Idea's for indoor activities with an into-everything baby and older toddler??

[llynnnn]

I have an 8month old and a 3 year old and need ideas of how to keep them both entertained at the same time?

the baby is now crawling and destroys all games/puzzles that dd1 attempts and also wants to eat the tiny bits and pieces she has! and dd1 finds the baby toys boring!

We do go out a lot to park/walks/play groups etc, but when we are in I struggle to find things that are suitable for them both rather than banishing dd1 up on the table to play and flitting between the 2!

TIA

My two are about the same age. I do songs and nursery rhymes with them both. Also anything to hit or shake and make a noise works well. Bricks works well for a short while getting the older one to build towers for younger to knock over. But I have to admit that none of these last for long so will looking to se what other people suggest.

Play shops or restaurants and you and the baby are the customers - LO gets to play/chew/explore all the play food etc and bigger one (I won't abbreviate to BO!!) gets to do some imaginative play with you at least being a more willing customer

I used to play "Mummies and Daddies" with my little sister as my "baby" - I would invariably have a doll or two as well to look after - sometimes my sister was the dog in my games - sounds awful but a crawling baby does play this role quite well. (Of course make sure your DD knows never to put anything around the baby's neck etc as a lead)

Can LO throw a ball yet? Probably a bit young - but I get DS (16 months) doing this with an older child at playgroup and they both seem happy. Have been doing it for a few months, since before he could walk.

Maybe get older DD to "read" to younger child - have you got that book called (I think) "You choose" - it doesn't have words and you make it up as you go.

thanks for the great suggestions. we get the megabloks out a lot and read board books and singing, but doesnt last for long!

will be giving the others ideas a go too!

anymore?

Basically, concentrate on the 3yo and just let the baby join in - obviously though this does mean you avoid things with too small pieces, and anything intricately built - though some babies are OK with things like Happyland and train sets etc. And can play/chew the people or trains while older child plays their own games.

Get them to "help" you with the housework, loading the washing machine could work, or something like water play, sit them both in the bath (with no water in the main bath) and let them play with boats in a washing up bowl.

Can't think of any more at the moment...

thanks bertie, like the bath idea, sure they would both enjoy that

I try to concentrate on dd1, but feel so bad for her when her game is destroyed! guess its something they will both have to get used too!!

There is a brilliant video of me and my sister when I was 3 or 4 and she was 1, at the beach, my Dad makes me a sandcastle and you can see my DSis' face light up, he practically has to hold her back, so he goes over to another part of the beach and makes her her own sandcastle, which she promptly stamps on. She goes through about three sandcastles in this manner.

Meanwhile I am very delicately pushing shells into the side of my sandcastle, which makes it collapse and me burst into frustrated tears. I manage about four shells before kicking the whole thing over in frustration and immediately my DSis runs over and stamps on it with me

I do remember having a lot of things wrecked and it was frustrating but I still love my DSis now, so no harm done Perhaps you could incorporate DD2 into the game, saying she is a monster destroying the town or something? Possibly not helpful. And do the fiddly things when DD2 has a nap.

I make sure that I sit at the table with dd1 (3) to do jigsaws and craft stuff and some games so that not everything is destroyed by dd2. Dd2 will play on the floor quite happily for a while or sit in her highchair with a snack 'watching' and I sort of hover between the two.

I struggle too for things dd2 (10months) can do with dd1. We have had most success with musical play (we pretend we are in a band, dd2 shakes a rattle) and singing and dressing up (dd1 loves to help me dress up dd2)!!!!

I'm going to try the shop thing and role play with dd2 as the dog lol

ooo dressing up great idea!

bertie - good to hear that all worked out well between you and your dsis! dd1 adores dd2 but i can see the frustration sometimes when dd2 just wont leave her alone!!

thanks all!

Hide and seek (you carry baby around to look for toddler), cubby houses, crawling around chasing each other. I try to get my two doing anything except play with toys - toys always lead to fights.

you are right about the toys leading to fights!!

we played schools earlier! well, dd1 sang songs and told stories to us! dd2 loved it!!