How do you keep 2(or more) toddlers entertained on your own...

jamie217

My H works for UPS and will be working ALOT of hours for the next month.  So it will be like being a single mom to two 16 month olds. Last year was rough, but they weren't mobile.  We find it hard to keep them entertained sometimes with the two of us.  I know I'll be exhausted and am fine with chores going to the waste side for awhile, but I want to keep them engaged.  I work full time so I'm hoping SHMs can help me!  I'm a teacher, so I was off with them all summer, but I feel like in the last two months they get bored alot easier!

They are on the run ALL the time and usually in different directions, so I can't take them to the zoo or museum where we have memeberships or parks on my own and they hate to be in their stroller for too long at the mall (esp since they are use to being able to ride the carosel or train with Mom and Dad when we're there). And with the weather getting colder soon I don't know how much time we'll get in the yard.  I'm trying to line up family helpers for the next month, but I need ideas to keep them engaged on my own...the same toys, books, routines, Baby Signing Time and Yo Gabba Gabba wear thin on them (and me) as it is sometimes now!

TIA!

 

 

macchiatto

Yeah, they're at a tough age to take them places on your own unless they're contained--like our children's museum has a great room for age 0-3 that's a good option, or maybe a mall play area, children's area at the library, etc., when you need to get out of the house.

Otherwise, do you do MegaBloks at all yet? At that age my two loved MegaBloks, cars and trucks, balls, reading, stacking toys, blocks, push toys, etc. You can try simple games like ring around the rosy, singing time, maybe even finger painting.

LakeGenevaBride

My saving grace as been my gym membership.  I take them there for 2 hours a day.  I get a work out and a shower, and they get to play with other kids and different toys.   There is no way we could stay at home all day long.   I also occasionally take them to a children's museum (it is small and contained).   If I have a friend to accompany me, I go to one of those bounce houses. 

jamie217

We have a ton of toys and more on the way but, we don't have mega blocks and I had a friend rave about them.

I haven't been to the gym since I was 28 wks pg. and I used to go 4x per wk.  Btwn them, work, cooking and cleaning, I never have time ( haven't even been on here for about 2.5 mos) and mine didn't have a place to watch kids...maybe now is the time to get a new memebership -  God knows I could use some stress relief and get toned up!

Thanks ladies!

 

keg

My DH works two weekends a month, so I feel your pain.  Thankfully I also work and therefore DDs are at daycare during the week.  I find weekdays are pretty easy in that by the time we get home, do dinner, baths, and get ready for bed, there isn't a whole lot of time I have to entertain.  On the Saturdays, I like to do one "adventure" in the morning.  I often did the zoo by myself.  I just wouldn't let them out of the stroller when I was by myself until I felt they would cooperate (I've only started doing that at 2.5+).  Costco is also one of our favorites.  Between double carts, samples, and just pointing out what we see, that's quite the entertainment.  We also went to the Botanical Gardens a good bit and I just made them stay in the stroller until the end and I'd let them run around the great lawn.  On Sunday mornings, we go to church. 

Temp123197812503460

I don't have babies that old yet, but if I do end up with ones that like to run away I'm fully prepared to use baby leashes. I know they are a bit controversial but I honestly don't see how it's any more confining than forcing a kid to sit strapped into a stroller and no one bats an eye at that. Maybe it would be enought to make it easier to go to the zoo, etc, I bet they would love the freedom of getting to walk around!

gumiberg

i go to the park, and indoor play areas a lot.  i also take them running in the jogging stroller (that kills an hour) and running on the running path (so that they can get some exercise, too).  i do use gym daycare, although not recently. 

those indoor play areas are really really cool.  mine will play independently for about 2 hours!  it gives me a chance to chat with other moms.

also i just let them destroy the house.  if 50 toys will entertain them, then they can play with 50 toys.

also, if i take them places (like the zoo) i use a wagon instead of a stroller.  the seem to like sitting in it more.