Caring for a toddler and infant at home can feel overwhelming at times. Keep little ones engaged with fun activities each day while balancing your own needs as a new parent. Here are some suggestions for entertaining a 2 year old and newborn at home:
•Read books together. Toddlers this age love stories, songs and rhymes. Curl up together on the couch or in bed and read board books, picture books, early readers and chapter books. Bring the new baby into the snuggling for calming closeness. Reading aloud builds language and literacy skills.
•Do arts and crafts. Set out washable markers, paints, play dough, coloring pages, stickers, stencils, collage materials, origami, quilling, glitter, feathers and googly eyes. Let a 2 year old’s imagination run wild with crafting while giving the baby tummy time or hands-free play. Arts and crafts support fine motor development and creativity.
•Put together puzzles. Puzzles with large pieces, knobs, textures or knobs help develop problem-solving skills at this age. Do jigsaw, Tangram, shape sorter or nesting puzzles together while baby plays on a play mat, activity gym, bouncer seat or swing. Puzzles boost cognitive abilities and patience.
•Play make-believe. Engage in imaginative play acting out stories together or coming up with new adventures. Assign roles to each family member and include the baby in fun characters or actions. Unstructured play nourishes language, social-emotional and motor development.
•Building with blocks. Blocks of various sizes, shapes and textures help toddlers develop motor and cognitive skills through stacking, nesting, balancing and constructing. Blocks also encourage creativity, balance, hand-eye coordination and spacial reasoning. Play while baby nap or watch as a tree swings. Blocks build creation and forethought at an early age.
•Cook together. Simple cookies, pasta, veggie pasta, smoothies or rice krispie treats make for fun, messy cooking activities at home with young kids. Toddlers can help stir, pour, decorate and assemble while babies can play in a high chair, swing or bouncer. Clean up together afterwards. Baking supports math and following directions.
•Go outside. If possible, venture outside for some fresh air and natural light. Ride tricycles together, walk, kick a ball, drive ride-on toys or just explore surroundings. Babies will nap better and toddlers release pent up energy with outdoor play. Picnics and playdates can also happen outside with spread out seating. Outdoor time is essential for development at every age.
With an open and patient mindset, make room for new experiences and adventure each day. Stay calm through spills, tantrums and mess as you establish routines together. Make memories together through moments of closeness, laughter and play. Be fully present in each moment together. Comfort and joy will be found in togetherness.