Things to do with 2 year old and baby

[bobblehead]

Anyone have any ideas for things to do with dd1 (2.5) and dd2 (7m)? We usually go out and about in the morning, but neither girls are big on naps so I srtuggle to keep them entertained after lunch. Dd2 is crawling so generally destroys anything I try to do with dd1. I put her in the playpen for a bit but would love something we could all do together, or is this just asking too much at this age!

Things to do at home?

Watch video
Read books
Biscuit making (as long as you don't mind the baby eating raw dough)
Painting
Playing with toys (musical instruments etc)

Probably doing puzzles will be problematic but most other things the baby can join in as long as youa re not too precious about mess

Singing/dancing to music; nursery/action rhymes
Books with rhyming text are good - the 2yo can listen to the story and the baby to he rhythm/melody, iyswim
You could make the baby a wnaky aka treasure basket (search on MN for 'treasure basket' and FrannyandZooey) which dd1 could help put together and help her explore.

I used to go swimmimng alot with my 2 DSs when they were those ages. I also remember putting a pop-up tent up in the sitting room and filling it with teddies and spending an hour or so just sitting in it with them( a lovely memory). We also went to the park.

Home made obstacle course - jumping over pillows etc, baby can crawl around too so long as toddler doesn't jump on her!

Blanket rides - great fun if you have a wooden floor - would need toddler to hold on to baby though. Both sit on blanket and you pull them around.

I sometimes imprison ds in his feeding char and put stuff on the tray to play with so I can do things with dd.

Put on a cd and all dance (I just hold ds stadning up and wave his arms about!).

Rolling and catching balls.

i am a bit of a 'get me outta the house' mum so went to the park, swimming, soft play and sure start centre activities. found trips to the library amazingly good with both. took DS2 (2 yrs older than DD) on bike-thing or scooter with baby in the pram - she used to enjoy watching big brother scooting or riding.

in the house we do all sorts that involve baby being involved but in high chair - baking, playing with stuff of different textures in a bowl(feathers / lentils / rice crispies / flour) in a place where the mess can be contained and easily cleaned, usually the kitchen! we also have plastic cups, spoons and containers with this stuff so they can pour it from one place to the other, spoon it etc (not to mention spill it on the floor, eat it etc)

they also like water play, in the kitchen sink or bowl on the floor is as good as anywhere.
love balloons too, just blow a few up and they play for ages!
the idea of doing things that they can both enjoy does get easier as lo gets to be able to do more walking and talking, so don't stress yourself if you do something with one and then the other at this stage.

Absolutely agree with other posters, I always felt better out than in and we made good use of toodler groups, soft play (some pubs run M&T groups in the mornings, which are cheaper than the big centres), Library and parks.

Some ideas for when you are at home:

Very simple, but my 2 are similar age gap and we had a click clack car track from ELC. DS1 put the cars on and DS2 would sit and watch them for ages. As they got older it was great for practising taking turns too. They now do one that has balls and cars, which my nephew (18mths) loves

Agree re balloons and bubbles are great too.

What about making shakers with rice/pasta and plastic bottles? Lo will enjoy shaking even if she can't fill.

Some great ideas here everyone, thanks!
I've brought in my water table from outside now its got cold and if I stand it in the paddling pool it will save my floors. Dd2 should be just the right height to cruise round it which she loves right now. I think I will be busy tonight sorting dried goods and containers, and bringing the tent out the basement. I feel much more inspired. (Also a little like a lazy boring mummy compared to all the exciting stuff you lot do with your kids)

My DCs are exactly the same age as yours so I've found this thread really useful.

I tend to choose those of DS1's toys that are plastic and big enough for DS2 to chew and then just play with DS1 while DS2 happily chews away. Duplo, building blocks and plastic food work best. DS1 sometimes gets frustrated with DS2 but mostly works quite well. When DS2 is asleep I try and make the effort to get out the toys that he would destroy (like puzzles and books).

Bumping this as foudn it really interesting and full of great ideas! I have ds1 22 months and ds2 2 months so not long before we'll be able to do stuff together too! More ideas always welcome!

For once I can actually add to one of these threads while I steal all the great ideas!

Today, we have had a really good day making ornaments for the tree from salt dough (3 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 tbsp glycerine [about £1.50 from a chemist], about 1 c water). It was great because it was an all day long thing with lots of stages and both kids could be involved (to various degrees) in the different activities, which were:

1.planning & talking baout it (extend this)

1. finding all materials
2. measuring and making dough
3. mixing
4. rolling
5. using cookie cutters to get the shapes (not necessary though -- you could make beads for a necklace, buttons, animals, whatever), don't forget to poke a hole in the tops for threading ribbon to hang off tree
6. making patterns on the shapes (forks, legos, toothpicks, mix in glitter if you want)
7. oven (bake for about 45 min to an hour or more, depending on the thickness)
8. paint (I used acrylic)

10. varnish with PVC or clear nail polish 11. thread ribbon 12. wrap in tissue paper to give as gifts or hang from your own tree.

Please keep the ideas coming -- this is the first day I've had that went relatively well in ages!

Sorry, i don't know what I was thinking about with PVC varnish-- I meant to say glue diluted with water!!

Love the rice krispie idea!!! (though we did something similar today with cheerios by accident thanks to dd1

Will try those Christmas tree decorations tomorrow-they sound fab