Ds#2 loves to explore and crawl around. Toys hold a passing interest. Most days I let him just crawl around. But sometimes I want to break it up. We go for walks or play outside. He loves outside.
But everything else I've tried is a no go. He had no interest in art or sensory bins or water play. Doesn't care much for musical toys or books. So I'm kinda out of ideas on things to do with him. Any input would be great!
I really don't think he's ready for some of the things you think he should be doing.
Go to parentcenter.com and sign up for daily/weekly/monthly emails regarding what is coming up, what he should be doing, and other things that are based on his age.
Your son is showing his personality already - he's an on-the-go kid! For my more active kid, I bought the smallest plastic playset I could find (it was just a crawl-up ladder and tiny slide) and put it in the living room. He also loved push toys that helped him get on his feet (eg, bubble mower, used indoors without bubbles or outdoor with bubbles) and toys that looked like small tables that he could pull up on. The small table-like ones had lights and music on them - he never played with those features, but would spend a lot of time just pulling up and getting down again. He also liked a big metal Tonka dumptruck, because he could stand behind it and push it. Once he was on his feet independently, it was a plastic adjustable basketball hoop in the living room.
We did (and still do) read every day before bed when he was settling down. But I did not try to force it in the middle of the day when he was on the go.
Everything mynewnickname said. My eldest was like this.
We had one of those climbers (Little Tykes) he loved. Couch cushions on the floor to crawl over (as he got older) loved forts.
We had a Ball Blaster (the enormous one) from Fisher Price. It was balls - sticking them in chutes and picking them up, doing it over and over ... the one we had I don't think they make any more - but he could crawl through it, hang on and walk around ... it took up 1/4 of my family room at the time but was well worth it. I've stored it for grandkids - it was a life saver for me.
He liked to push a walker, a ride on Little Tykes car, he had one of those Little Tykes cars that looks like a VW bug ... but lots of physical play. He ended up going to a daycare that had a big gym and lots of tumbling mats. He loved that. And Balls. Still does - always out on our lawn throwing a football or shooting hoops.
toddler climb and play playsets for outside, a different climbing playset to keep inside.
i gated off a baby proof room and let the child explore it i would hide toys and other fun things for them to find and check out. pots n pans and blocks were avalable for playing with. i kept the accessable cabinets with child proof things tht they were allowed to play with. and once a week i took them to the local library for story time with craft. we played at a ton of parks and spent alot of time just playing outside in the yard.
Try a long card board box.
Some kids love musical toys, Others just want you to crank up the tunes so they can dance; no interest in playing music. Just keep exposing him to new stuff but don't stress out if he has no interest. The best thing you can do as the parent to a young child is to expose them to everything and teach them the rules of the world.
Take down all the couch cushions and pillows and make an obstacle type course in the living room for him to jump in, on, over and around. LOL!
Use some basic masking tape (pulls up off carpet easy) & lay down a balance beam size track for him to 'balance' walk on, or even next to the couch now if he needs to hold onto something and walk, if he's still learning.
When he gets bigger it'll be fun to somersault all around the cushions too, it's lasts for a long time as a fun activities and is easy to clean up!
Mine loved this type stuff..lots of fort building and seriously, keep your next big box and watch him have at it!
My son was like this. He's 5 now. When he started preschool in August, he had a hard time with writing. He never wanted to color or try to doodle. Getting him to learn how to write was a battle. He just wanted to be outside. We live in Florida so we are outside everyday. He learned his colors with water balloons.
The libraries should have story time. They sing and read books to the kids. Are there mom groups in your area or a place where moms with young kids meet?
My city has 2 magazines that are free and I get from the library. Theres great articles. It also has every event and activity going on for the month. A lot of the stuff is free and geared towards young kids.
