desperate for play ideas: 19 month old

[vannah]

Hi all,

My 19month old ds is simply not interested in any of his toys any more. I have 'toddler' toys ie sorting shapes, jigsaws... he only ever plays with 2 cars (out of 10) and he drives them along every surface.

I dont know what to sit down and do with him other than crayons/paper, playdough, and cutting/sticking.

He is happy at toddler groups and enjoys pushing prams around and riding cars. We dont have the space for that in our tiny flat.
Im also pregnant and very tired, so would really appreciate any suggestions for easy activities or toys that are well loved at this age.

many thanks

Get a big bowl of water and get him to 'wash' plastic cups etc.

Old pans & a spoon for bashing them with would probably be a bit too stressful if you're pregnant?

make space for a mini indoor trampoline - my twins love it! can he do real things with you? mkine washed up and made scones with me today - takes longer and more clearing up, but it passes the time. mine like putting soft toys to bed, bathing them, feeding them and putting nappies on them - good prep for new baby! we make paper aeroplanes and paper hats - by 'we' i do most of it but they do love it. handprints and footprints painting or potato printing. how about megablocks? collage - collect leaves sweet papers - rubbish really and stick! if you can get outside when it's warmer - street chalk is good. does he like trains yet? test him out -tescos and asda do really cheap sets that kind relations can add brio to later.

How about those fisher price little people. DD still plays with hers and she is 3. elc do them as well. She also started to like those plastic farm animals and dinosaurs from about 19 months.

i usually stick contraband (usually empty hand lotion bottle etc.) into plastic zip bags for him to "find", he spends a few minutes getting it out, then pretends to put the lotion on his hair etc. Car keys are another favourite, also contraband! We just make him believe its a real treat to play with real life things. He also likes to unpack my grocery cupboards and occasionally he gets to pour some rice out! He likes to stack things, so he gets to pack my tins in the grocery cupboards, he can do this for ages. He also have a small ride-on from mothercare which he can use indoors if the weather is bad, we also got him a pop-up tent, which he loves! He gets to hide in it and stash his contraband in it, he also runs and hides in it when he needs a nappy change.

great tips there - thanks everyone. Im getting a pen and paper to write it all down...
I forgot about the tent, he has one stashed away -will put it up.
lovely suggestions,