What activities can I do with my 2 year old that don't cost money?

Question

I am a single mom with a 2 1/2 yr old daughter, I am low income but work 4 days out of the week and share custody, I want some ideas of activites or some other moms routine she does with her kids! I feel so boring and uncreative right now HELP ME PLEASE!!

Answer 1

Play at the park, my 2 yr old loves books and coloring with me. Play things that she likes.

Answer 2

Tell her a story and then have her tell you one.

Maybe draw pictures of the story then put it together as a book by punching holes in the side and tying it with string or sewing the pages together.

Take a walk and then when you get back home both of you draw pictures of everything you can remember.

Go to the zoo, or to a museum.

Learn how to make a kite online and then both of you make one together to go fly it.

Cook or bake together. Make a picnic lunch and go to the park to eat it. If the weather is bad, put a blanket on the living room floor.

Do dressup together.

Take her visiting an older relative or a nursing home. The elderly love little children!

Get some sidewalk chalk and make pictures on the sidewalk or even a wall at home - it will wash off, but make sure she understands it's only to be done with the chalk.

Let her help you clean.

Take a nap with her.

Let her help you grocery shop.

At her age, it's important to let her do things for herself with only guidance from you. All these things will teach her while she is having fun. This is her formative time mom. You are sitting the base for everything that comes after this in her life.

Answer 3

My favorite thing to do with my mom was have her do the voices for my dolls and action figures. I would make her do it no matter where we were. Also, you can go to the library and have her pick out books. Kids love being able to have the freedom to choose from so many books. Read them together in a special place in the house or outside with some kind of comfort food and make it a little tradition. If you want to give it an educational boost, get her some books or videos in Spanish (or any other language they have, but I'm sure the majority will be Spanish). Although she might not remember any of the words later in life, she will have probably have a better understanding of different cultures than kids who didn't have that exposure ; )

Answer 4

With my 2 1/2 year old we read books and color then when i have to do house work she helps me fold stuff. We play outside a lot. The library has free movies which my daughter loves and that is where we get a lot of books I let her pick what books she wants out of the kids part. Good Luck

Answer 5

Spending anytime with you is best of all! But you could offer some color parties, where you both color together. Or make a cake, let her help mix and pour. Or books, my youngest loves when we stay in our pj's late into the afternoon, reading, and watching cartoons together. If its nice out, go for a walk, look for certain colors of leaves, or flowers. And then glue them on a piece of paper. And hang it up. Your daughter will be happy doing anything right now, that consists of spending time with you. She is at the age where she developes a strong bond with someone she trusts and wants to be like. Happy Playing

Answer 6

Good inside thing is to go to the library and get books, plus most library's now have play areas too. Also try doing things at home, like painting with shaving cream (way cheap less than a dollar.) my 2 year old daughter loves that, just spray some a cookie sheet or even the table top and let her go at it. Let her play in your pots and pans, just get down and play with her that is tons of fun for a kid. Cover a table with a blanket and make a princess castle and play peak a boo. The main thing is to use your imagiatinon and get down and play with her, all she truly wants is time with you anyway

Answer 7

Okay,there is the park,then if you live near the beach playing in the sand,making sand castles, kite flying. Playing beauty shop is fun curlers,extremely pale nail polish for fingers and toes.Baking, making rice crispie squares. and I bet you didn't know The Home Depot has workshop classes for kids on weekends free!!!!!! Don't get discouraged think like a kid there is lots to do out there don't let your frustrations limit you . Also a side note to the oh so unfunny IDIOT "about working harder to get out of the ghetto", we all know his motivation is getting more points,undeservedly I might add. Apparently just another subhuman on the loose.

Answer 8

I have taught in preschools for 16 yrs, plus am a mother of an 11 yr old and 21 month old.You can do so many crafts with plain everyday household items. Decorate toilet paper or paper towel rolls, can make rockets, firecrackers, binocculars, telescopes, drum sticks. Put beans,pebbles, or rice into them(make sur a secure end on each opening(use construction paper or wax paperw/ a ruubberband around to tighten it.)This will make shakers or rain sticks.Use this same tecniche to make paper plate tamborines, coffee can drum/ shakers.Go on nature walks, collect leaves, pinecones.Put leaf under a blank paper, rub crayon over it, makes cool leaf designs,Pinecone - put peanut butter all over it, roll in crushed nuts or birdseed, hang from string on a tree.(squirels and birds love these!!)you can also make almost any recipe from just biscuits and ingredients around the house.(pizza, cinnammon fishw/raisin eyes., pizza fish too, pepperoni are scales,) celery w/peanut butter or cream cheese and raisins on top(ants on a log!!) Ritz crackers(2) with peanut butter, place 4 stick pretzels on each side, raisin eyes(spider crackers!)
Hope this helps! Good Luck!

Answer 9

Don't stress honey! I have a nearly 2 year old and I know wha you mean - they can be little devils to keep amused. Here are some of the things me and my little monkey get up to. Make your own playdoh 0ne cup salt 2 cups flour food colouring and enough water to make it stick together.Keeps in the fridge in a plastic bag for ages. we finger paint. i go through all our junk mail and cut the pictures out so we can use them for stick and glue. save cartons/yoghurt pots to make thingsout of - space ships, houses etc.we play outside alot. she likes digging in the garden to look for insects. we have a beach close too. sandpits are good. pretend cooking with dry pasta etc. start with easy cooking like chocolate crispy cakes. explore taste and textures.get her to help with the chores - we love to vacuum at the moment!filling the washing machine also seems to be fun too! erm what else - exploring places - like the garden, the pet shop, the florist (I'd ask first). colouring. painting. music and dancing.check internet lots on there

i hope this helps to inspire you a bit. its not easy i know. everyday doesn't have to be stunning though - she just loves being with her mom too! enjoy

Answer 10

It depends where you live. There is a web site im sorry i forget the name of it. Go to yahoo search and search for free things to do with children it should give you some good ideas. That is what i use when im out of luck on things to do and no money