Manology: Entertaining Toddlers

7

WAYS TO ENTERTAIN

TODDLERS without Electronics

You are somewhere in public. Maybe it’s in your doctor’s waiting room. Or maybe it’s in your favorite restaurant, and it’s taking longer than you expected. Your child is getting restless. And irritable (I mean REAL irritable). You start to panic. What do you do? The simple notion that, as a parent, you turn to your phone or tablet whenever your child becomes bored, or unhappy, is not the kind of life-lesson we need to be teaching our children. Admittedly, it’s very tempting to quickly shove an iPhone into a child’s hands—alleviating any potential temper-tantrum. That being said, don’t you want them growing up with the ability to entertain themselves? Listed below are a few fun,

brain-boosting ideas to keep on deck should a meltit’s in your doctor’s waiting room. Or down start to arise. All can be modified, within reamaybe it’s in your favorite restaurant, son, to meet your child’s level of cognition for spontaneous fun and endless entertainment. Give it a try! ed. Your child is getting restless. And What’s the worst that could happen?

1. I Spy Something…

This is classic entertainment and is good for all ages. Pick an object both you and your kid can see, and say, “I spy something .” If your child has a modest vocabulary, The simple notion that, as a parent, you turn to your as well as a basic understanding of the alphabet, fill in the blank with a letter. “I spy something, and it begins with or unhappy, is not the kind of life-lesson we need to be the letter B.” It can help if you sound it out: “Ba-Ba-Ba.” teaching our children. Admittedly, it’s very tempting to quickly shove an iPhone into a child’s hands—al For younger kids who may only know shapes or colors, substitute those categories instead. I spy something blue, like the sky.” You can also describe the object’s properties: to entertain themselves? Listed below are a few fun, “I spy something, and it’s rough and shiny and smooth.”

brain-boosting ideas to keep on deck should a meltdown start to arise. All can be modified, within reason, to meet your child’s level of cognition for spontaneous fun and endless entertainment. Give it a try! What’s the worst that could happen?

1. I Spy Something…

This is classic entertainment and is good for all ages. Pick an object both you and your kid can see, and say, “I spy something .” If your child has a modest vocabulary, as well as a basic understanding of the alphabet, fill in the blank with a letter. “I spy something, and it begins with the letter B.” It can help if you sound it out: “Ba-Ba-Ba.” For younger kids who may only know shapes or colors, substitute those categories instead. I spy something blue, like the sky.” You can also describe the object’s properties: “I spy something, and it’s rough and shiny and smooth.”

2. Name That Tune

As best as you can, hum a familiar song. Example in As best as you can, hum a familiar song. Example include “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” “Old McDonald,” clude “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” “Old McDonald,” “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” “Baby Shark,” etc. “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” “Baby Shark,” etc. See if your child can identify the song and correctly name it.

3. What is Missing?

This game is great to do at a restaurant. Take a few ob This game is great to do at a restaurant. Take a few objects—for example, a spoon, a fork and a sugar packet— jects—for example, a spoon, a fork and a sugar packet— and ask your child to carefully look at the collection and ask your child to carefully look at the collection before them. Then cover the items with your napkin. Once covered, remove an item without them being able to see which item was removed. Finally, remove able to see which item was removed. Finally, remove the napkin altogether, and ask your child to correctly the napkin altogether, and ask your child to correctly name which item is missing.

4. What am I?

Pick an animal, object or place, and then let your kid Pick an animal, object or place, and then let your kid ask questions to try to get the correct answer. Exam ask questions to try to get the correct answer. Examples of questions are “Do you roar?” “Do you live some ples of questions are “Do you roar?” “Do you live somewhere in a cold or hot climate?” “Are you furry?” where in a cold or hot climate?” “Are you furry?” Ask your child if he can touch something that is “X” color. “Can you touch something that is red?” “Can you touch something blue?” They can touch anything within their reach—the table, their clothes, your clothes, etc. If it is some place where your child can walk around without bothering other people, you can make the game mobile.

6. Hidden in the Hand

Simultaneously, let your kid see your open, empty hands. Then put an object like a coin in one of your hands and close both of them. Put your hands behind your back and switch the object back and forth between them. Bring your closed hands back in front of you, and ask your child to guess which one is holding the object. Once you’ve done this a few times, reverse the roles and let them hide the object in their hands.

7. Simple, Easy Riddles

Come up with easy riddles for your child to solve. For example, “What bank never has any money?” or “What has hands and a face, but can’t hold anything or smile?” If you’re stumped on what riddles to ask, simply Google search “simple, easy riddles for kids.” Just try not to use your smartphone in front of them. It would kind-of defeat the purpose.

5. Find Something That is…

Ask your child if he can touch something that is “X” color. “Can you touch something that is red?” “Can you touch something blue?” They can touch anything within their reach—the table, their clothes, your clothes, etc. If it is some place where your child can walk around without bothering other people, you can make the game mobile.

6. Hidden in the Hand

Simultaneously, let your kid see your open, empty hands. Then put an object like a coin in one of your hands and close both of them. Put your hands behind your back and switch the object back and forth between them. Bring your closed hands back in front of you, and ask your child to guess which one is holding the object. Once you’ve done this a few times, reverse the roles and let them hide the object in their hands.

7. Simple, Easy Riddles

Come up with easy riddles for your child to solve. For example, “What bank never has any money?” or “What has hands and a face, but can’t hold anything or smile?” If you’re stumped on what riddles to ask, simply Google search “simple, easy riddles for kids.” Just try not to use your smartphone in front of them. It would kind-of defeat the purpose.