Entertain Me, Mom!
Sink Water Play
Why do toddlers love playing with water so much? Who knows? But we'll take it! Have your child stand on a chair or step stool at the kitchen sink. Plug the sink and fill it halfway. Add anything plastic: measuring cups, bath toys, Tupperware, etc. You may want to place a towel on the floor to catch the splashes, and yes, getting soaked is part of the fun!
Easter Egg or Toy Hunt
Why wait for Easter? Hide plastic eggs or small toys around the house. Give your child a basket or a bucket and let the hunt begin.
Dance Party
Fun mama fact: When you're dead tired, listening to music actually stimulates your brain and helps you feel more energized. So, this one is a win-win! Turn on your favorite hits and get down with your toddler. She might even burn enough energy for a solid nap.
Seek
Hide and Seek is another game that will live forever. At this point, your toddler might have a pretty loose interpretation of "hiding," which makes playing "seek" that much easier and often hilarious. You or your child might be hiding pretty much in plain sight, but finding is still so much fun.
Ghost Baby
This one is absurdly simple, but around 18 months, my daughter couldn't get enough of it. Drape a blanket over your child. It should be large enough to cover most of her body, but small enough not to trip her when she walks. It's best if the blanket has an open weave or sheer fabric. Let her walk/run/tumble around semi-blind and pretend to be a "ghost". Keep a close watch, so she doesn't crash into walls or anything dangerous.
Shoe Parade
Many toddlers seem to have a shoe obsession that rivals adult women. While your little one might not be ready for a full on dress-up box yet, clomping around in Mommy or Daddy's shoes is so much fun and doesn't require princess dresses or superhero capes… yet. We know it's coming!
