Entertaining an 18 month old

[Rosebud1302]

Hi guys,

Looking for toys/games/ideas for entertaining my 18 month old DS in the house. I take him out and about a lot. That isn't my issue, I'm good at that bit! It's the inevitable indoor time I'm not so good at.

We have a small house so it isn't like he can off and explore lots of rooms/cupboards etc because there basically isn't anything to explore. He is bored of his toys and looks visibly bored when at home. But I don't know what to try with him. I'm not a very creative person so looking for any inspiration please! Or any toys I can look at getting him?

He is into books, we have loads of those. He has a play kitchen, cleaning sets, lots of balls, cars, wooden train etc etc but nothing he particularly loves.

Thanks!!!

Oh I was going to say books! The books where you press a button and it makes a noise were popular about that age, I think we had a bunch of Julia Donaldson ones.

Ride on toys were very successful if you have the space and aren’t too precious about your paintwork!? Toy buggy got pushed around a lot too.

Get him washing up - if you can bear the wet floor
'Baking' - again messy but just get him mixing up cereal with raisins or anything else you are ok with him eating or clearing up from the floor later.

Helping with housework - pairing socks/dusting - mine used to polish the wooden rocking chair for hours. Made it really slippery but entertained them for ages.

Charity shop toys - anything new and interesting can buy you 10/15 mins of entertainment.

Pound shop stickers to 'make' birthday cards/pictures

Anything that is cause and effect so ramps to roll cars and balls down. Any toys with buttons to press.

Lots of action songs - you can sit on the sofa with a cuppa and just sing sleeping bunnies etc. while they do the actions

Basically at this age they just want you and your attention. You just have to slow everything right down and go with the flow a bit.

I used to do a group of some sort every morning or go swimming or to soft play then post nap hit the supermarket/library/have a friend over/ go for a walk or to the park.

It will get so much easier when the weather improves.

I also used to set toys up ready for them to come down to in the morning as that worked better than them trying to poke through the toy box themselves.

I prefer to be out too but when in we
Colour
Play hide and seek (he hides behind the curtain)
He has a happy land box full of stuff that he will play with long enough to put tea on
We play with teddies (change nappy, dress etc)
Play cricket with little bat and balls
Throw all cushions on the floor and mess around tickling etc
Play doh
Wash his toys
Put childrens Netflix on he loves nursery rhymes
Have a bath
Sit out front watch for cars, people animals

Thank you guys really great ideas here! I have definitely fallen into the trap of not realising how quickly he is developing and wanting to do more than just play with ordinary toys!!! I love the idea of dressing teddies I think he will love that as he tries to dress himself.

Yes agree that it will be easier when the weather is better. Even so I definitely need to get better at entertaining him. I wish it came more natural to me

My DD is the same age and I find it hard to entertain her at home too sometimes! Some things that work for us:

• Cut a hole/slit in a box and let them fill it with wooden lollypop sticks (available in the £ shop). This keeps my DD amused for ages.
• Helping out with chores (putting the washing away, loading the washing machine, dusting)
• Colouring book/paper with crayons and stickers
• Chalkboard and chalk
• Hiding things in a container of rice or letting them dig in the rice with small tubs and spoons
• Flash cards
• Sorting pom poms into stacking cups or other containers (pom poms from £ shop)
• Toy rotation (I put some things away in a cupboard and then bring them back out when DD is getting bored of the toys that are out)

Blow up a couple of balloons for him (and you if you want) to bat around. I keep a supply at home for rainy days.

Put on some music for some singing and dancing. If you have some instruments he could play along too.

There are some great ideas here! I'm only at home with my 20 month old 3 days a week and I've found that getting him involved with the housework keeps him very entertained. He jumps around in the duvet when I'm changing the bed, moves washing from the washing machine to the tumble dryer, and for Christmas he got a toy Dyson that he pushes around while I hoover. If I'm cleaning the kitchen then fridge magnets or toy cars on the lino (much better than carpet) keep him occupied.

A PP mentioned swapping toys around when they get bored of them, and I find that works well. I also give him stuff out of the recycling pile! He spent ages running around with a cardboard tube the other day and loves ripping into a cereal box. Also Playdough! My DS plays with it in his toy kitchen.