Entertaining a toddler at home

[Blueowlnight]

I have an almost 3yo and 4mo.

when I have both of them intend to have an even split between going out and staying in - older needs entertainment but littler is easily distracted and needs some time at home to feed and nap.

Looking for tip for easy ways of passively entertaining a non-napping 3yo whilst I’m trying to feed/nap the baby. I wear the baby a lot, but sometimes he does need just a little cuddle and feed.

Things we do:

• general house chores with both in tow
• reading
• Listening to Disney songs
• Letting her toddler help with the baby
• Setting up drawing (lol, lasts 1 min)
• Leaving toddler to play in her room/ with her toys alone

anything else?! Lost all inspo

I should clarify, the main request is for passive entertainment for when I’m feeding or the odd occasion when baby falls asleep on me (he’s usually worn but I do need to sit down sometimes!)

Kids yoga on you tube that toddler can follow along

Garden toys such as a sandpit and water table so you can supervise

Tablet for toddler with games on

TV - eg Disney or You tube

Sticker books

Create a little quiet cosy corner for toddler with Yoto player or Tonies player. My 3 year old loves a den made of bedsheets and a torch. Pop some books inside and a story player and teddies.

Set up a teddy bears picnic and little picking platter for lunch. Let toddler serve pretend tea to teddies and have their lunch.

Movie and snacks.

Kinetic sand in a flisat table keeps my 3 year old entertained on his own for the longest. Put some spoons/containers etc from the kitchen in with the sand to entertain them.

Train tracks? By 3, I think my DS could set it up quite independently. He also liked arranging animals into a zoo.

Ceebies magazine
tuff tray
If you have a large shower put a water play table inside
orchard games

Telly

Kinetic sand is easy to tidy up but kept mine occupied for a while, or water painting books. Sticker books. Or storyline online, actors read stories and they kind of animate the book’s illustrations. But also things you know they like playing with, like duplo or trains, make it clear you need them to do that for a bit while you sort their sibling out. And times when you do have your hands free mine always loved cutting up a garden catalogue or magazine with me and sticking stuff on card.

These are all such good ideas - thank you ❤️❤️

Box of duplo. Set the playdoh out and leave them to it. Make the colouring more exciting eg those giant rolls from ikea and tape it to the floor. Crayola washimals. Train tracks. Jigsaws.