How do you entertain your toddler when you're busy or exhausted?

[mamamoon89]

I've gotten into the bad habit of letting my 2 year old watch Arthur episodes on youtube when I'm trying to do homework, cook, or when I am really really tired and she wants to be entertained. I feel so bad about this, I never thought I would be a mom who lets a toddler watch TV but it's become kind of hard to stop. There are times when she sits and reads/plays quietly by herself, but there are lots of other times where she wants my attention and I can't give it to her or need a break and it has become so easy to put this show on for her. What should I do instead?

[physmom]

DD can be occupied coloring when I need her to do something quietly for a few minutes. She also likes music that she can dance to (there are a few songs that she knows the "routine" for) so if I put them on she'll dance to them. Also, if I tell her to spin or sing skip skip skip to my lou than she's start spinning or skipping, which helps when she's about to do something she's not supposed to. Oh, and megablocks, she loves megablocks.

FWIW, we do let DD watch normally one episode of Dora or Diego per day in the morning because it's the one time where she just won't be entertained by herself (and she's super clingy and it takes forever to get out of the house otherwise). However, it's just that one episode and nothing more throughout the day.

[haurelia]

Our son is 19 months, so this may not be helpful for your older kiddo, but...
Will your LO accept being worn on your back? Our son likes to watch over my shoulder as I cook, so that helps. Or, I'll let him stand on a chair at the counter and pour/paddle in the sink.
Another thing that has been working well kitchen-wise lately: I put a bunch of dry macaroni in a big bowl and give him a big spoon and smaller containers. He can pour, transfer and do whatever with it in the kitchen on the floor while I work in there. Kinda like a water table, but not so messy. I still have to clean up, but I'm going to sweep the kitchen after supper clean-up anyway and it's not a big deal.

When I need to veg on the couch for a bit, I ask him to bring me specific things from the toy area. It keeps him busy with minimal physical input from me. He loves to find them and bring them back for my big happy response and thanks.

Or a change of scene? Do you have a yard where you could do some "light" homework at a table while she explores? That works for me too. We have a kiddy pool he can paddle/pour/splash in (he prefers to stand on the outside and throw things in) and a sandy area to dig in. Although I don't have homework to deal with, it gives me a few minutes to not be "on" while I drink a cup of coffee and read my book. Even 5-10 minutes helps-I'm sure you KWIM!

Good luck!

[pantrygirl]

When our daughter was younger and less exploratory, I wore her around the house while I cooked, cleaned, etc.
Then she got tired of being stationery and so I set up areas that she could help me with, like a water spray bottle and a washcloth when I dust and clean up, her pretend kitchen in the real kitchen while I cook, etc...
I will say though, sometimes, I just need a few minutes to myself. I can handle the often interruptions while I'm in the bathroom but there are times where I just need to sit in quiet with my own thoughts.
For those moments, I have an old iphone that I loaded with home videos of her or DH and myself. She can pick and chose which videos she'd like to watch.
I add a new one every week or so. This week I added a 40 second video I made of her playing at the neighborhood water park.
She usually gets very excited and later tells me what she saw and actually she explained to me once that what I thought was being shy was her being scared. We've been talking alot about feelings so I found the videos helpful. There is one where she's crying as an infant and she said she was sad and hungry. :-)
DH also made a video from a concert we went to recently and she loves it. She asks for it every now and then so we allow her to watch that.
As for tv, I will admit we allow her 1 Blues Clues a day but we don't do it every day. Usually we allow it when she wakes up at 4:30am or 6:30am and we just want a little extra sleep.

[Cprem]

Love some of the idea's here, hope more get posted. My almost 20 month DD can go through some pretty clingy times through out the day. Love the dried macaroni idea!!!
My daughter always wants me to read books to her. I love that she loves books, but I just get so tired of reading the same books over and over again all day and you know, I have stuff to do too!
keeping an eye out for more ideas!

[Xerxella]

Have you tried the "nap time game." It's great. When I'm super tired, we'll take a pillow off the couch and lay down. My son gets everything I need to take a nap. He gets a blanket, stuffed animal, whatever. I'll even ask him to read me a story or sing me a song to help me go to sleep. Whatever your routine is. He loves being the adult while I'm the child. The whole time I get to lay on the floor and pretend to sleep. Don't worry, if you actually fall asleep the child will immediately wake you. Sometimes, I switch it up by pretending he can't wake me and then I'll grab him suddenly and tickle him and we'll play all over again. Sometimes, he'll just bury me under pillows or whatever.

[marispel]

I can relate - my DS loves, loves, loves his Signing Times videos. As soon as he wakes up, he says "signing times?'..no honey, need to eat. Done eating "signing times"...let's play with your cars. Played for 5 minutes, "signing times?".....let's color. When I need to get ready in the morning and need a few minutes I'll put on a video and then after dinner and play time we'll watch a bit more. Usually it's 30 minutes total video time.

He also likes to get onto my computer. I made the mistake of going to the sesame street website...now he likes to do that too. BUT, we have to do that together so he sits on my lap and we do the counting and ABCs together (thankfully, I have 2 monitors and have one monitor with Seseame and the other with FB...so I can play with him & catch up on my FB...lol)

So, most days it does take quite a bit of effort to distract him away from "signing times" videos...but, I'm working really, really hard at not giving in.

Also, I change up his play room every week or so - just move his books to a new area and his cars are in a different basket. I change the rug a different direction and it sorta feels "new". He likes it alot and will explore toys that he wasn't playing with that much.

[maddymama]

HI Mama,
When I was preggo with #2 and just plain exhausted I would do the cream shaving cream finger painting on a table for my DD1... she would do that for a long time and I could sit nearby and read, cook dinner, clean the kitchen, etc. Then having her clean the shaving cream up was another ten minute activity.
I also put out some interesting books for her to look at occasionally.....
Let me see if I can think of some more......
~maddymama

[Quaniliaz]

Some things that have worked at our house are: playdough, a small (maybe 2' x 3' under-bed) tub filled with bird seed inside a small swimming pool, and some scoops, etc., standing at the sink (we have a learning tower) with water running (it felt wasteful, but my sister convinced me that it was probably worth the few minutes of one-on-one time I got with my homeschooled 1st grader as a result). Getting her going with playing something that she likes and then going off to do something always works better than just plopping down to do what I need to do while she is following me around... Coloring works ok. Siblings work really well! (Sorry - that probably wasn't very helpful, but it's true - dd1 always wanted to play with me because I was the only one around - dd2 likes to play with dd1!)

Hope you find some good ideas!

[Quaniliaz]

Oh! The very best thing in our house is bath time. I just bring my laptop in the bathroom, and my kids stay busy for a very long time, usually!

[peachespoe]

There are some really good ideas on here. Thanks!

First off, I have to admit when I am having a bad day or exhausted, I too lie on the couch while DD watches Blues Clues or Signing Times. Don't beat yourself up about it. A happy mommy is a good mommy. I didn't think I would let my toddler watch videos or TV either, but now I figure a half hour here or there of a carefully selected video is no biggy.

But, here are a few other activities that seem to entertain DD for at least ten minutes at a time...

- Play dough at the kitchen counter while I chop veggies/prepare dinner.
- A dish bucket with water and various containers to pour from, etc., on our front porch while I sit in a lounge chair.
-I also filled a small wooden planter with play-sand on our front porch to create a small sand box for DD to dig in.
- Last Christmas, I kept all our Christmas cards (most have photos on them of families) in a basket. DD loved looking through the cards, so I kept them in the basket at the top of our hall closet and bring them out every week or so. Looking through the cards entertains her for quite a while. I bet a big photo album would work too.
-We have a special music basket where I keep instruments (harmonica, maracas, drums, triangle, etc). I bring that out once a week or so. Since it is not out all the time, it keeps her interested when I do bring it out.

[2timestrouble]

Don't feel bad about it. There are some things that we (moms) need to do that we can find things to keep our kids occupied while we are doing them or even involve them in the activity.
Like when I am cooking my kid is playing with the pots and spoons, off course I have to do double cleaning when I finish but at least get the job done.
Also activities change as your kid grows, mine is now in love with pouring water, I can give her a a couple plastic cups with water and some spoons and she love it.
But, I also don't feel bad to let her watch TV.
Now in days is not like in my days, there is so much educational TV for toddlers.
You have Nickelodeon Jr (before know as Nogin) and there is PBS kids (I love Super why and Wordworld).
I think TV can be a great tool when use it right, most of the times I sit with my kid and watch this shows with her and many times she feel more exited to repeat things that Elmo said then when I keep repeating the words to them (Cartoons can do things I can't do like fly, and they are in very bright colors so its not fair the competition, lol).
I think the problem is if your kids doesn't have many outdoor games and other kind of games where they use their bodies and imagination, but TV in moderation can be good as well if you show the right TV and you make it part of a family activity and not only to keep hypnotize your kid.
(We were one day in the book store and she point an octopus and call its name, I have never teach her that animal! It was TV, lol

[allical1284]

Originally Posted by Xerxella

Have you tried the "nap time game." It's great. When I'm super tired, we'll take a pillow off the couch and lay down. My son gets everything I need to take a nap. He gets a blanket, stuffed animal, whatever. I'll even ask him to read me a story or sing me a song to help me go to sleep. Whatever your routine is. He loves being the adult while I'm the child. The whole time I get to lay on the floor and pretend to sleep. Don't worry, if you actually fall asleep the child will immediately wake you. Sometimes, I switch it up by pretending he can't wake me and then I'll grab him suddenly and tickle him and we'll play all over again. Sometimes, he'll just bury me under pillows or whatever.

I love this!!! I am totally going to file this thought away for future use!

[Mal85]

If I'm cooking, I usually bring her in the kitchen with me. She pushes a chair up to the counter and will watch me prepare food. She'll usually find a washcloth and "clean" the counter. Or I'll put some water in the sink and let her "wash dishes". She likes to helps stir or pour things when I'm cooking.

If I'm just drained and want to sit down, I'll lay down on the floor and let her crawl on my back. Almost like getting a massage.

[nolonger]

What never fails for me when I'm stressed, overstimulated, exhausted, and just plain need a few moments to myself is to take all the knives and other sharp/breakable objects out of the sink, pull up the stepstool, turn on the water, and let ds wash the dishes.

In all honesty, the dishes still need attention from me when he's done and the floor mopping and other cleanup takes a lot more time than it would have taken if I'd just plopped him in front of the teevee and washed them myself, but it really changes my attitude about him to see how badly he wants to help and how hard he tries.

[bettyjones]

Another vote for sink time and playdough.

Also if you can stand it leave out a box of kleenex or a roll of toilet paper (later I just stuff tissues back in).

DD loves playing with dry rice cereal mixing w/ water etc and hey if she eats it it's food too.

Hide and seek. You can be "looking" by talking about looking and not really moving.

Good luck!