It would be easy to assume that mom has figured out a way to balance her home so that she could work and keep her child entertained, but it continues to be a struggle. Since the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we do everything, a lot of parents have had to work from home to prevent the spread. This is a lot easier said than done when you have a toddler running around.
Toddlers have this need to be constantly entertained, and when they get bored, they tend to get into your makeup, pantry, or anywhere else they shouldn’t be and make a large mess. Mom may have already tried screen time and new activities, but they are starting to run out of fresh ideas on how to keep their toddler engaged while they do some work. Moms need activities that their children can do independently, and that are going to hold kids' attention longer than 5 minutes and we have 10 ideas that just might work.
10 Ice Cubes
The perfect activity is something that mom can grab on the fly and doesn’t cost too much money or take up too much effort on mom’s part. According to Twins Mommy, ice cubes can be the perfect activity. All you need are some containers, cups, spoons and ice. Your child can have fun moving them from one container to another. The only mess their may be is some water that needs to be mopped up.
9 Sensory Bin
Sensory bins are fun and can be put together with items you have laying around the house. You can do this with a container, spoons and cups. You just need your sensory item. This could be anything from dry beans, rice to sand.
8 Dance Party
If you are OK working with some music in the background, set up a dance party for your toddlers. Put YouTube on the TV and set up some great music for them to dance to. A bonus of this plan is that they may tire themselves out so that they have a good nap that day or are ready for some relaxing, quiet time.
7 Paper & Scissors
Something as simple as paper and child-safety scissors can entertain a toddler for hours. This one will be dependant on if your child is able to use scissors, but if they are, just give them some paper and let them go to town on cutting it into shapes.
6 Tape Everything
A lot of the activities may result in some extra clean up for mom, but sometimes it is worth it if mom has a busy day of work and meetings that she needs to get through. If mom has some tape hanging around, she can give it to her child and let them tape up all of their toys. Give them an empty box or piece of cardboard and challenge them in covering up the entire surface. According to Brit, paint tape is the best kind to use because it peels off every surface with minimal damage
5 Digging For Treasure
This is one that will require some planning, but if mom can pull it off it may be genius. Mom will want to take a large bowl or container and some of her child’s toys. The smaller, the better, for this activity. The night before, she needs to put the toys in a container and fill it with water and freeze it. The next day, the little one can have trying to dig out their new toys with playdough or play kitchen toys.
4 Color Matching
The best kinds of activities are ones that involve some form of learning as well. Mom can make a color tray by taping construction paper on a plate and have her child match pom poms or other colored items to the matching color on the plate. According to Teaching Mama, this is a great way to keep them engaged and learn their colors at the same time.
3 Tape Race Car Track
If mom has a child who loves cars and driving but is a little bored with all the toy set’s they have, they can set up a large race-track all over the house. This is something that is easily set up with some painter’s tape all across the floors of your home. Mom can decide where the track goes and it could even go up and down stairs.
2 Bubble Wrap
Bubble wrap is a classic that has gotten forgotten about in a world filled with fancy, shiny toys that play music and talk. However, it is a classic that could be brought back out to keep a toddler busy. Mom can purchase large pieces of it from any moving supply store and she can have fun taping it to the floor and the wall. Then her child can take their turns jumping, rolling and squishing them. Since this activity is not going to last long, it may be best saved for a chunk of time mom needs quiet, like a meeting or near a deadline.
1 Paint Away
Paint can be intimidating because it is assumed that this is not an activity that children can do unsupervised. However, there are special window paints out there that mom can buy and if she has large, glass doors to a backyard or courtyard, she can let her child create beautiful masterpieces while she works away. These markers are specifically made to be easily washable.
Sources: Teaching Mama, Brit, Twins Mommy