thanks, I needed this!

Awesome. My fourteen month old has spent most of the last three days playing with a green plastic comb. I'm new to being a stay at home mom and I feel like I am losing my mind a bit!

I definitely needed this too! I live in Vancouver and we've had a horrible rainy spring leaving my kids and me housebound. I'm always up for some new ideas when it comes to entertaining my lively toddlers.

nellymom, I know what you mean, I am there too!

Neon bath...have bath time in the dark with those neon glow sticks and bracelets you get from the dollar section (obviously adult supervision is required, and don't let your kids eat the glow sticks). Serious fun.

Nellymom and Hanna, I'm right there with you too. I started summer break last week. I told my husband this evening that I've exhausted all my ideas for the summer with my 15 month old in five days. :)

I needed this--my toddler knows way too much about Nick Jr. and I'm starting to feel like a bad mom : (

Hi! It's Shannon from Counting on Me! Thank you so much for featuring my post 101 Things to Do With Your Toddler!

title is hilarious: you mean like hang them by their toes, put them down for naptime in their velcro pajamas?

sorry, i do have a child but i also have a weird imagination. i would never hang her up by her toes. really.

Three words - blue painter tape.

We've made doorway webs and "trapped" stuffed animals in them; indoor hopscotch; impromptu labels - good times.

kuumba: my 4 year old would LOVE that!! I know what we are doing in the next few days!!! :)

amarie: i feel that way too sometimes, but it'll be ok i'm sure the tv time is not as bad as it feels to you. and sometimes we NEED that break!

Thanks! This came at the perfect time---my 2-year-old has been sick for almost a week with a bad cold, and has wanted to just sit around and do nothing. I'm hoping some of the more low-key things on this list just might capture his attention!

It's great to have ideas to do fun things, but remember that kids this age are learning how to pay attention, and letting them do the same thing over and over helps their attention span and focus. What boring for us might be interesting and engaging for them!

Kumba-
We love blue painters tape too!!! We make pretend job sites, we do surgery on stuffed animals ( the blue tape our casts) we make designs on wall!

Love this! Here are a few more ideas:

Put coins in a bank (or just cut a slot in the top of an oatmeal canister). Make funny sounds when they hit the bottom, like "boink"! Pour them on the floor when you run out, and start over.

Scoop and pour dry beans between different bowls.

Scoop and pour water between different bowls.

Pretend to cook using dry beans in a bowl with a spoon.

Help mama or daddy really cook/prepare food.

Make pinecone bird feeders.

Make jewelry out of big beads and string or pipe cleaners.

Put a blanket over both of you and pretend a ghost has gotten you. Scream and laugh and throw the blanket off to escape.

Splash in puddles.

It's hard to not grow bored and resort to the TV, for the little one or ourselves. But, a little TV isn't going to scar her for life. She gets so much interaction with us and other kiddos, that sometimes a little telly is okay with us & her. I think the problem with TV is when people DEPEND on it for learning and use it as a babysitter. Not cool. Like most things, moderation is key!

Also, mommy guilt is the strongest and most influential of the guilts, I'd say ;)

We have a tub of rice that we play with (pouring, measuring, burying things in there and then searching for them). Some other fun ideas include:
Bake together (pouring, mixing, tasting...yum!)
Play with shaving cream on a tray
Finger painting
Painting outside with a bucket of water
Make a fort out of bedsheets, cushions, and furniture
And then the usual games of tag, hide-and-seek, etc.