11 Clever Ways to Keep Your Toddler Productive
11 clever ways to keep your toddler
productive
The kids are growing so fast at this stage that it’s important to engage
them in some activities. The activities shouldn’t be doing something but
engaging them productively. So, it helps them to explore and learn new skills.
The age from 1yrs to 4yrs is considered, the toddler is the most active stage.
Here are a few suggestions for anyone who’s looking to get some tips and tricks
to engage their toddler.
- Reading/Writing/Dancing/Singing
- Give
them a box to decorate (Colors, crayons, tools)
- The
activity binder/folder
- Washing
vegetables
- Ask
them to help you
- Give
them some screen time
- Engage
them in storytelling
- Puzzles
- Give
them options
- Role
Plays
- The
most important- Reward Them
1.
Reading/Writing/Dancing/Singing:
These are the basic skills one must
own. From the starting, we’re involving our kids in these activities. These
skills play a crucial role in speech development, fine motor skills, listening
skills, communication skills, etc. It becomes easy for the parents too if they
involve their kids in reading a book before sleeping. And also asking them to
express themselves in their diary or by maintaining a journal. Dancing to
different songs helps in the overall physical development of the kids.
2.
Give them a box to decorate (Colors,
crayons, tools)
Kids are more creative than adults. They learn to explore their
creativity. Give them a lot of colors, crayons, and the right tools to figure
out what they make out of it. Believe me! They’ll do it in the best possible
way. You just need to provide them all the tools and the resources and a little
guidance and then watch, what your little one comes out with. You can check out
Toykraft Stone Rock
Painting Kit for Kid here.
3.
The activity binder/folder
There are an unlimited number of activity boxes available in the market
depending on the age of the kid. It depends on you which one to choose to
accord to the theme and what interests the child. Recently, I came across this
LilBrainNut activity book in an
exhibition for my 3 years toddler. Undoubtedly, my daughter loves it and keeps
herself engaged with this for a long period. She is happy when she takes out
and pastes the velcro back. The book is available on different topics at an
affordable price. It’s worth it.
4.
Washing vegetables/Fruits
It’s difficult to spend all the days with kids once they’re at home or
back from school. Give them vegetables/fruit to wash. They find it so colorful
and it's fun for them. It helps them to improve the sensory skills, shapes, and
textures of vegetables and fruits. And as well. They get to know the difference
between the two. My daughter helps me when I am preparing food and she enjoys
this activity like anything. She cleans all the fruits and vegetables with a
clean cloth and keeps them aside properly.
5.
Asking them to help you by placing
the request (use words like Please etc.)
Once the toddler interacts and reacts to what their parents say, It’s
fun to be with them. They’re more engaging and exploring themselves every time.
When I am super tired, I ask my daughter to help me in setting up the dining
table or cleaning the room, or keeping things in their proper place. Sometimes,
when she is in the mood, she is ready to help. Otherwise, I ask her that Mumma
would reward her if you help me with this. And, yes! She is there to help. It’s
so much fun and teamwork.
6.
Give them some screen time
We always complain that our kids take a lot of screen time during their
meals, etc. But, it depends on us how we’re engaging them. Screen time is good
once they enter into their toddler life. The screen time can be given to a
toddler as per their age is 2 to 3 years old: 1 hr to 2 hrs, for 3 to 4 years
old: 2 to 3 hrs maximum. Screen time can be useful to your kids if we give only
appropriate time for the same. You can watch movies with them like Cinderella,
spider-man, and tangled,, etc. or cartoons, cocomelon, rhymes, and story sessions,
etc. Make sure that you know what they’re watching and how much time they have
to watch the screen. And also, they watch it on the tv, not on their mobile or
tablet.
7.
Engage them in storytelling
Many online sessions are happening in storytelling sessions. You can
make your kid attend those classes online. Kids love to hear the stories.
Either you can also try out wearing different costumes and
engaging your child in listening to the story. Trust me! You’ll also enjoy this
10-15minsutes session with your kid. You can read out the stories from the
book, or app, or make something on your own.
8.
Puzzles
I remember my childhood days when I used to surround myself with a lot
of Jigsaw puzzles.
Puzzles are a great way to build up concentration and focus. A lot of
jigsaw puzzles are available on different themes depending on the age of the
child. Puzzles are helpful in many things, like improving mental speed,
short-term memory, problem-solving skills, visual-spatial reasoning, etc.
It even engages the kid for a long period.
9.
Give them options
By the age of 3, kids start understanding. It becomes the duty of a
parent to help them in making decisions. The journey starts right here from
childhood to make them self-dependent. Now, I have started giving 2 options to
my little one to choose from and she chose one confidently even without
regretting it. You can give them options like choosing clothes/shoes/meals/
activity/ shopping guides etc. It boosts their confidence like anything and
they feel they have achieved something. Appreciate them for the choices they’ve
made. Sometimes, if they don’t listen or choose, you can guide them depending
on their mood or just take a deep breath and try again. It’ll take time for
them to understand what we are trying to teach. Just a suggestion, don’t
confuse them with many options. In starting, ask them to choose from 2 options.
10. Role Plays
This is another interesting way to engage your child. You can provide
them with a few things like a Doctor play set, police, dress-up set, kitchen
set, and any community helper. It is a fun way of exploring new skills and new
characters.
There are an unlimited number of activities to engage your little one
depending on the interests and the age. But a mother knows the best for her
child and handles it more patiently. You can use all the above activities while
you’re doing a 9 to 6 job or if you’re a stay-at-home mom.
11. The most important- Reward Them
The best way to boost kid’s confidence is to reward them Being a parent,
you need to identify, how are you going to do it and what will work for them.
Like, you can cheer them up, making a card for them or Preparing a special dish
for them. Also, you can take them out someday at their favourite
place/restaurant. etc.
Let’s discuss all activities your little one is enjoying these days.
Kindly share your valuable suggestions in the comment box below.
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