Question

What do you do to keep your toddlers entertained while you work from home? I’m out of ideas ‍♀️

Answer 1

I saw a post from a doctor, that said do what you need to do, for your own mental health and what not. If you need to have your children watch more than the suggested normal screen time, do it! Now isn't the time to think about "the right thing" and all that, which we do during our normal daily lives. If getting yourself some quiet time to get work done, have a call you have to be on, or hell, you just need some quiet time to get your thoughts together, have them watch something. If it makes you feel better, something educational. There's tons of educational shows/videos out there. Just saying if all else fails and it's all you have left, don't feel bad or judge yourself because they're watching a screen and/or more screen time than you would like.  

Comments

On that note if you let them watch TV Story Bots is somewhat educational and my kids love it. They also like the scratch garden videos on you tube.  

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Big fan of everything on PBS. Super readers. Word world. Daniel Tiger. Mr. Roger's.  

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I just don't recommend opening the Pandora's Box of Caillou. DO NOT DO IT! Blippi is annoying as all hell, but he's educational and for some reason, kids love him.  

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@jawbreaker31 blippi is the man! I swear I’m starting to sound like him with my expressions. Lol

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I do like his shoes!  

Answer 2

Following  

Answer 3

Today I used a dry erase marker to write capital letters on the kitchen tile squares. Then I wrote all the lower case letters on post it’s and he had to match the lower case to its upper and make the sound. We also did numbers and he had to put that number of puff balls in each square. If you’re kid is younger than that you could do shapes. Cardboard car ramp on the couch. Pipe cleaners into colander holes-can add beads to string on too if old enough.  

Comments

@elite138 can this be pulled off without a ton of supervision? Not to sound neglectful but I feel like I am not getting my stuff done

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@mcclure how old are your kids?  

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@elite138 4

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Mine are 4. 5 and almost 2. Those are all things my 4 year old could do for a while without direct supervision from me. I was just at the kitchen table working. You know your kids. It has to be a little challenging but not so hard they give up. He also really enjoyed spraying and erasing the floor. It’s hard for sure to work and Mom. Honestly when I really need some time I throw them in the backyard and just sit at the kitchen table where I can see most of the yard. That’s not an option for everyone though.  

Answer 4

Anything that makes them work to get shapes in holes, or balls in buckets. Also good old fashion pots and pans works. Can you take your computer outside? I have been doing that working either on the patio or in the front yard plug into out light post in the front yard. Then I let them go at the chalk and bubbles and ride their bikes from the corner to the tree. My little guy also love to play chef and will play with okay dough for hours with plates and butter knifes and other kitchen stuff

Answer 5

Also we recently did spaghetti pieces joined with marshmallows to make shapes or 3-D shapes. Friend of mine hid post it’s all over the house with simple pictures drawn on them. Kids had to find their special color and then she had a big chart paper with all the pictures on it and they had to match their picture.  

Answer 6

Bin full off water with toys. Kinetic sand, kinetic dirt. Corn starch and water colored. Water in a muffin tin and using turkey baster or smaller items

Comments

@tildy I got two pounds of green kinetic sand. It is everywhere! We’ve made slime too, I still cannot find them

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@mcclure it can get messy for sure. Give measuring cups and such and use a huge bin on the floor and a huge towel underneath. I also have beads to string though those fuzzy pipes I forget what they are called. If you have cookie cutters they’re great for kinetic sand too.  

Answer 7

Millions of toys in our house and balloons from an old bday and an amazon box (batting balloons into the box) did the trick. ‍♀️

Answer 8

I started a Facebook page for this very reason. Feel free to check it out mylifewithtoddlers

Answer 9

I like a lot of the suggestions about sensory play, balloons, etc, but I think it's also important to consider how you work. If you have the ability to get basic communications apps on your phone, do that and keep it with you so you can at least check in if your attention is more focused on the child. Save tasks that require sustained attention for sleep times or screen time (if there was ever a time to relax on this, it's now). And definitely consider giving them screen time if you have meetings/calls that last longer than their attention span for non-screen activities. If you have a laptop, bring it with you wherever your child is so you can be a little more flexible in going back and forth. The other thing I'd recommend is getting them outside early in the day for some physical activity - run around the yard, ride-on toys, a quick walk - so they aren't feeling cooped up 2 hours into your workday. I know this kind of multitasking is not easy, or even advisable in normal circumstances, but there's only so much we can do to make this situation work. I hope you employer is being somewhat understanding.  

Answer 10

Abc mouse

Answer 11

Super why - it’s a tv show. educational and my kids love it . 2 and almost 5!