Activity Ideas for a 14 Month Old

I got together quite frequently with friends. It was more for my sanity though. Otherwise, I did what you are doing... Running errands and visiting elderly relatives.

Well, you're doing all the same things I did, errands, park, library, reading, etc. Why isn't that enough? The rest of the time she can just be playing and exploring on her own, in your sight of course, while you do housework, read, cook, do hobbies, whatever it is you like to do. You're a MOM not a playmate or a full time entertainer! At preschool and daycare the teachers don't spend much time sitting down and playing with babies and kids, they provide a happy and safe environment with lots of stimulating toys and activities for little ones to enjoy and explore on their own. That's all you need to do! You are still present and engaged with your daughter, but it's okay to detach yourself and enjoy things that you normally don't have time for, like a home improvement project maybe?

She is so young.
EVERYTHING you do WITH her, even errands, is an "activity" with her and an interaction, with you.

A child, does NOT have to be "entertained" nor for long periods.
Kids that young, also get tired and easily over-stimulated and need, to nap.
They cannot go for LONG periods, of being entertained every second and go go go all day.
You may think, as an "adult" that doing the same thing most days, is "boring." But for a kid that age, it is not.

Kids, do NOT have to be "entertained" literally.
They learn, from ALL things all day and are "entertained" all day by just normal things going on. Even a Kleenex box, can be fun for a kid.
Just LET your child, ALSO have, time on their own, to play. Not it being anything that is orchestrated. Let the child, entertain themselves, too. That is how, they discover..... the world around them. Even hanging out on the floor, rolling a ball around, is a fun learning thing for them. Playing with blocks. Playing with pillows. Playing withe crumpled up newspaper. ALL of that, is "entertaining" for a kid and teaches them, how to play by themselves, too. That is how a kid ALSO learns, about themselves and the world and cause and effect etc.

When my kids were little we regularly went to the library, zoo, museum, YMCA, playgroups and swimming. We would do one such outing each day. We also took a walk (or bike ride) daily, usually to the playground. We tried to go at the same time as the local daycare because my kids enjoyed having other kids to play with (or watch). If they weren't yet walking they went in the stroller/wagon/bike trailer/sled. We also had seasonal activities such as tobogganing, corn mazes, farm trips, petting zoos, strawberry picking and beach days. I found when they were little it was easier if we spent very little time at home. We really only spent time at home for meals, sleep and necessary housework. Outings were usually more fun for me if I found another mom to join us so I would have someone to talk to.

Just keep doing what you are doing. We did all the same stuff as you. She doesn't need to be entertained 24/7. Keep it simple and ENJOY this special gift of time with your little girl!

Make up a daily schedule for you for laundry, cleaning and such. Have your daughter help you. Put a time on your schedule a schedule for your daughter like 8:30 am breakfast, 9:15 to 10 am playtime. (you put in a load of laundry or load the dishwasher). 10:00 to 11:00 you have her play by herself in the playpen or such. Noon is lunch time. (empty dishwasher or dryer and fold clothes). After lunch it is nap time for everybody. 2:00 pm up from nap, run errands, go to the park. 4:00 time to fix dinner. 6:00 dinner 7:30 bed routine by 8:15 baby in bed.

You can tweak this to fit but it is a routine that gets easier each day. It saved me when I was a SAHM with a 3 1/2 and newborn. The routine worked so well that I had time to do things for myself and keep the house in tip top shape as well as play with the kids and go to the park.

Yes it might be boring for us but it is not for a child.

Enjoy your time with your daughter.

the other S.

Don't over think this.
It might get boring for you but she's loving it!
Kids thrive on routine and repetition.
Get a large cardboard box (check with your local appliance store) and make a fort.
Cut windows in it, use sheets or towels for curtains, decorate it with crayons/markers, then have a picnic inside it and read a story while using a flashlight.
She'll probably even want to nap in it - and that's fine!
When it falls apart it can go into recycling.
When our son was that age he also liked splashing in water.
I put out a small washtub on the deck and filled it half way with water then sat next to him while he had a jolly time splashing and playing with his rubber duckie.
At that age even mushing up oatmeal is fun.
One time I got a delivery of a large box that was loaded with corn starch packing peanuts.
I removed the item and the next thing I knew our son launched himself into the peanuts - it was like a mini ball pit.
We played with that on the deck for awhile too.
And the great thing about corn starch packing peanuts is when you are done you just hose them off and they dissolve away.
Take pictures when you're doing all this stuff - I've got some great ones!

It sounds like you are doing everything you need to do with her. You can add crayons and paints to her activities for some variety. I think the main person you need to stimulate is yourself. A long walk helped me a lot. Just getting outside and getting exercise was a stress and boredom reliever. Try to arrange time to meet with other moms and kids. Most importantly, schedule some time for yourself.

My kids loved a water table and their little sand box with some water to mix in as well. We'd take a walk with/without the stroller. We like to go on trails and end up sitting and playing in the dirt. Do you have a trail stroller? Playing outside was always a favorite. Playing in the bathtub is fun. Painting in the bathtub with shaving cream is fun. I'd take my kids to all the free toddler events at that age...music and movement at the library, the free music class, the free program at the environmental center. They loved being around all the other kids. Get out a big box and finger paint it, crawl into it, hide and pretend it's a fort. At that age they go from one thing to the next. Nothing really entertains them for all that long. Have fun. :)

when mine were that age.. we went to one kid place in the am.. then came home for lunch and nap.

so we would go someplace for no more than 2 hours..

we joined playgroups... and had a set schedule of activities.. you can do a drop in at Gymboree classes they let you try one for free.

also see if you can do a free trial kindermusik class.

I am furloughed too.. but my kids are in school.. and I am just shopping...!!

Toddlers are creatures of comfort and routine. They still need things in a cyclical fashion to continue to grow and develop. All of my children had a schedule and we followed it as best as possible. I am not a drill sergeant but I'm also no loosey-Goosey mom throwing everything out the window either. Middle ground and balance. Plenty of toy play to develop fine motor skills. Walking, running, rolling, and jumping to develop all the large motor skills. Arrange play dates as much as possible to start introducing sharing and social playfulness. Read, read, read to your toddler. Books are windows to the world, education, and all things knowledge based. Just make their little life fun, encourage lots of different experiences....sensory and tactile. Stay on schedule and keep eating, napping, and sleeping all in check in and among the fun stuff. I always loved story time at the children's area in the library, The Little Gym, play dates at our park, swimming in the pool, and one of the most rewarding experiences was signing my toddlers up as "mentor playmates" in an Easter Seals playgroup with other toddlers that had some physical disabilities. It taught us all to reach out to other moms of young kids and help one another be the best we can be no matter what our situation in life is. A truly great experience for us all.

When my kids were little, I kept my little ones on a routine. We had breakfast, went to story/playtime, swimming, errands, etc...

Then, we had lunch and I would give my little ones time to play on their own...even if it was for a few minutes.

Then, it was nap time.

We stayed in most afternoons and read books , danced or played with water, etc...

When my son was that age I worked half-time and we had a lot of at-home-together time. Here are some things that went over particularly well.

Music/drumming: I'd put on some children's music that I didn't hate, and we'd keep rhythm together. After every song we'd clap and cheer for the song, which was a source of a lot of excitement.

A variant on that (which worked well when I was cooking) was to have him give me a "concert" with some pots and pans and a wooden spoon.

There was also a phase when it was fun to take walks and search for particular things. As in, really, really easy-to-find things: houses, cars, doggies.

That and, honestly, I just had him "help" me with a lot of housework. If I was sorting laundry, I'd give him two pillowcases, and that was "his" laundry, while I carried on a monologue: "Look, a red shirt; look, pants," etc. If I was doing dishes, he got his own little bowl of water (messy!) and some tupperware. Etc.

I must be a sh*tty mom. I really never "entertained" my kids. I brought them with me on errands, talked with them, read to them, engaged in play with them, but also let them play independently a lot.

I think you're doing plenty already. Don't worry. Life isn't always fun and exciting....sometimes it's boring. Kids need to learn how to fill in the boring bits without us or they'll end up being dependent personalities.