221
Activity Bag
Age Range: 15 months and up
Whenever you travel, take some time to create an activity bag filled with things your child likes to play with: favorite books, dolls, pipe cleaners, finger puppets, and other quiet, non-messy toys. These will entertain your child and give him something to do while in hotel rooms, on a plane, or in any other space where he doesn’t have his usual supply of toys. A backpack makes a good activity bag. Your child can carry it himself, and it has lots of extra compartments where you can also pack snacks.
* Words of Wisdom *
Always carry crayons (save the ones you get in the little packs at restaurants) and a pad of paper as well as a few of the teeny sponges that grow in a glass of water (available at children’s or art and craft stores). They’ll get you through restaurant waits.
—Vickie, Williston, North Dakota
222
Toddler-Proofing Kit
Age Range: 15 months and up
Too often, parents set out to have a fun vacation only to find they spend most of their time following their toddler around Grandma’s house or the rented vacation home, making sure their child is safe. Make a toddler-proofing kit and keep it in your car so you’ll be prepared no matter where you stay. The kit should include electric socket protectors, a toilet lock, rubber bands for kitchen cabinets, masking tape for cords, and corner guards. As soon as you arrive, take ten minutes to survey your location. Put the rubber bands on the kitchen cabinets, look for any loose cords and tape them out of the way, and shut all bathroom doors. If your toddler is at the door-slamming stage, put a towel over the top of all the doors. Secure the socket-protectors and toilet lock, and then enjoy your time away from home.
223
Games to Play in a Restaurant
Age Range: 18 months and up
Outline objects like keys, lipstick, table glasses, or a fork on the back of your place mat.
Make rubbings of coins, credit cards, or any other flat object on your table. Peel the paper off of the crayon. Put the object on the table, place paper on top, and rub over it with a crayon.
Play the money fountain game. Fill your glass almost to the top with water. Give each person a few coins. Go around the table and let each person drop a coin into the water. The person whose coin makes the water overflow loses.
Show your child a small object. Have him shut his eyes while you hide it someplace on the table—possibly under a napkin or glass or beneath an overturned spoon.
224
Games to Play in the Car
Age Range: 18 months and up
Bring along puppets or stuffed animals to represent the characters in one of your audio stories. Play the story and encourage your toddler to use the puppets to act out the story as it is being played.
Keep a kitchen timer in the car at all times. This is great for guessing how long it will be before you see a certain object, how long until you get to stop, or how much longer until you arrive at your destination.
Bring a role of scotch tape. Give kids pieces of paper, bags, cups, or other trash items (you can ask for extras at the fast-food window so that the paper isn’t sticky), and let them make a trip sculpture. Make an edible necklace. Use Cheerios or Fruit Loops and thin shoelaces with plastic tips. String the cereal onto the shoestring and tie both ends together to make a necklace.
Laminate a drawing or painting of roads and parking lots that fits snugly into a cookie sheet or jelly-roll pan with sides. Tape the picture into the cookie sheet, or paint it directly onto a cookie sheet you can sacrifice and keep in the car. Let your child run small cars over it when you are driving.
225
Games to Play on a Plane
Age Range: 18 months and up
Make a puppet out of an airsick bag. Use two or more, and you’ll be able to create a story to act out.
Use the headphones and pretend to talk through the end of the cord into each other’s ears, or pretend to be pilots flying the plane and listening through the headphones for directions from ground control.
Rip pictures out of the flight magazine and make up a story with them, or ask each other questions about items in the pictures. Sort the snack packets into piles and count them.
Make up a clapping rhythm to match each person who walks down the aisle past your seat.
Play “What Is Missing?” by putting six items on the tray. Have your child close his eyes and then take one item away. He gets to guess which item you took away. Take turns.
When all else fails, dig into your purse and pull out a compact mirror—a guaranteed half-hour of entertainment. (You may want to buy these especially for play so that your makeup isn’t ruined!)
226
Games to Play While Standing in Line
Age Range: 24 months and up
I Spy: Look for an object in your immediate surroundings and give your child clues as to what you’re looking at, by saying something like “I spy with my little eye something that is red.”
Draw faces on your fingers or thumbs with a pen, and then act out a story.
Play a counting game with the people ahead of you in line. Count how many there are, or how many men or women, people with red hair or black hair, people with glasses, or anything else you can think to count.
If you’re outside, take a look up at the sky and ask your child what shapes she sees in the clouds. Then make up a story about the shapes.
* Words of Wisdom *
Since my son was a baby, I’ve taken him with me to vote. It’s a learning experience that has been fun for him, plus he loves the “I voted” stickers. Any place you go can be fun for a toddler if you allow extra time to discuss what’s happening.
—Robin, Little Rock, Arkansas
227
What Do They Have in Common?
Age Range: 24 months and up
Ask what do______ and_______ have in common? Allow your child to think about the question and figure out a common characteristic. What do grass and a tree have in common? They are both green. What do a fish and a dolphin have in common? They both live in the water or both have a fin. Whatever your child thinks of and offers as an answer, try to elaborate on and stretch to make the answer correct.
* Words of Wisdom *
On my first business trip after becoming a parent, I found myself watching other parents with their children in airports. They were so rushed and stressed that they forgot to explain what to expect from things like security checks, metal detectors, and moving walkways. No wonder kids act out! I vowed to remember that what is mundane to me is new—and sometimes overwhelming and even scary—to my kids and to take the time to make traveling better for all of us.
—Julianne, Greensboro, North Carolina
228
Coloring on the Go
Age Range: 24 months and up
Make photocopies of pages from coloring books. You can find tons of printable ones online or make your own on the computer. Have them laminated at the copy shop. If you make half-sized sheets the paper goes further and it fits better in your bag. Then punch holes through them and bind a bunch together with round binder clips, creating a personalized dry-erase/sticker book. Also include a binder pencil case, which you can use to hold the dry-erase markers and removable stickers. For older toddlers include some games—matching colors, missing pieces, and so forth. Look to store-bought activity books for ideas—but make them your own by personalizing them.
229
Postcards Home
Age Range: 24 months and up
Create a permanent reminder of all the places you visited on your trip. Buy a postcard at each location—even gas stations and motels along the way can become prime locations and memories for a child. When you end your travels for the day, take some time to write what you did, saw, bought, or liked about that location. Ask your toddler to help you remember! Then send the postcard home. Your toddler will be surprised and excited as each postcard arrives in the mailbox. Enjoy
recognizing, remembering, and talking about the familiar locations you visited together on your trip.
* Words of Wisdom *
I sometimes double- and triple-wrap the toys and food treats I keep in my purse—the entertainment value lasts longer that way.
—Sandy, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
230
Cheap Thrills
Age Range: 24 months and up
The everyday things that go on in the world are incredibly interesting to toddlers. Take your child with you to a car wash where you’re allowed to sit inside the car. Make sure you park your car first and watch another car going through so the loud noises or spinning mops won’t scare him. Then go and visit a Laundromat with all the spinning washers and dryers going round and round. Take a bus to the park instead of driving. These are inexpensive, everyday adventures that your toddler will talk about for months to come. Make sure to take photos.
* Words of Wisdom *
If you have one of those child-sized play shopping carts at home, take it along on errands with you and not just to the grocery store! They will keep the kids amused for ages. Remember to have them put their own snack and drink bottle in there. They’ll enjoy being responsible for their own things.
—Val, Meridian, Mississippi
231
Guess What Game
Age Range: 30 months and up
Describe something you see inside a restaurant, outside a car window, while you’re walking through a mall, or wherever you are with your child. Give three clues to your child, saying, “The first clue is_________.” Then give him a few moments to think about that clue and get a few ideas. Then give the second clue, saying, “The second clue is _________.” Finish with the third clue. Your toddler will feel proud when he guesses the answer. Through this fun game, your toddler is counting, making inferences, and organizing information—all early thinking skills and simple problem-solving that will make him more aware of his environment.
232
Travel Stationery
Age Range: 30 to 36 months
Make sure to bring the addresses of family and friends on your next vacation. Pack a Ziploc bag full of stickers so that kids can turn ordinary hotel stationery or blank paper into personalized stationery. Encourage kids to tell you what they remember about the day so you can write it down for them. This is a great way to help kids remember what they did that day while at the same time sharing all the vacation news with family and friends. Your child can sign the letter with a personalized scribble or picture.
233
Backseat Drivers
Age Range: 30 to 36 months
Before you leave on your trip, cut a large red circle and a large green circle out of construction paper. Glue them each to a Popsicle stick. Write “stop” on one and “go” on the other. Whenever you stop the car, ask your toddler to hold up the red circle. When the car begins to move, have him hold up the green circle. This is fun while going through a city, rush hour traffic, or anywhere there are many stops and goes. It also teaches the concept of stop and go. If your child doesn’t like the idea of holding sticks in his hands, simply ask him to say “stop” when he sees a red light and “go” when he sees a green light.
Friends and Playgroups
234
Why Start a Playgroup?
Age Range: 15 months and up
It’s a welcome diversion from everyday routine and a chance to focus on nothing but having fun with your child without distraction from phone calls, email, work deadlines, chores, or errands.
If your child isn’t in daycare or preschool, playgroup will offer him the chance to meet playmates his own age and become comfortable interacting with other adults.
If your child is in daycare or preschool, it’s a great way for him to get some dedicated time to play with you. If your little one has older siblings, playgroup will give her much-needed one-on-one time with you and the companionship of other kids who don’t see her as “the baby” of the bunch.
Bonding with other parents is important. Playgroups are not just for stay-at-home parents—many are offered on evenings or weekends—and they aren’t just for moms either. Look for playgroups offered through mother or father clubs, parenting associations, Baby and Me classes, or book clubs. Venture online for around-the-clock, across-the-globe support!
The playgroup is useful for establishing a baby-sitting co-op so you can go out while your child plays with friends.
235
Setting Up a Playgroup
Age Range: 15 months and up
Schedule a meeting with only the adults to iron out the logistics like schedule, location, and duties of the host. Make sure to rotate locations.
Keep playgroups as simple as possible by inviting no more than six children. Make sure the kids are no more than six months apart in age so that games and activities are appropriate for all.
The host should supply no more than simple snacks. This is not a home show or gourmet-cooking competition.
Surround yourself with people who are supportive, warm, and friendly, and whose parenting styles are compatible with or complementary to your own. Remember, these fellow parents serve as role models for your child, as you do for theirs.
You’re not expected to totally childproof your home to host a playgroup, but do alert the other parents to potential dangers and try to make the designated play area as safe as possible. If you have a dog that is likely to scare the little ones or a cat that’s skittish around children, lock the pet up.
Watch your child closely; other parents don’t want to be in the awkward position of trying to discipline your child.
The golden rule: no sick children allowed under any circumstance.
236
Bag of Tricks
Age Range: 15 months and up
Keep these few playgroup essentials up your sleeve:
First-aid kit: It’s Murphy’s Law—if you have it, you won’t need it. Make sure to stock the basics—Band-Aids, antibiotic cream, butterfly bandages, gauze pads, and white tape.
Kid-friendly music: Find a few kids’ music CDs that are funny and actionoriented. Some songs even come with directions for things the kids can do while singing. Parents can do the actions with the words so the kids know what to do.
Car kit essentials: Sunscreen, tarp or blanket (no more wet bottoms from a freshly watered lawn!), bubbles, sidewalk chalk (wrap one end in masking tape—no more stained fingers!), sand toys (buckets, shovels, cookie cutters, Jell-O molds, funnels, and containers), and sanitizing gel.
Calling cards: Create a family business card to hand out if you meet someone at a park with whom you’d like to get together for a playdate. Include your name, child’s name, telephone number, and address.
237
Parade Time
Age Range: 15 months and up
Have a parade. Each child can hold a stuffed animal or favorite toy and march around to music. Scarves are also fun to wave overhead. Adults can also participate by stepping into the parade or bringing up the rear, encouraging little stragglers. Change leaders every few minutes so everyone has a chance to direct the group. If the kids are old enough, the leader can do actions, like jumping, twirling, or kicking his legs up. You can also create a musical parade by asking each child to bring an instrument or give everyone a pot or lid to bang. Or meet at a park and have a rolling parade with tricycles, bikes, or strollers. Bring flags and streamers and make a spectacle of yourselves!
* Words of Wisdom *
We keep a dry-erase board just inside the pantry door. On it we have both kids’ names and a list of foods that they are currently eating without issue. It makes life easier for caretakers who might try to give our son cheese slices when all he will eat is shredded cheese.
—Sonya, Menlo Park, California
238
Beanbag Group Games
Age Range: 15 months and up
Materials
Beanbags
Hula hoop, laundry basket, buckets
Bucket catch: Someone throws a beanbag and a child tries to catch it in a bucket she is holding.
Crawl race: Put a beanbag on each child’s back and have them crawl around the room. Each time a beanbag falls off, someone puts it back on and the race continues.
Hula ring: Put the hula hoop down on the floor and try to throw the beanbags into the center. Begin by standing close to it, then move farther and farther away as skill increases.
Pass the bag: Sit in a circle with music playing. When the music is slow, pass the beanbag slowly; when the music is fast, pass faster; and when the music stops, someone is left holding the bag. That child stands up and does a quick dance.
239
Toddler Safari
Age Range: 18 months and up
Invite playgroup members to bring a couple of stuffed animals each. Put the animals in a laundry basket when the kids arrive. Have the kids do a welcome song or activity while a few of the parents hide the animals (not too well!) around the room or backyard. Before going on safari to find all the animals, have each child make a set of binoculars out of empty toilet-paper rolls. Tape the rolls together with masking tape. Use a hole punch on either side and add a length of yarn for a strap. Then go hunting in the jungle for animals! Once all the animals are sighted, you can hide them and begin again. It is also fun to have the kids act like each animal as soon as they spot it. Serve animal crackers as a snack.
Sheila Ellison Page 13
