts clothes on her head and then crawls around in circles, giggling madly). Then I take a break from whatever I'm doing, put everything back in the basket, and let her start again. This can be good for a full 45 minutes of more or less uninterrupted work. I also spend some time on MDC, or answering email, etc. It's usually a pretty peaceful time. Right now, for example, as I sit typing, she's sitting at my feet, busily tearing apart a pile of junk mail I put on the floor for her to play with.

We also do a lot of walks in the stroller or Ergo (stroller if it's warm, Ergo if it's rainy or cold), usually to the supermarket or library or post office, just running errands. I don't like taking her to the park when I'm alone, because all of our nearby parks are large urban parks that can be a bit isolated during the day, and I don't feel entirely safe there alone with the baby. We often walk there in the evening with DH.

When we go to the library, I usually pick out a book or two and then head out again -- we don't hang out there, she's too little to appreciate it and she usually makes too much noise, like your DD. We do go to the baby sign language classes at the library, but that's only half an hour once a week. She loves it! There are a few other groups that meet there, though, that we could go to if I wanted to: play group, baby storytime, etc. Plus other sorts of events where babies are welcome.

Other things we do during the day: blow bubbles and try to catch them, wash laundry and hang it on the clothesline, build towers of blocks and knock them down, etc. But these are all brief games; most of the day I work on things and she plays nearby. Sometimes if she's in a quiet mood, or ready for a nap, she'll sit on my lap while I read a book or magazine. I often read while she nurses to sleep and then hang out with her in my arms and read during her nap.

And, lastly, my go-to activities when she's really having a tough day: we play peek-a-boo with her blankets (or the aforementioned laundry), we take a long bath with lots of splashing, or we walk to the zoo. It's a long walk, but we have a family membership so it's free whenever we want to go. She loves watching the fish in the aquarium, the kangaroos, and the monkeys.

[Erinz]

I have my 11 month old (11 months today!) and nearly 4 year old at home all day--

So.. BATHS! baths are fun. Everything still goes in the mouth so I can't imagine crayons. I did try watercolors and chided myself for a week for trying them This age is really hard. They want to walk but can't, they want to do so much but can't. In just a few short months the whole game will change and everything gets easier. Walking is AWESOME if you ask me!

I can't imagine being a part time single parent. Seriously.can.not.imagine.

Remember to be kind to yourself, to carve time for yourself, and take some nice long breaks when your spouse is home

[cowboyjunki]

I have my 5 year old and an 11 month old at home with me every day. The thing that has been a life saver for me is to join a playgroup. I found ours through a friend, but it is on meetup.com. We go to outings 2-3 x/week, and there are lots of babies that my daughter can play with.

When we are at home, we play in the play room quite a bit. She is not great at entertaining herself and gets upset if no one is nearby. I'm lucky that big brother entertains her sometimes (like right now!). We go in the backyard sometimes in the baby pool or in the front yard under a tree on a blanket. Now that she is older, we may have to go to the children's museum soon too. That's about it!

[Beauchamp]

Originally Posted by Comtessa

Beauchamp, I had to chuckle at your post because my DD is just exactly the same way!!! (BTW, I also always love reading your posts b/c we were pregnant together and your posts in the homebirth forum were always so good... can you believe it's been a year already since then???)

...Mostly I do my stuff and she does hers -- she can usually be found playing quietly at my feet while I work on the computer or on paperwork, or while I cook/do dishes.

....Right now, for example, as I sit typing, she's sitting at my feet, busily tearing apart a pile of junk mail I put on the floor for her to play with.

...or we walk to the zoo. It's a long walk, but we have a family membership so it's free whenever we want to go. She loves watching the fish in the aquarium, the kangaroos, and the monkeys.

Hmm...well, I can get a few minutes of "quietly playing at my feet" with "her" kitchen cabinet filled with stuff. Or these (somewhat annoying) plastic musical farm animal magnets that are on the lower half of our fridge. Otherwise with her it's more like "cling to my leg and cry" than play at my feet.

I did try the junk mail "game". She ate it. A LOT of it. So we don't play that game very often unless mama really has an important phone call or something. I am going to try the water-in-bowls game. She would like that I think.

I am definitely going to seek out some classes. Baby sign would be very cool! I am sooooo jealous of the zoo/aquarium. DH and I love going to places like that. I am so remote, though, and we don't have a zoo nearby (like 3 1/2 hrs away is the closest one) and no kids museums that I know of. Our aquarium is kind of lame, and a bit of a drive. I can't wait until we move!!! (DH's job wants to put us in Tennessee.)

This month is the LLL meeting, so I may start there. And googling baby classes. Unfortunately, I think a big reason why DD got interested in solid food (around 9-10 months) was because I was just eager for a break to drink a cup of coffee, so I'd sit her in her chair with some rice puffs or beans or something.

[Mamatolea]

My kiddo loves tactile sensory stuff. One of his favorite things is I put him in his high chair and put vanilla pudding on the tray and let him play in it. It is messy but sooo much fun. I will make shapes or write his name with it. Sometimes I will drop some food coloring in so it changes while he is playing in it. Great way to learn about colors and shapes. He also likes to drive his cars through it. Good times. Just be ready to stick him in the tub when you're finished

I give him paper towel rolls to play with and filled empty water bottles with dried beans and taped them securely - he banged and rattled them. He is very into music - so we do a lot of dancing around. I also gave him a huge light up wand and he "conducts" ala Little Einsteins Leo. If you aren't opposed to a bit of video, Little Einsteins are a great choice. Educational and fun, both my kids love them and are learning about geography and music and different talents, so once in a while, it's a good diversion.

We practice sharing and manners by sharing toys and saying please and thank you. This was important with my daughter before her brother was born and we continue it now. It has helped immensely with playdates. They don't ALWAYS share, but they are really good about it because they are more used to it.

I also made picture books and flashcards for them. The picture books I bought a plastic covered one I could slide the pictures in so they didn't get ripped or ruined(but don't use irreplacable pictures!!). I also made laminated flash cards for them of family they don't see all the time so when we visit, they know them <3 My daughter used to spend hours looking at them and telling me who was who!

[Comtessa]

Originally Posted by Mamatolea

If you aren't opposed to a bit of video, Little Einsteins are a great choice. Educational and fun, both my kids love them and are learning about geography and music and different talents, so once in a while, it's a good diversion.

I don't want to start a debate on this board, but I think it's important to address this point. Many parents believe that the Little Einstein videos are good for their babies, but several studies have concluded that not only do baby videos have no benefit for babies and children, they can actually be harmful to language and brain development.

I think most of us aren't purists - DH and I don't always wait until DD is in bed before turning on a movie - but we're clear that the video is for our benefit, not DD's. I'm not in the camp of people who believe that a few minutes of screen time will hurt my toddler - but I am emphatically opposed to the kind of marketing and baby-branding done by Disney for its Little Einstein stuff. They don't belong on a list of good activities for 11 month olds!! (No offense intended to the PP! I know sometimes we all need a break! But this one is a pet peeve of mine b/c the corporations marketing this product are so powerful and their claims so outrageous & insidious.)

In October 2009, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood successfully pressured Disney to offer refunds for its Little Einstein videos under the threat of a class action lawsuit because in its advertising it was "making false claims about the educational merit of videos."

Pertinent links here:

• "Baby Scam: Marketing to Infants and Toddlers" from the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood
• "Children, Adolescents and Television," Pediatrics, Vol. 107, No. 2 (February 2001, pp. 423-426)

[Mamatolea]

Before lambasting me, perhaps you might have done YOUR research a bit more carefully. What I said was LITTLE EINSTEINS, NOT BABY EINSTEINS! I don't plug my kids in front of a ridiculous parade of toys set to music, that is stupid. The LITTLE EINSTEINS are 4 multi-racial children who go on missions to help others and in the process learn about music, geography, history, etc.

Might want to check that before you go off on someone next time. And you might want to change your hot link to say BABY Einstein and not LITTLE Einstein since what you wrote is NOT what is in the link. Wouldn't want any legal repercussions on yourself for mis-representing the facts.....

And for the record, it's THIS for anyone wondering:
http://tv.disney.go.com/playhouse/li...ins/index.html

Originally Posted by Comtessa

I don't want to start a debate on this board(uh huh...), but I think it's important to address this point. Many parents believe that the Little Einstein videos are good for their babies, but several studies have concluded that not only do baby videos have no benefit for babies and children, they can actually be harmful to language and brain development.

I think most of us aren't purists - DH and I don't always wait until DD is in bed before turning on a movie - but we're clear that the video is for our benefit, not DD's. I'm not in the camp of people who believe that a few minutes of screen time will hurt my toddler - but I am emphatically opposed to the kind of marketing and baby-branding done by Disney for its Little Einstein stuff. They don't belong on a list of good activities for 11 month olds!! (No offense intended to the PP! I know sometimes we all need a break! But this one is a pet peeve of mine b/c the corporations marketing this product are so powerful and their claims so outrageous & insidious.)

In October 2009, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood successfully pressured Disney to offer refunds for its Little Einstein videos under the threat of a class action lawsuit because in its advertising it was "making false claims about the educational merit of videos."

Pertinent links here:

• "Baby Scam: Marketing to Infants and Toddlers" from the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood
• "Children, Adolescents and Television," Pediatrics, Vol. 107, No. 2 (February 2001, pp. 423-426)

Those links talk about TV. We watch these on videos and they have no commercials either. It's pretty easy to obtain them sans commercials.

And for the record, my son can hum Beethoven and Mozart in tune as well as do the activities like patting and clapping to make the rocket work and he actually enjoys the 30 minute show once in a while, so let's not be silly about expectations and let's CERTAINLY not talk about how my choices are inappropriate activites!!

[Bokonon]

If there is a YMCA by you, look into the programs they offer. Mine has mommy-and-me swim classes and other activities, plus free childcare while I am using the facilities.

[crunchy_mommy]

My DS is now 15 mos & the last few months have gotten easier because he can do more now. But even at that age, you can take her to the playground, that's one of our favorite things, we go on the swings & slides and then DS plays with the woodchips or rocks or a ball. Outside is the ONLY place he is content to 'play' by himself for more than 2 minutes! We also go to the library several times a week, he's getting good with story hour but we often just go & play in the kids' section with the puppets & toys (he won't listen to books at the library, too much to see & do!) and he can walk around & pull books off the shelves while I clean up behind him. We also have "music time" at home now, I just got some nice wooden instruments from Michaels but you can also make your own or even just turn on a CD & sing along, dance, bang on things, etc. We read A LOT at home (seriously sometimes HOURS a day), which can get boring reading the same books over & over but he's so happy & I can cuddle him for once! We go for walks but usually earlier or in the evening, not during the hot part of the day. Sometimes we go to stores to wander around (when I don't have to buy anything or maybe just pick up one item -- it's too stressful if I actually have to SHOP and chase him). He also likes to play with water, sand, etc. I made him some toys, one's a coffee can with a hole in the top that he can push large pieces of uncooked ziti through, one's an empty orange juice jug with a bunch of beans inside & the cover glued on, he carries it around & shakes it... I also made a felt book (just glued some felt onto 2 pieces of cardboard and I cut up a bunch of felt shapes that he can stick onto it & we can tell stories with it) -- he likes the homemade toys better than the store-bought ones.

[crunchy_mommy]

Oh and I joined a meetup group so we try to do something with the group a couple times a week too