Entertaining an 18month old

[ellabella18]

If anyone has any idea please share. We've done loads throughout lockdown but are running out of ideas, we also have a six year old so any activities that will also amuse him are even better!
We're shielding so my days are still very long and limited.

Do you have a garden? Sand and water keep my daughter busy for ages. Pretending to plant seeds in the garden- or planting real ones if you can get hold of them.

My son has most enjoyed sensory play particularly coloured rice in a big tray with cars To drive in it and jars to fill up! He sits there for ages doing that

Water play in the garden with measuring cups and funnels and bits from the kitchen, and for your 6yo to join in give them a calpol syringe to squirt the water with. If you have any food colouring in, add a few drops. I've put different colours in different clear containers (tupperware/ tubs that fruit come in) and let DD mess about mixing them

Everydayisaplayday and playhooray on instagram are great for ideas xx

Well done for surviving this far with shielding, it can't be easy at that age!
Don't know if it's true for you, I find that I'm the one getting bored, toddlers don't usually mind a fair bit of repetition.

With 4 DC I don't generally have time to set up complicated play ideas for one, and I also like that this way more things can involve everyone, and think it's really nice for them to feel like they're involved and able to contribute. My 19 month old likes to join in with his big brothers, so he has his own book for doing homeschooling that he scribbles in, he finger paints while my older dcs do art, he empties the cutlery while I do the dishwasher or scrubs his animal toys in a bowl of warm water with a cloth and some fairy liquid while I do the washing up, he mixes coloured water while my eldest make potions or do little science experiments, he helps to butter bread or chop banana with a bread knife while we make lunch or a snack etc. GoNoodle is also popular, they choose some songs and dances to do together.
Water play is always a winner all round, we have a tiny paddling pool and they'll all play together for ages. Can your older one practice his reading by reading stories to him too? My older ones also like to make things out of Duplo or brio train tracks that they pretend are for the baby but actually get a lot of enjoyment out of themselves too

We don't follow Montessori strictly but there are lots of good practical life ideas for getting kids involved. www.google.com/amp/s/themomandablog.com/montessori-practical-life-other-activities-18-months-24-months/amp/