cm club - things to amuse a 14 mth old?

[becksmummy]

Hi, I currently mind a 14 mth old girl and have my own daughter who is 9 mths, what do you cm's out there do to amuse this age range?

I have enquired about local toddler groups etc but my mindee if quite timid and sometimes gets upset when my own dd is too close to her so dont think she would like the groups (am sure my daughter will when she is a bit bigger as she is the complete opposite!)

She also still puts things in her mouth so cant do playdoh etc just yet but feel each day is the same for her and need some new ideas please????

Have you done a treasure basket before with different tactile objects in? Can use pine cones, cotton reels, shiny objects, fluffy objects, etc.

Who minds once did a good feature on activities for little ones, will have a look for it for you.

cornflour and water? that's fun and ok to go in her mouth. easy to clean up too.

singing, shape sorters small world push alongs, trips to parks (swings etc.) water play (not so messy as playdoh if hands go in lol),

is the littler one walking? I look after a 12 month old who wants to join in but not yet crawling so this is the sort of stuff we do HTH

Thanks everyone, I have a few questions if thats ok -

what do you do with a treasure basket? do you hide the things or just put them in for her to pick out what she wants? If you could let me know any other ideas from your magazine Kay that would be great!

cornflour and water, do I just mix this and let them make a mess with it? playing with water may be a good idea (I dont mind mess as have wooden floors so easy to clean!)

Yes she is walking quite well and my daughter is crawling and standing up so they could probably do the same activities.

i have a 13month and 15 month(diff days) they love.things that pop up once youve pushed them down, toys kitchen/food, putting in cupboards taking out again, little people/happy land(mainly for eating), maracas and other musical instruments, but nothing to blow cos that too much at this age i think, things with buttons, my two mindees love toy till, calculater etc, the also love shape sorters, building block(just to knock down), things that light up, that spin...i think even at this age its very sensory and anthing that catches their eye/ears, they enjoy

My ds is coming up to 14 months and fascinated by balls, stacking cups at the moment and by putting things into containers/boxes (sorting stuff?).

we have a large box of chunky plastic building blocks and we were all playing the other day, but the elder ones were most un-amused cos 13month old just wanted to take them out of box...put them back in box....take them out of box.......put them back in box...including the ones they were using to build towers!...this went on for some time

Hi,

They could both enjoy the treasure basket together, exploring etc. There is a good website for treasure baskets

www.contentedchild.co.uk/

They sell them, but list things that are ideal to place in them and some advice etc. My mindee is just one and she still loves it, she has been playing with it on and off since about 7 months old.

She also loves muscial bells/maracas/rain makers. Shape sorters are a favourite and playing ball to eachother along the floor.......

I have a little farm, its plastic but has things you press to make it move and it has a little farmer/sheep/pig/cow - loves that.....

Not cars though, one went along the floor into her leg and she shrieked!!! hehehehe!!

Thanks you have all given me some great ideas, going to look on that website now as treasure baskets seem very popular!

just been on the contentedchild website, thanks that is great as it lists loads of items so I can make up my own treasure basket!!