Running out of idea's for activity's for my children!?

Question

I'm a stay at home mom and I have a 15 month old boy and a 3 year old girl. We do everything together and I beginning to think I'm boring them! We go to the park and we have a huge swing set in our backyard. We color and do alphabet flash cards but my but my 15 mth. old eats the crayons (J/K :)) and my 3 yr. old is not really in to coloring anymore. We go to the pool but it's Winter and even though I live in Florida it's still not pool weather most days. Lips winde up blue! I've thought about joining those little baby gyms but the closest one to my house is 45 minutes away-no joke! We've got tons of toys/movies/board games but my kids are getting tired of the same old stuff everyday and farnkly.....so am I.
I would greatly appreciate any positive feedback from moms who got it going on and other people who can help me stimulate my little cuties. Thanx!

When I say "My kids go everywhere w/ me" I simply mean....the grocery store, the bank, church, my friends house, any shopping errands I have to do....you know stuff like that!
Also, my 3 yr old plays by her self plenty(that's how I got to ask this question :))! I also have a 8 year old daughter w/ whom she plays w/ as well(who's in school full time and particapates in Tae Kwon Do and goes to a tutor, both 3 times a week). Maybe, I just need to switch out some of these other acitivty's you all have mentioned and just try to stay positive?!

Answer 1

Here are some ideas:

Go to the library or bookstore for story hour
Go to the mall and walk around
Arts and crafts
Baking
Bubbles
Put some music on and dance
Put on a play
Use a video camera and make silly movies
Play dress up and make believe
Buy white tshirts and paint them
Go to a zoo
Go on a bike ride
Have a picnic

Answer 2

Please ignore 13 year old Sally who should not be on the Internet. Read her question asked and see that she is headed for serious trouble.

About you and your children. You sound like a great mom. Just for a change, let the kids have more "alone" time and come to you with an activity they want you to participate in with them. The 3 year old may enjoy a couple of hours a week at a day care center with kids her age, or having a friend over for a couple of hours once a week. Sometimes children can receive too much stimulation and need a little time alone to develop the imagination and to digest what they are learning. I know you will do well.

Answer 3

Well, it sounds like you are already doing a great job finding activities at home! You can try getting the 3 yr old into a Mother's day out program. A lot of churches offer this and you don't have to be a member. Also, you can look online and find playgroups that are in your area-www.meetup.com, www.mommyandme.com(also has good ideas for home). You can also start a playgroup in your area, you can't be the only mom having this problem in your town! Also, what worked for me is to put up the toys and activities and just pull out a few a day. That way, when the kiddos don't see a particular toy for a few days, it's more interesting for them. Good luck, I know it can be difficult!

Answer 4

Yep-I know the look of "mom you are so dull". Nothing worse than that look:) Try packing some toys up and rotating them (afte a few weeks trade the packed ones for the current), sometimes kids are overwhelmed with toys and can tire of them without ever really playing with them.

At 15 months, eating crayons is about as good as it gets. Give him time. At 3- she has been there done that. Try downloading some activities (like color by number type of things for toddlers-they do have them). Instead of flash cards try a letter of the week-make activiteis around the letter (like B, go brid watching, sing songs "B says b, says b b b like baby, basket, and ball" have a b lunch (bannana bread she can help make), and read books about things that start with B). Let your son join in when he can and at his pace. You can find these type of activities at teacher supplie stores, the teacher's section of the library, and online.

See if your local library has story time to go to. Look on the internet for a Mom and Me group so you can meet with other mom's with young children for play days. Good luck!

Answer 5

Look for a Mom's group in your area and make play dates (if there isn't one then start one!)
Painting is always a fun one - but with a 15 month old try pudding finger painting (they really DO eat the paint and cryaons!).
Get a big bag of dress up clothes and let them have a go at them.
Create a Dora Adventure in your own neighborhood or at an area you know fairly well and have the kids find the way with a home-made map.
And the number one mom tip I can give.......let them play with toys......lol they really do need to learn to entertain themselves. Parents are not required to fill every moment of their day.

Answer 6

I recently shared this answer with another person asking a similar question. Perhaps it will help you.

I'm a stay at home mom with a 4 month old and a 2 year old. To keep my toddler busy, I've set up inexpensive indoor learning stations for her. A few of her favorite stations are the Play dough station with a mini rolling pin and a variety of cookie cutters, a stamping station with large stamp pads and toddler friendly foam rubber stamps, a puzzle station with several puzzles I've purchased from yard sales and thrift stores, and a pouring station (large storage container filled with 20 pounds of rice and a variety of scoops and cups). I can play with her at the stations, but she often enjoys using the stations on her own as I sit nearby and tend to my youngest.

In addition, I've created a dress-up box. This includes a variety of hats, shirts, ties, dresses, and accessories. You can change the items inside the box, so there's always something "new" to try on. Once dressed, make up stories for them to act out in costume or dress up like characters from the books you read together at home.

Also, check out www.enchantedlearning.com. They have tons of activities for little ones.

Best wishes:)

Answer 7

I am the mother of 3 sons. High energy guys too.

IMO, I feel that 'free range' raising of children enhances their ability to live life to the fullest. What I mean by "free range" is that I do not figure out their day for them. By allowing them to explore under my watchful eye and create their own day of play and discovery; they are learning to be more internally locus of control (or focus of control for layman's term). Children who cannot figure out what to do next become adults who can not figure out what to do next until someone else tells them what to do.

If you do already give a good deal of "free range" to the children, try including them in household chores. 15 month olds(year and a half) can bring clothes to the hamper or put papers into the trash can. Giving lots of praise makes it a game. Your 3 year old can help you sort out silverware that is clean. Putting forks in the fork section and spoons in the spoon section teaches differentiation and gets the silverware put away. Have the 3 year old match up socks or wash walls (sometimes the walls get dirty) use the MR. Clean magic eraser, a little effort goes a long way- it almost looks like the walls are freshly painted after using it! Remember, lots of praise!

That baby gym thing does sound very cool...do that too!

Answer 8

Do they have any friends that you could make play dates for? I know its a strain to have a housefull of kids, but maybe your daughter could have a friend over, then you play with your 15 month old.
Do they ever go off and play alone or with each other? Try to get some independence in them! Sit and read a book, and let them play..... don't let them think they always have to be entertained!

You are a great mom and doing a awesome job!
I'm a stay-at-home mom, and though my kids are younger, it can still get very interesting with nothing new around :) But my son does go off and play by himself for about an hour every day, and I usually sit and read a book, or try to get some chores done....

Good luck!

Answer 9

Hi, I'm a mother of two but not a stay at home mother so I make it my business to plan something for me, my fiance, and my kids to do every weekend. We go to the museum, the shed aquarium, the movies, etc... If there are events going on in my area I get tickets and we just go and have fun, we went to the universoul circus and several free activities downtown including face painting, mask-making, and the haunted train on halloween, all for free! My kids love all the on-ice events I recently took them to see monster's inc. on-ice and the incredibles on-ice. I look on the internet alot to find out about free events they have downtown all the time and we just get up and go. Just check out your local events, I know you should have a museum or aquarium somewhere....or a movie theater.

My kids always have fun with me and I have fun with them.

Answer 10

Sounds like you are really filling their days up nicely and not just plopping them in front of the television. The library should offer some free activities like story times and crafts (mine does) and maybe you should think about having a neighborhood friend over for play dates. I know how monotonous it can get being home day in and day out! Good Luck!!