My Busy Bee
One thing I've found challenging over the last eight months is keeping my two year old entertained. I had my little Levi back in January and it's been crazy ever since. I went back to working at my church (as the children's coordinator) one week later, started a blog, adjusted to having two boys, and tried to stay sane. Most of my first few months was spent on the couch, nursing Levi while Liam would come over asking me to play. It was much easier to pop on Curious George for him than trying to come up with anything else. Great mom... Pop my kid in front of the TV. It became easier and easier to do this, hence why he is addicted to that curious monkey. Do I regret doing this? Nope. It was an intense time adjusting to work, two boys, and finding time for my husband. I found something that worked for the time, but now I have found other ways to keep my little guy busy. Liam is such a smart little man. He is always busy, always talking about some extravagant story, loves crafts, loves his brother, is a mama's boy, and always wants to be doing something! Here are some of the things I either do with him or set him up to do while I make dinner, nurse his brother, or just want to have him do something fun. 1. Color We went to Target and purchased a dozen of the small dollar notepads for him.2. Play with play dough using mama's rolling pin, forks, spoons, cookie cutters, and straws. 3. Puzzles.4. Matching. I set him up at the table with three different colors of construction paper and a box of small items. Then he puts the items on the matching colored piece of paper.5. Painting. Embrace the mess! We use q-tips, paint brushes, fingers, elbows, noses, and baby brother's toes.6. Reading books.7. Science Experiments. The best and easiest is the baking soda, vinegar, and food coloring. Get a shallow container and dump in a box of baking soda. Get different cups with vinegar and add different colors of food coloring to each. Give your kiddo a dropper and have him drop the vinegar onto the baking soda. It fizzles and the kids love it!8. Story Time. Liam tells me stories about monsters and Curious George while I nurse. 9. Strip your kiddo down to their diaper and put them in the tub with some washable paint. Let them go crazy and then give them a bubble bath to clean it all up. 10. Mess free painting. 11. Cut up some straws and let your kiddo put them on a pipe cleaner. 12. Sensory box. Fill up a clear tub with dry rice and a few toys. Give your kiddos some "scoopers" and fun containers to play with the rice. 13. Coloring box. Let your kiddo color the inside and outside of an old box. The fun part is letting them sit inside while they color it! Liam calls it his tent.
14. When all else fails... sit on the couch while they play with their younger brothers toys.
