Entertaining an 18 month old

[duckling3]

My little boy is coming up to 18 months and I hate to admit but I am finding it a struggle to entertain him all day on days where it's just me and him and we don't have plans to go out.

He loves being outdoors so I try to take him out for walks as much as possible. We have a season pass to our local farm.

It's when we are at home I find it more difficult. We play with his toys, but no toy keeps him entertained for more than 10 minutes, often much less. We read a lot of books, watch tv, I encourage him to help me with jobs around the house, sing nursery rhymes etc. But when nothing keeps his attention for more than 10 minutes, there feels like a lot of day to fill.

I'd love any ideas on things you do with you 18 month olds, either to get them out or for when you are at home.

I feel guilty, but I just get fed up and overwhelmed with constantly trying to come up with ideas of what to do with him.

All this sounds normal. I’m not sure you are going to find a magic activity that will keep him occupied for my than 10 minutes. Sorry - it’s the bit I find hardest about parenting a young toddler too. I think aiming to minimise and spread unfilled time would be the best bet. For us, that means an activity in the morning (we have two local churches that run brilliant toddler groups 9:30-11:00 on my days off, which is great). Then out to the local play area in the afternoon. Means we have about an hour in the morning between breakfast and leaving the house, maybe 45 minutes in the afternoon post nap, then maybe an hour after tea and before bed. Breaking it up into chunks makes it seem a lot more manageable then whole mornings or afternoons of unfilled time.

I also have an 18 month old and I feel just the same. It's incredibly hard staying at home all day so we usually go out at least once every day.

For times when we are at home, we paint, draw, have dance parties when all else fails. We do also go on daily walks to the park, sometimes a few times a day!

It's hard and I don't know what the answer is other than time...

Sounds normal, but i never tried to 'entertain' my DD all day on weekends etc when i had her all day. She had plenty of toys, was up and walking around. I'd do a few activities or games in the day but rest of time was encouraging her imagination and to play on her own. Point out toys, suggest she plays with x toy or y toy and leave her to it. Its important for kids to be bored and make their own entertainment.

My DS is 18 months old and he’s the same, we go out every day, twice a day without fail. It’s tiring but getting easier now the weather is better! Like PP we have some really good church playgroups (can’t really afford classes at the moment) which we can go to in the morning, then the afternoon is usually a walk either to the park or if we need something from the shop.
Some days he will be happy pottering and playing in the living room but never for very long. Swimming could be a good option? You don’t have to go to classes I just take him to family sessions in the pool and we play. Are you at home every day? I work 3 days a week and 2 days with him on my own thinking of activities is quite enough!

I agree with @Lazypuppy .
It's not your job to entertain your child, it's your job to give them the opportunities to find entertainment and kids do need to learn how to amuse themselves.

Plus playing with kids can be stultifying can't it!?

I used to take all mine out every day to different toddler groups, which covered the mornings, then lunch, nap, then playing themselves- unless something came up.

My DD, is coming 17months. She absolutely loves sticker books and colouring at the moment.

I find with books, she is happier with a whole pile and we can go through and look at pictures and talk about them suppose to reading one start to finish as she looses interest.

In truth though, I have to go out with her most days todler group/soft play otherwise I just find them so long!!

@Luhou Do you have any recommendations for sticker books please? My DD is 16 months old and all the ones I've seen have seemed too advanced!

My DD likes the peppa pig ones. But that's because she likes peppa! But deffinetely don't pay over the odds. I paid 75p in home bargains, the same one was a £5 in waitrose this morning!

I know what you mean about them being to advanced, but my DD just puts them wherever she likes and it opens up conversation about colours, animals etc.

www.theworks.co.uk/p/sticker-books/peppa-pig-peppa-at-playgroup-sticker-activity-book/9780241411940.html

The works, home bargains and asda best places to get them.

www.theworks.co.uk/p/sticker-books/peppa-pig-peppa-at-playgroup-sticker-activity-book/9780241411940.html - currently working our way through this one as DD starting nursery this week so it's relevant!

Worth a try for the money they are, also great to pick up in a supermarket as DD entertained flicking through the pages whilst we go round

@BlackcurrantTea sorry should have tagged you in my reply!

Ah thank you @Luhou, that's really brilliant - we've got The Works and Home Bargains handy so will go for a browse.

Sorry to derail thread! In answer to OP's question then I try and do chunks of time in each room, so DD has somewhere new to play and I can get stuff done, i.e. we go into the kitchen, I do dishes while DD stacks cans of beans/empties the pasta drawer/picks up crumbs and shouts MESS! Then we go into the dining room, DD hides behind tablecloth while I wipe down table and sweep. Into the living room and I have a cuppa while I say "ooh, let's have a look at your stacking cups/puzzles/lorry/animals or whatever we've not played with recently. Up to her bedroom to play with a different set of toys while I put away laundry. My bedroom for more laundry while she roots through my toiletries! And I keep this going on a sort of rotation, and the changes of scenery stop either of us getting bored way longer than we would manage if we stayed in the living room.

But for me, getting out every day is essential!

I just take the child locks off some cupboards, remove anything harmful and let mine rip if I'm out of constructive ideas

I think getting out is essential. Swimming, softplay, trip to the supermarket, playgroup/stay and play, library, pet shop, playground, aquarium (or garden centre fish section), an aimless walk where you let them lead the way are all good at that age.

Having people over is also a great way to fill some time. You get some adult conversation and DC will like a new face (either with or without children).

At home; playdough, messy play, water play (put DC in the bath of it's too cold or you don't have outside space), sand, paint, stickers, Google treasure baskets, let them empty out a drawer or cupboard.

But also, as pp said, don't try too hard to entertain them constantly at home, let them potter and do their own thing. Let them be bored. Follow their lead a bit. It's not all on you to come up with activities, let them make some suggestions and as long as it's not dangerous go with it. You'll probably find attention span is longer for something they've chosen to do than for an activity you've set up as well.

Thanks, there's some helpful suggestions! I think I'll give our local toddler group another try.. been once a few months back and didn't feel ds got much from it but might be different now he's a bit older. Plus the adult conversation would be a nice perk for me.

Sticker books seem like a great idea, so will see if I can find anything near me.

Anyone have any toy recommendations their little ones love at this age? Currently in our house it's mega blocks, stacking cups, wooden train set and any kind of kitchen object( saucepans, lunchboxes eat)

We were out all day every day apart from naps (and severe weather) at that age.

Toddler stay and play groups (at least 2 a week!), rhyme time at the library, toddler music group, play dates with friends, chalk drawing on the pavement in the park, hours and hours at playground, the zoo, swimming, taking the dog for a long walk, going grocery shopping...

I hated staying at home with a toddler, climbing the walls and going nuts.

Do you have any mum friends? Meeting up with them and your little ones is a great way to kill time!

Lots of books, walks down the road, mine goes to nursery 4 days a week and know he loves painting and drawing, matching puzzles, foam letters in the bath, take him to local playgroups, playground, peekaboo behind doors, looking for bugs, doing the laundry... they're fascinated by everything!

We have a toy kitchen, toy cars, a trolley with bricks and lots of puzzles.

Toy kitchen is a big winner here.

Puzzles and the ones where you can open the doors and take the pieces out (look at Melissa and Doug).

One of those magic drawing boards that have been around forever and aquadraw are both popular.

Duplo.

And really into pressing buttons and turning knobs!

Mine is really into dolly's pushchair at the moment, and her tea set

Toy kitchen was popular.

Also some bowls with spoons and either water, dried pasta or dried rice (supervise!).
Pooring? Some little cups or jugs to poor water or rice.

What we bought were the little nins from Grapat. We bought the Autumn set. They are very versatile! Stack the wooden coins, put the rings around a nin etc. I also made a slot in an old shoebox, so she could post the wooden coins. Then lift the lid, take them out and start again. We also bought a small wooden car from Grimm's with two figures in it. Was a nice combi.

Also first knob puzzles, circle, rectangle, triangle etc.

For more ideas, not necessarily to buy there, look at the toy kits from Lovevery.

Also the free playguide here for ideas: www.onehundredtoys.com/collections/guides

Or take a look at youtube! Many ideas... I personally like Hapafamily and All Hart. Both Montessori inspired. But there are so many...

@NuffSaidSam has said absolutely everything I was going to! Do exactly as she says

The only things i would add - rather than sticker books, but bigtubs of foam ones. muchcheaper and requires less input from you for them to get them off while their little. Magic painting was also a bit of a winner with mine- tear the page out of the book and stick it to the table while they are little.