amusing the kids?

Question

I'm temporarily living in a small apartment ( 580 sq feet) with my 1 and 4 year old active sons.. It's getting really cold outside so I can't take them out all the time anymore and they're rebelling against being in a small space ( we had to move out of our house while it gets fixed and it was much bigger ).. what can I do to keep them from feeling like wild animals in a cage?

Answer 1

Try finding a musical twister game - it has floor mats with feet on them and the disc tells you what moves to make -- it's like dancing.

Limit TV to educational stuff that encourages the kids to get up and interact (Dora the explorer is a good example - you have to help crawl or tiptoe and also solve how to get somewhere.

I know Barney is abominable, but it makes a great dance workout for you and the kids. Everytime the kids on the show sing - Get up there and dance with it - and have the kids get up and dance along.

If you have to worry about noise, maybe try and find a small exercise trampoline. Hold your childs hands and have them practice counting as they jump. Make sure the turns are very short and frequent for both kids - Twenty jumps per turn would be good. (this is a good pro-sensory activity.)

Make a crash pad: Lots of large irregular scrap pieces of upholstry foam (you get them fom an upholstry business) and two full size sheets sewn together to hold them. It looks like a big lumpy pillow. Let the kids jump onto it and crash - they love it. (This is good for pro-sensory, as well.)

Make them help you out with carrying things - like laundry. Since they are small they can carry one or two things at a time to the proper place. you will still have to put them in the drawer or hang them up high, but it keeps them busy and active, and they learn to sort the laundry. Also have them help put the wet things into the dryer, one thing at a time. My girls still like doing this. (they are now 11, 9, and 7) Kids like to know they are helping out. Be sure and brag on them helping to their dad or a close relative.

Get a yoga tape that is geared for kids - even a grown up yoga routine works) Have them go through the work out each day. It's great for developing balance and co-ordination. It's not just a girly thing. Go online and look up the names of the poses (downward looking dog, stretching cat, cow ...) and have them pretend to be that animal while they do the pose. making the animal sounds can add to the fun.

Craft projects will help keep them happy as well. A fun example - get cheap white pillowcase and a pack of permanent sharpies or bic markers. put a piece of card board or aluminum foil in between to keep the ink from going through. Let them decorate any way they want. In one corner - outline their hand and date it. Then heat set it with an iron and put on their pillow. Kids really like having their art work displayed, and it's something personal in their bedroom they helped make.

It's a great time to take trips to places like the museums for kids, history museums and the aquarium. (My kids love all the fish!) They get in a lot of walking and looking and open space, without freezing, and they absorb info about what they are looking at. Pack a lunch and make a whole day out of it. They will come home tired and happy. Be sure to have them draw about the trip and then dictate to you a couple of sentences about it. Then you will have stories they have written about their adventures. You can keep these in a folder to get out and enjoy anytime.

Toddler software and preschool software from jumpstart is fun and educational. Also try the free online games from the PBS website and disney. Garfield has a website and Post cereal used to have one. I haven't been to the post one in a while.

I hope these will help out.

You will still need to try and bundle them up as much as possible and take them out side when the weather permits.

We went through this with three small children when the war first started. We also had to watch out for the six foot allegator during the warm weather!!

Answer 2

There are several thing you can do. Plan different activities each day. Maybe like buy some water colors, and let them paint for a while, then if you have any kind of mall, wal-mart, or grocery, take them there just to release energy, even if you don't buy anything....... let them walk with you and look at everything they want to. This will wear out their mind, and they won't be as wild when you return home. The next day have them something like legos to build with. (this should occupy for hours) and then when they are done playing with those, have them coloring books....... Just give them one thing after another to do, that way their minds will stay occupied, and you won't loose yours. Look on the net for kids activities.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

Barney and Bob the Builder will occupy their minds for a spell. Magna-Doodles. Coloring books. Musical toys with flashing lights. If you have a local McDonald's with an indoor play area, those are great for winter time.
Good luck.

Answer 5

Coloring, building with blocks, crafts, helping you pick up their toys, give them little chores- usually kids like to help mommy, TV, you can get board games for toddlers/preschoolers.

The dancing idea is good- my 2 year old loves that :)

Any playgroups around you or activities for young kids at the library?

Answer 6

Turn on music and let them dance.Buy stuff to make arts and crafts or playdoh,coloring books.Bring them to an indoor park like at Mcdonald's.Just a few ideas,hope they help.

Answer 7

i always loved draping sheets and blankets on tables and chairs and making tents. kids still do.

my youngest son still fondly remembers that he and i would go into a blanket cave, i was the momma bear and he my baby bear and we would talk about who was coming to birthday parties with salmon cake.

the best thing for me was letting go and being on their level. just playing. it passes a lot of time.

also, glue and glitter, always a winner!

Answer 8

The cold won't hurt them, that's what mittens and jackets are for.