Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Other things to do with Toddler

Magnets work on a metal tub, too. DS7 used to love playing with those plastic magnetic letters for the fridge when he was in the tub! Great fun!

I have 2 toddlers, DS3 and DS4. About a week ago they got their hands on my tape measure. It was such a sucess that I had to go buy another so that they each would have one. Get the cloth kind that is used for fabric (no sharp edges) and show him how to measure things. Even if he can't recognize his numbers yet, he can still play "this long!"

Shari - it just hit me that you have 6 kids at home! With 2 toddlers! Wow. Somehow the magnitude of this escaped me til now...

I remember one of DS's favorite activities involved a bundt pan, a scoop, a funnel, and rice. I put a tray underneath all this, and he would sit there for very long periods of time scooping and pouring the rice into the funnel and through the hole in the bundt pan.

Moon sand and playdoh were also popular, thomas trains, doodlepad/magnadoodle, and dot daubers (like bingo daubers for kids).

I have to give a huge shout out for my favorite WikkiStix again! I rave about them everywhere! The uses are endless. Before my DS had good hand control, he'd use the for dot to dots and mazes. Now he builds all kinds of stuff, still does dot to dots, makes letters and words, gear for lego men and action figures, so much stuff. They're cheap so if they get lost you won't care.

I noticed you said CD's. My son loved the They Might be Giants "Here come the ABCs" Cd and it wasn't too torturous for me. We also have a large collection of Disney audiobooks. Most I checked out from the library then put on my iPod. At 20 mins or so per story, that's perfect length for you to get something done.

Another big favorite around our house then and now is empty food boxes. Stack them and knock them, play word hunts, make a store, tons of fun!

Thanks for all the suggestions. I really appreciate it.