New Activity Ideas

Finger painting (with either washable paints or pudding) is one of my favorites! I make a spot on my dining room/kitchen floor, lay down and old sheet, dress the kids in clothes you want to donate to the cause or just the diaper and then let them go at it! Fun,Fun, Fun! When they are done put them in the bath, the sheet in the washer and the art on the fridge!

I have also:
~ set up tubs with warm water, given them measuring cups and spoons and let them have at it in the kitchen.
~Given them big bowls of rice or beans (sometimes cheerios) and some empty water bottles and a funnel and let them have at it in the kitchen.

See my pattern? I am all about utilizing the kitchen floor...keeping them away from walls and other furniture, to minimize the mess:) Most things are washable these days and there ain't nothing my shop vac can't suck up!!

I love the websites http://www.toddlertoddler.com/ and http://www.familyeducation.com/home/

We also subscribe the magazine Family Fun (published by disney)
Tons of fun activities in there!!

I have a 32 month old, 17 month old and 2 month old.... they love anything to do with art.... clay, painting (spray bottles, eye droppers, sponge, etc), coloring....etc.

The 32 month old is just starting to do pretend play...so yesterday we went on a safari....we made tents out of blankets, animals out of legos and used flashlights. It was so much fun. The 2 month old slept in the tent the whole time :-)

Have fun with your kiddos and hopefully the websites will give you some great ideas.

S.

If you need to get out of the house, go to story times. Your local library probably has them, as do major book stores like Borders and barnes and noble, as well as some local ones. Change of scenery, enriching activity, and in airconditioned air, where allergies shouldn't be as bad!

take you kids to the tree house in haltom city glenveiwchurch.org. it's free. or the mall play area. Take them to cabelas. It's practically a wildlife museum and it is also free.

Hey -
One of the things that you can work on at this age is fine motor skill development. You can do this with floor puzzles. But also, some interesting things to do are:
1. Get a small jar and have them try to open the jar (twist the top) (of course, you have to have it very loosely on). Put interesting things in the jar - like feathers and rocks and other things that are neat to the touch for them.
2. String beads onto string - you have to watch them super closely on this activity because of the beads and the choke hazard associated with beads. At this age, my son could not put beads on a string, but he could put them on a pipe cleaner and he REALLY enjoyed this activity.
3. Also..for your son (your daughter is still probably too young), have him practice making a + or a circle on a piece of paper with a crayon.

Good luck!
L.