We've already been to the park and my 15 MO DOES NOT want to swing or be in the stroller. We're talking about the Zoo but its midday and nap time. Our 15 MO is learning to walk and is all about cruising ALL THE TIME!!
What do you generally do with a 15 month old during the day? Playgroup and other outings only last so long. She doesn't want to be read to or sit still long enough to play with her toys. She seems to just want me to hold her hands and walk her around the room a million times.
What else can I be doing with her?
Try teaching her how to dance. Dancing at this age should be fun! Put on some kid songs and cut the rug. My daughter loved when I danced with her at that age!
That's pretty much it. Live your normal life, go to the store, go for a walk, sit and stare at the wall, read aloud, do housework. Trust me, it's you who is bored, not her.
Relax and enjoy your time!
I do infant toddler daycare and get to play with babies all day long. Lucky me. :) And lucky you to be home!
But seriously....I know how EXHAUSTING it can be. I truly love love love my job and adore my children there are times I want to pull my hair out.
Some tips:
1. Rotate your toys. Put the majority of them away and leave a small variety out. Always have a type of blocks out, books available, one large muscle activity (small climber, slide, tunnel), one type of "real life" play toys (a play kitchen, some pots and pans, a toy vacuum, a lawn mower, play tools). I am a huge fan of Fisher Price Little People toys. Some people keep ssoooooooooooooo many toys out it is overwhelming and then nothing gets played with. After a few days rotate what toys are available. Keeps you organized and keeps her interested. As she gets older you will add some puzzles, craft supplies.
2. Show her HOW to use the toys. Stack the blocks and crash them down, encourage her to do it herself and give her some praise. Walk away for a few minutes and let her play by herself! This will be your lifesaver in the long run. Independent play is an important skill.
3. Keep on a schedule as much as possible. 3 meals and 3 snacks a day will keep her from getting grouchy. She is probably down to a long nap in the afternoon...let her sleep!
4. Play outside as much as you can and keep her hydrated. Sidewalk chalk, a push toy, wagon rides. My son (17 months) could walk around the cul de sac with 2 golf balls in his hands for an hour. Everything is new and exciting to him right now...airplanes, the neighbors flowers, geese flying overhead, the puddle on the street.
5. When you do go on an outing, be reasonable in your expectations. A 15 month old really isnt going to get much out of the zoo and can't spend 4 hours at the beach. She will have just as much fun going to the grocery store and watching all the people. Don't plan outings over naptimes and always bring plenty of snacks and fluids. Teddy loves yogurt covered raisins and banana chips.
6. Talk to her. All the time. That is how she learns. :)
7. Make time for YOU. Away from the baby. An inexpensive outing for me is going to Half Price Books or the Thrift Store. I love treating myself to a dinner out with friends or a pedicure.
I gave you way more information than you asked for. My bad.
Enjoy your little one!
J.
pool! Baby pool at home or toddler pool...sprinklers?! My son even loves a big bucket of water with some scoopers and small pitchers to play with in the yard.
Hahahaha.....trust me, it doesn't last forever!! My fifteen month old loved it when I went into the playroom and just sat on the floor. He would cruise around, play with the toys.....and was content because I wasn't off doing something he was missing out on, that might or might not have been more fun. ;-)
As far as what to do all day....do what you need to do. Show your baby how a house runs. Mommy gets up, everybody has breakfast....we clean up the mess....play for a while.....lunch.....nap......maybe some housework in the afternoon....maybe an outting to the park......make dinner.....eat.....clean up...bathtime...bedtime!
When my son was 15 months old we would go to playgrounds that are designed for the young in mind (i.e. ,lower to the ground, smaller slides); the zoo- he rides in his stroller some, gets out and walks some; there is a farm nearby that we go to and walk around looking at the farm animals; story time is always fun- esp. if you can find one for younger kids- they sing songs, read stories and play; indoor playgrounds on rainy days; museums; and playdates are always fun too. oh, we also like to walk in the nature parks and go to the ponds and feed the ducks. We recently went to a fish hatchery that was fun too.
At four, I usually plan on her attention span to be 20 minutes for reading, drawing, or playing with toys. It will be less for a 15 MO.
Go to the library. They have storytimes, but are typically easy going about letting the kids walk or crawl around. Some even have a toy / puzzle area. The change of scenery would be good for both of you. You can go to a Borders or Barnes N Noble for storytime. They typically have them twice a week. Again, she doesn't need to sit there and listen, she can move around, play with the train table (BnN has this), or pull books off the shelf and read. You can grab a coffee (there's usually a Starbucks in there) & just watch her. Go for walks. Just get out with her. I think the kids who get out a lot & are used to sitting in a shopping cart or going to the bookstore & usually better behaved there than the kids who rarely go (& get so excited that they may misbehave). Good luck!
I get on the phone on Sunday evenings and organize a playdate each day of the week - with a mom I want to be with or I want to help. Then I get some interesting chats in the midst of us caring for the kids.
Sounds like the zoo is a good idea, as are parks - pick a different one each day. If she really just likes walking, think about places you are interested in walking around - the Botanical Gardens, hikes along a river, nature preserves. That way you are interested in what you see and she is interested in walking. Invite someone along with you each time. Lots of moms are lonely at home and don't quite know how to get out and about with others.
We got a membership to the zoo so we could go whenever we wanted.
Since she likes being active, would she like the pool in a floaty?
Does she have a walker?? Not one that she sits in but one she pushes. They make them in different varities. We have one that looks like a doll stroller and one that is a ride on toy but with a handle on the back to push and walk behind. They also make ones that sort of fold up and down for a push toy/ride on. Trust me, it is worth the money! They aren't terribly expensive and you can usually find ones at garage sales, but if I were you, I'd just go buy one today! :)
My daughter used one before and after she learned to walk and my son is using it right now as he's learning. It's awesome. My daughter would literally walk up and down the street for hours a day just happy to be walking and it's way easier on your back!
I know, it gets difficult...but she sounds like a healthy, normal, active and curious toddler who knows what she wants! What I've found helpful is rotating houses with other moms...I know you said they only last "so long"...but that's true at this age. They don't have attention spans to sit and play with toys for a long time. Nevertheless, I find it immensely helpful to take our little one to someone else's home...there is different stimuli to entertain her, other kid (s) for her to watch and learn from, and interact with, and mommies for me to connect to. When things get frustrating at home, I pick her up, turn on some music and we dance. She loves it...and so do I.
Good luck! You're not alone.
-R.
We took lots of long walks down the street at that age. Lots of playgroups, and lots of walks.
