What can I do with my 19 months old ?

Question

My little girl is 19 months old. I would like to change our day to day routine and try to make it more fun, without spending too much money... Any idees of activities I can do with her?

Answer 1

I took my 11 month old down to the local green yesterday and let him run around the grass and kick a ball about. We also go into our garden and explore, we look at the grass, the leaves, up into the trees, flowers, and look up to the sky to see if we can see birds.

Answer 2

well, making changes kind of depends on what you're doing already.

do you take her to the library often? on walks/trike rides to the park? are you already members of a gym or community center with a pool or mommy and me classes?? are you already in a playgroup? do you have little projects you can do together?

get sing-a-long videos from the library and sing them with her. have a special art time. for a 19mo old i think certain kinds of art projects can be done cheaply and age appropriately. Crayons are cheap and last a long time. You can save old printer paper that is used on one side for her to color on the other. Those scraps of wrapping paper that everyone plans to re-use makes pretty collages... also catalogs that come in the mail...anything and everything makes good art supplies. stringing macaroni necklaces on shoe laces.

planning ahead for the week can go a long way. do a little research online and in your local community and find a special activity for each day of the week. then that activity doesn't get old for a long time.

the most important thing, whatever you're doing make sure you talk to her a LOT and try to get her talking to you. Ask her what she wants to do. i know she's probably not talking a whole lot just yet but eventually she'll really tell you.

Answer 3

Here's some tips from a mom of 4, including twins. I always had to look for fun and cheap ideas to keep 'em busy.

A super cheap thing that a toddler likes is for you to empty out a 2 liter soda bottle, peel off the label so the bottle is clear, then put all kinds of interesting fun things inside that you'd normally never let her around because they're too small...rocks, buttons, a ribbon, old necklace, old earrings, pennies, etc. Then put glue on the opening of the bottle, put the lid on tight, then cover that again with some tape to make it double safe. She'll delight in rolling it, kicking it, and sitting and looking at all the stuff in it.

Same idea again, only forgo the objects inside and replace with a cup or two of water with some drops of food coloring inside the bottle. She'll enjoy looking a the 'waves'...this is like a toddler version of the lava lamp LOL

When the weather is warm, toddlers love to have a bucket or a plastic bowl with water in it and a clean wide housepainting type paintbrush. Let her "Paint" the side of the garage, house, etc...adult supervision always required with kids around water of course! But this will keep her busy for a nice long time and when she's done she won't need a bath either.

Answer 4

There are loads of things to do with her....Walks in the counrtyside..looking at the ducks...watching the boats etc.

Taking her to the park..have a go on the swings

Take her to a field and play football or any sports

Pack a picnic, get on a bus...and just go somewhere for the day..dont plan to go anywhere, just see what bus comes along.

Go to your local library and see when the have childrens story times..she will love to watch the storyteller, even if she doesnt understand the story!

Soft play areas are normally quite cheap, and keep them happy for hours!

Mother and toddler swimming is normally cheap too, and she would like that.

How about stay and plays? you can make friends with other parents and your child will love playing with different toys..ask your health visitor about these, as they normally know the days and times.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Do you have any parent/toddler groups near you? They are always fun to go to, you get to meet other parents, and chat and have a coffee - they have lots of different toys and activities out for the children to do which you could enjoy with her.
Afew of my fav things to do with a toddler are:
Going out to the park.
Going for a walk - taking a bike or scooter too.
Finding a space like a park or the garden to play with a ball.
Bubbles - most toddlers get very excited about blowing bubbles lol
You could get some paints in. (Finger painting, printing with old toy cars, or anything with texture, sponges, cut a potato in half and sculpt a shape to print (although shaped sponges arent too expensive) - Put a peice of paper in a baking tray with a blob of paint and a marble, and roll it a round - makes a great pattern.
Playdough.
Cornflour mixed with water, and a little food colouring for brightness in a bowl is a wonderful messy activity - Get ur hands in, it feels so weird lol!! And its easy to clean!
Another messy activity is cheap jelly in a bowl, to touch and feel.
Have set times for stories.
Jigsaw puzzles.
Get an old sheet/blanket - you could make a tent, or play peekaboo with her and some toys.
Teddy bears picnic with her fav toys - indoors or out in the garden/at a park.
get a pritstick glue stick and some shapes, or old material to cut into shapes (you can buy precut shapes, or even grab an old argos catalogue and cut out pics) to do sticking. You can get plastic scissors for about 50p and your daughter could 'help' cut out as well as stick.
If you search the web I am sure you will find many more ideas - they are just afew of my favorites I like to do.

I read about feeding the ducks there - wonderful suggestion, all the tots i do that with love it.
Also the library is a good suggestion - your daughter can borrow books and you could look for some books with ideas in - i am sure there is a book called 101 things to do with your toddler, or something like that :)
- I remember doing feet painting with a couple of children once - if you do that do it outside!! we did it indoors and i had tiny foot prints all over the kitchen floor to clean lmao!

Answer 6

Check the library and see if they have any activities. Same with the park district, (though the park district by me can be pricey).
You could try music time. Play some music and dance like a goof.

Answer 7

Check this out: http://www.brightervision.com

Its a program that has books, stickers and activities and are age appropriate. The first shipment is free then you get another set each month. It's only $17 a month.

My niece gets it and she gets so excited when her package comes in. I just started. It's a great activity for you and your child to do together.

Answer 8

Take her to the park or a walk. You can go to a craft store and buy color papers and do fun projects with her. Take them to a book store or find out the nearest library to your house they have activity days or story time that you can take her to. Barns and Nobles has story time on Sat., check with them. Also you can go to a $.99 store for coloring pencils and things like that.

Answer 9

wrap her up and take her for a walk in the park have you got one of those push along cars you can push her in to make it more fun. Is there a soft play area where you live where you can take her. I take my kids on weekends its only £2 for a play. There too old for soft play but will play on the slides and in the balls. And theres a soft play there for the under 2's.

Answer 10

My friends have play dates with other moms or dads who have children the same age. This helps with developing social skills, but it's also a great way to meet new friends for the two of you. If you are new in an area try your local churches, they often will let you put invites in their bulletins. They may even let you use one of their rooms.