We need toys!

[~clover~]

I have 2 kids at school full time, then DS in kinder 2 days a week. I've just started jobsharing with SIL, cooking for their workers.

When the kids are all home I can get a bit of time with DD3 away from me, but then I have 3 others at home! While all the others aren't here she doesn't want to be left alone. She wants to be on me all the time. She's only having one hour - two hour sleep a day.

I was doing everything after they went to bed, but thats my only me time, so I'd prefer not too. Plus, all the food needs to be done & at my brothers the night before, to go out to the shed the next morning at 5.30/6am. With 4 kids in bed & just me I can't run it over there late at night, or early morning.

So give me idea's to keep a 16 month old happy & amused for a couple hours? DS will park his bum in front of the chipmunks when needed, DD won't. Something I can use around the house, we don't have many toys after the move.

[Novella]

my DD's both loved duplo even if they were too little to stack it properly together.

[feeb]

Wooden blocks
Duplo
Cars/trains
Ipad
Tea set
Shapo
sticker books
chalk board

[FabFiona]

Is there a toy library locally? Kids can get bored and that's a good and cheap way to keep things rotated.

[~clover~]

will have to find out about the library. i'm not sure if they have toys, but would be awesome if they do!

no money, or shops within a few hours to get anything else

[Babyluv]

My DD loves colouring with crayons and will sit for ages drawing!

[~clover~]

My DD loves colouring with crayons and will sit for ages drawing!

I'll give it a go... except I already have a few pretty coloured walls. One with permanent marker!

[Novella]

very noisy but pots and pans, wooden spoons, all the tupperware

make some musical toys out of empty containers and rice/beans etc.

dd1 loved sitting in the washing basket with a laddle and a wooden spoon pretending it was a boat

they also loved playing with MIL's bucket of clothes pegs, I have no idea why but they played with them for hours

[Trillian]

Maybe you could get a big box from an electrical retailer - like a fridge or washing machine box? My kids loved playing in big boxes when they were that age. Would also give her an outlet for drawing as well.

[~clover~]

Thats an idea Trill, I have a few in the shed still

Thanks guys

[indie24]

Maybe make some playdough. My DD loves playing with it

[Muppity]

Dd's favorite for ages was painting. Just a paintbrush (about an inch wide) and an old margarine container with a nano sponge in the bottom - I send her to paint walls and windows and she lives it - the sponge is so that the water doesn't spill but the brush still gets a little bit wet

[jackrose]

Things that kept my girls entertained for hours at that age were playdoh and posting. I have made lots of different posting receptacles such as an old tissue box, cereal box with slit cut in it, plastic jar (nutella/peanut butter if your kids are not allergic) with a hole cut in the lid. Then I use anything for posting. Old milk bottle tops, buttons (if your LO is not still mouthing everything) pictures cut out of magazines, old books, photo albums, junk mail catalogue, plastic animals, puzzle pieces…. With the pictures, my dd's loved to say the name of the picture then post it. I also have made a posting box based on the 'drop box' at 'play at home mom' blog. It is a big box with lots of different sized holes cut into the top for lots of different posting. My older DD loves it too!

Actually if you google play at home mom, there are heaps of great ideas for toys, games and play. They have a series on 'busy boxes' where they have a plastic tub with rotating materials in it. It is a great idea as the kids get the idea that when the box comes out it is time for focused play and they get really engrossed in it. It may take a little preparation time (say the night before) but in my experience, it has been a great investment as it 'buys' me some time to get something done without a toddler under my feet - priceless!

ETA: Another great idea is sticking contact onto a wall or window using sticky tape so that the sticky side of the contact is facing out. Then set the toddler up with a collection of junk, scraps of paper, ribbon, cotton wool, images cut from mags, straws etc and let them stick like crazy! No messy glue to worry about and a piece of art at the end!

[~clover~]

Those are pretty cool Jackrose! DS would love that stuff too

[jackrose]

Right on!

Nothing better than getting the older sibling in on the act, then they get the joy and pride of 'helping' teach a younger one and you get two for the price of one in the entertainment stakes. (Provided they don't turn it all to competition and fighting!) I find that when I get two playing together best is straight after a meal or a nap. Happy bellies or happy rested minds, means more harmonious play… and more space for mummy!

Plus, just found another awesome idea blog today : "A little learning for two" I poached the idea for tracing shapes around household items onto plain paper then having the kids match the shapes and I have a whole heap of other ideas bookmarked! (My pinterest board is out of control!)

[purplepixie1978]

I can give Millie an empty box (tissue boxes are her favourite, especially the Quilton ones with the teddy bears on them) and an assortment of pegs, tubes, random items and she will post them and discover them over and over again. She also has a small watering can that was $2 at Kmart which tickles her pink. Same with a $2 ball from Big W. I swear the cheaper the better with my girl... except for shoes. What we save on toys we spend on shoes

[starangelk]

Water play-dd loves it

[wysiwyg]

Jackrose - Thanks for the contact paper idea, tried it with DD today and went down really well - plus alot of the things will come off the contact so can reuse the same piece over and over / rearrange stuff. Have had a few people comment on what a great idea it was - so had to come back and search it out on here so I knew who to thank. (my pic is on pinterest - I am upcyclepatch on there)