Tell me what toddlers like!

[chesirecat99]

We have a (just) 2 YO guest coming to dinner at the weekend. I anticipate that he will be overtired and over-excited after a day of sightseeing and I believe he has just mastered the art of the tantrum

It's been several decades since my DC were babies and I have forgotten everything I ever knew about toddlers. I have absolutely nothing to entertain him before/while we eat other than pencils and paper my walls and he doesn't like TV Although we do have a xylophone and piano but the neighbours may not thank me if I let him loose on those...

I was thinking of investing in a couple of small toys or a game and a book but what will hold a toddler's attention for a couple of hours, won't annoy the neighbours nor result in my home being destroyed?

I'm sure his DM will bring toys but I am banking on something new keeping him happy for longer. And I am quite looking forward to having a little visitor to spoil

AIBU to ask for your best toddler taming toys? Bonus points if it something that the adults might enjoy playing with too.

Stickers are your friend.

A range of books, animal toys, puzzles, colouring and paper, balls or toys that move and range of snacks. And bring them out slowly one by one. Tbh everything will be new and exciting.

For my son it would be duplo or toy cars. He played with a four quid toy tesco delivery van for 45mins solid the other day. But your instruments sound great. And plastic kitchen utensils and wooden spoons may go down well. And it doesn't all have to be toy based. It could be songs. Hide and seek etc. You sound so lovely. Please may we visit next? 😁

Duplo set

@Lottle

For my son it would be duplo or toy cars. He played with a four quid toy tesco delivery van for 45mins solid the other day. But your instruments sound great. And plastic kitchen utensils and wooden spoons may go down well. And it doesn't all have to be toy based. It could be songs. Hide and seek etc. You sound so lovely. Please may we visit next? 😁

My son loves that Tesco delivery van too 😂

Cars, trucks (bonus points for monster trucks) diggers fire engines etc are very popular in our house.

Also he loves his toy tea set, will spend ages lining up the cups and plates to pour out the "tea" from the tea pot (usually just water or nothing if I haven't the energy to be cleaning up the inevitable spills)

Many good suggestions! Maybe ask the parents what schemas the toddler is interested in at the moment? www.onehundredtoys.com/blogs/news/understanding-schema-play-in-toddlers

Mine still loves pouring water, washing objects and transferring dry rice and pasta etc. In addition to everything mentioned: she liked the grapat rings, coins, cups and people figures a lot at that age.

Stickers and pom poms

Play doh, the hoover (not turned on) and a sweeping brush keep our toddler entertained for quite awhile. Also I know you said he doesn't watch TV and I'd say that's true of our toddler except for nursery rhymes (YouTube Dave and Ava or Bounce Patrol) and learning colours/numbers (YouTube edubuzzkids). Edubuzzkids literally mesmerised DS the first few times he watched their colours videos.

Oh and stickers. DS loooooves stickers. Particularly the 3D foam ones. He'll sit for ages peeling them off the sticker paper and putting them onto normal paper.

I'd leave it up to the parents but if all else fails then snacks and tv

Also, we passed many a lockdown afternoon with her sitting in the bath with various containers and bottles!

Bubbles!

I spent so much on toys for my ds's when they were toddlers in an attempt to occupy them. All 3 of them would ditch the lot and empty my kitchen cupboards of pans, tuppaware, measuring cups and wooden spoons!!! Not forgetting the obligatory cardboard boxes! It got noisy on occasion but always unbeaten for retaining attention for any length of time! They also like torn up bits of paper in the pans as "soup" 🙄

How about one of these cardboard play houses and a pack of crayons?
www.hobbycraft.co.uk/kids/kids-playhouses

A large cardboard box?

Water - water play outside, sitting in the bath with toys, “painting” with an ordinary paintbrush on the front steps, washing up

Bubble gun / bubble wand

“Gardening”

TV

Tupperware drawer

House made up of large cardboard box with door cut into it

And zillions of snacks

Duplo and some chunky cars.
A tub of farm animals or dinosaurs.
My kids were always enthralled by hand puppets.
If you have a garden get a cheap bubble blower machine, not a bubble wand as they always manage to tip it on their shoes!
Some chunky chalks if you have a patio.

If you're indoors and want non messy, I think stickers, magic water art things, perhaps wooden blocks if they're not a thrower! My DD had a sort of set of blocks that had houses painted on them so you could build a village type thing. Lidl/Aldi very good for inexpensive toys.
Big box and crayons is a good idea.
Pile of cushions and blankets and make a den.
Small world type play with things you already have -low box/cardboard box, plastic jugs and bowls, wooden spoons, boxes with some pasta in.
Shame the forecast isn't better as otherwise I would have said bucket of water in the garden, small watering can and a brush.

Toddlers like putting things in and out of stuff. I would hit the charity shops for some cheap toys and a backpack.

Crayola £5 colouring pack felt tips that only colour the paper . Can get in Asda and home bargains is available in frozen, toy story, Moana etc colour packs and four non stain pens

Wooden train set and a few trains would have kept my son occupied when he was 2. Brio ones are good, but if you happen to be near an Ikea their version is equally as good.

Play dough !!

Toddlers can't be tamed! If you figure out how, please let me know.

Poking pipe cleaners through a colander was popular here. You won't be disappointed with bubbles/balloons/pompoms in front of a fan either