Stay at Home Moms - Happy Valley,OR

I used to live in that area. There are some fun activities in the Clackamas Rec. book that are not too expensive. Class start about 18 months. There is a drop in place were kids use different ride on for $3 near the aquatic center.

Here are a couple of websites to give you some ideas for playing and reading.
http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/
http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/preschool_activities.htm#...
You can also do a search online for toddler activities in and around your home. There should be a wealth of information out there.
One idea that I liked that helped with eye-hand coordination and colors was, take a cottage cheese-like container and cut a hole in the lid. Paint some clothespins with the primary colors (to start) and have him drop the pins through the hole in the lid. Name the colors as he does it. When he gets better at the colors, add more colors. Challenge him by taking off the lid and pinching the pins onto or off of the rim of the container. He will have fun and so will you watching him. Another thing my son likes to play with are the colored counting bears. They are inexpensive and last quite a few years for mathematics later on. I cut out circles of the basic colors and my son would match them. Also, get a pair of plastic ice tongs or serving tongs from a pizza or restaurant place (found some through Pizzacato) and have him pick up the bears or other objects with the tongs and put them into different containers (no need for colors here, but you can), cut out colored shapes (basic shapes) from construction paper and have him pull one out of a bag and match it to a sheet with that shape/color. Say the shape or color as he pulls it out.
These activities can be very short or longer depending on his interests. My son loved the tongs and moving objects between containers. He likes playing the matching games, too. I printed up letters and numbers in a similar fashion (laminated them to reuse) when he got a little older and used the magnetic letters/numbers in a bag. He crossed off the letter/number he pulled out as I said it. He quickly learned his letters and numbers and asks for me to play these games with him. He is 3 (Aug.) and knows all of his letters and numbers to 10 and is reading his name, sis's name, Mommy, Daddy and working on a few others. It is so fun with simple materials and a short amount of time. He can also explore sorting the materials in his own way. Ask him to explain how he sorted the objects.
Have fun playing.

Kids that age... can be entertained by anything. AND of course, because they are now mobile, just baby proof things.
I took my kids out in our yard... on a big blanket.... looked at the sky, I would talk to them and about nature etc, the wind, the clouds, the colors, the bug/birds flying around. I would let them smell the flowers and herbs I grow... and let them smell different ingredients in the kitchen...
it develops their senses...

Scribbling with a crayon... they don't have to "draw" anything literal... just scribble to have fun! It just gets their fine-motor skills practiced..
They played with pots and pans.
They played with the Kleenex box, pulling each tissue out.
I put on music and would bounce around with them to the beat.
I would read to them.
AND, they need to nap of course. They need a nap still and get overtired or overstimulated.
Take them to the park etc.
Rolling a ball around on the floor back and forth to you...

At this age, reading groups like at the library or bookstore... they are too young to just sit and focus.

Or, take him to Gymboree classes. Its real great! Just Google "Gymboree Play and Learn " classes for your area and see if they have one.

Go walking...
Just put toys on the floor and blocks... let him just play around with it.
Do finger painting... I would do that but in a tub... with just a diaper on so my kids could have fun and its easy to clean up after.

Simple things... no need for complicated things.
They don't get bored at this age.

all the best,
Susan

Hi! I got a book from the library about the Montessori method and toddlers when my son was your son's age. It really opened my eyes about what else we could do. Basically, the idea is to get them involved in the normal everyday household activities. I never had thought of doing that before - I felt like I was supposed to be "teaching" him or entertaining him, but the book helped me realize that there are lots of teaching opportunities in the everyday things. And, what little kid doesn't like doing what the big people do?

He's probably still too young to do a lot of things with "helping" around the house but I suggest trying to think of things he can help you do. I think at that age, my little guy helped sort laundry - we could talk about which ones were daddy's, or which were socks or shirts, I could show him different colors - and I think I would get him to "help" cook in the kitchen too - having him hold the spoon and help stir batter for muffins, etc. We got pretty messy, but it was fun. He also loved to sweep with a little broom (still does although now when he helps he really does help! He's 2.5 and he can dust and do some dishes on his own.) I really think it's fun for them to do what the grown-ups do and it makes them feel good about themselves for being such good helpers. It's also supposed to help them develop their concentration and challenge themselves. Another thing the book suggested was to just sit for awhile and watch what they do on their own. At that age they are trying to master a lot of physical things - picking things up and walking with them, etc. Try to see what he does on his own and then just add your own spin to it - have him help move a laundry basket across the floor or carry a small bag of groceries into the kitchen.

We also would take a bucket outside and go for a walk. I would just let him take his time - sometimes we'd be on one stretch of sidewalk for half an hour - but it was fun and he'd pick up leaves or rocks and put them in his bucket and I'd try to talk to him about colors or textures or whatever. Show him bugs, wear boots and walk through puddles, etc. He thought it was fun just to go places like the post office or Home Depot and look at all the stuff - everything is new and interesting when they're little!

I think we got him some little instruments at that age too - drums to hit, maracas to shake. We'd listen to music and dance and bang on things. One great thing I read was if you are home with them, you can just let them take their time with things. There's no need to rush. If he wants to brush his own teeth for 10 minutes, let him! Same with getting dressed. If he wants to try to put on his own shirt, there's no reason to not let him try because you're not in a hurry to get anywhere. Trying to just slow everything down really helped me fill up the day with things to do.

do you have a local library? We L. story time! Our library has them for different ages, like lap time for babies, etc.

When my son was 15 months we were involved with a baby and me group. I bonded with other mothers and he played in play groups with other children. We went to a baby disco, it was so much fun. To see the little toddlers dance on the dance floor was so cute. I also signed him up to go to a baby gym. He played in playgroups and they had different activities according to the babys age. We had a membership to the zoo and frequent the parks in the city and suburbs. When we came home we went over site words and phonics. After dinner it was time for a nice warm bath and a good book. I really enjoyed that time with him because I did not have to work. Now he's in preschool and he tells me about his day. It goes by really fast so enjoy the moment.

I am not a stay at home mom (want to be though). When I am home w/ my girl I try to do both fun and educational things (try to make it both at once). I read to her, do painting and other art type activities, go to the library and other free activities in the area.

You can go to the zoo or park and then go to the library for books on things you saw. Then you can do art projects (drawing, painting, cut/paste) on the same. Watch a movie on the same. Remember they learn through play at this age and need physical activity (nothing formal just running around, climbing, etc.). Give him lots of experiences (observe things)...go for a walk and point out wildlife, trees, etc.

reading wrestling, and playing baby games. we read sign books so we work on signs. also colors numbers etc. at 15 months learning cordination is a big thing. like stacking shape sorters, puzzles etc. coloring undersupervision only or he will eat the crayons and color on everything. help him at first so he can do it byhimself and when he does make a big issue out of it.

at that age, i tried to go places a lot. remember that these are great years for that, no crowds during weekdays... i joined the childrens museum, lots of park, beach, library, walking, free concerts in the park, aquarium, whatever. stuff like that. look at the websites for your town, county, state, etc and you will find stuff for free. and theres plenty of stuff not for free too. joining the childrens museum was key for me, its nice and close to me and if you join then you will "drop in" for an hour or three, no way lots of us would do that if it costs 30, 40 50 whatever to walk in. i would still go but i would spend the day, and way less often. its nice to feel no guilt about going for a little bit, especially with a baby who probably still naps, it breaks up your day etc.

and when you dont go out, you just need to find your balance between the things you need to do and the things you want to do. if you like schedules, then make a loose one for yourself, if not then dont. its not easy in lots of ways, but it is just amazing and wonderful in other ways. if you are home with one little one, enjoy it, it gets crazier later on :)

community centers and schools often have playgroups, fun for little one and a social with other moms for you