Toddler bored with toys/explored the house -any montessori activity suggestions?

[Jiinx]

Hey there,
 My lo has explored the depth of my house and spends just a few minutes with toys. We read. We build towers but isn't interested in building/stacking. We do some computer kneebouncer stuff. She loves going to other people's homes and exploring etc...but I don't always have access to people's homes

 Any suggestions? Maybe montessori types?

sarah

 

[teilvnav]

Following along, because I could also use some ideas.

Sarah, have you tried colouring/painting activities?

[squeakersmum]

Around 17/18 months DS became REALLY keen on cooking with me - so I would try (still do) and make something with him at least once a week.  Sometimes cakes/biscuits and also there's a programme on here called 'I can cook' which is for children preschool and above really but some of the recipes are easy enough for LOs as young as 18mths to get involved (obv I do the cutting) so sometimes he makes his dinner!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/icancook/makes/icancooksavoury/1

Recipes are here.

[Jiinx]

colouring, yes. Painting no..

Colouring is good. Gets me 5-10 minutes, and really that's all I can ask for Then she discovered colouring on the walls was fun....

Wow cooking is something that is really what I want to get into. Amy I know you bake with Nathan. Thanks for the website..I'll definitely look at that tonight.

[deb]

Pouring water back and forth from cup to cup and from container to cup.

Here's Nat around 18 months in our kitchen standing on a stepstool at a cabinet with plastic shot glasses. She really looks like she's tending bar!

[teilvnav]

That's a good one, Deb! I can try that for sure.

Sarah, I do cook/bake a lot with Nathan. I didn't think of that! He loves to pour wet ingredients, stir for me, watch me crack eggs, etc. I love his exclamations of wonder as a dough starts to form, or food colouring makes something change colour. Obviously I don't let him near the stove or anything, but at this time of year there is lots of opportunities to bake. This week we made cookies for the librarians that run his baby book group, and today we made different ones for the people in Scott's office. Even with dinner prep, he is right in there watching me. He likes to be the one to shake salt and pepper over veggies before they go in the oven, or stir olive oil evenly into something. I know that when he is older it will be a great way to teach him simple math, and reading.

I keep meaning to try something with the dried beans I have in the drawer... maybe he could do something similar to pouring water into cups...

[Peek-a-boo]

check out this blog:  http://chasingcheerios.blogspot.com/

She does Montessori type activities with her toddlers.  Very fun, simple ideas.   Here's a recent one I thought was nice:  http://chasingcheerios.blogspot.com/2010/11/putting-clothes-pins-in-container.html

[Yazzie]

Great thread girls, love the ideas

[teilvnav]

Bethany, that website is AWESOME.

[anna*]

Pouring is great... at this age, Stan loved rolling up little mats, like table mats.

Polishing/cleaning (ie spray bottle with water and a cloth, clean the coffee table).

Still a favourite is to get a BIG mixing bowl with rice/lentils/small pasta etc all mixed up in there and he stirs it, pours it, drives his cars in it, lets it run through his fingers

Posting - we had/have a set of huge buttons and a little kids shoe box with a slot cut in the top. Also enjoyed threading the huge buttons onto a long shoelace

Playdough

[twogirlsmommy]

Following along because we soo need ideas   I bought playdough and finger paint for christmas so only a few more weeks before we get to try that out

[We Three]

I haven't checked that site, and I'm sure there are great things there...but I have to say that my nephew and my dd both loved the game "Connect 4" at that age! Dropping the checkers into the slots, then releasing the bar so they all fall out....so cool!  

Playdough is super fun, too...with all the little tools...rollers, knives, things to press in a shape like a beaded necklace, different shaped pasta (wagon wheels make cool shapes in dough!)...little plates and bowls too! I'd make a bowl full of little balls, give her a spoon and see what she'd do! 

[Jiinx]

Pouring..ah she's been doing a lot of that ..pouring her drink onto herself and the floor when she's done drinking Back to sippy cups for the moment hehe...she's so interested in cause and effect.

My goodness, Bethany - that woman is brilliant. So incredibly creative. Thank you very very much for that blog. I'm definitely going to put it into my favourites.

Anne - I love love the idea of putting a shoelace through a button hole. That's exactly my daughter. She will try to unscrew a bottle cap and try to put things back into their rightful spot..(putting keys into locks, the cord that plugs into the computer (not the wall!)). Thanks!

Playdough...thought she may eat it more than anything...but I think I'll try it out and show her how to use cookie cutters and playdough scissors.

I'm SO grateful for the ideas! love them!

[Love, laughter, & PJs]

Great thread and great ideas!  We still have a LOT of winter to go around here so I'll be trying them out for sure.  You ladies are the best.

[anna*]

Pouring is still great fun if you set her up for it - on the kitchen floor for example. It's only water, easy clean up! Or set her in the bath tub. Remember that outing doesn't have to be just water they love pouring dry grains etc too.

[Canadian_Mom]

Very cool thread, interesting ideas.  I never thought that DS could start "cooking" at this age, but I guess I was wrong   I got him to "help" with cooking today by putting a small amount of water in a big bowl and giving him a wooden spoon to "mix" while I mixed my bowl (start with small steps) and it worked a little too good.  He gave a little temper tantrum when I tried to take him over to his chair for supper!!  They only way I got him to eat was to let him use the wooden spoon as his spoon for the meal    I was wondering what everyone uses to get their LOs up the the counter to "help".  I used a kitchen chair and DS just stood on it, but I had an afterthought that I have been teaching him that we don't stand on chairs...any other ideas? or just hope that it doesn't backfire??  Going to check out all of the websites, I am getting pretty excited over here!

[Peek-a-boo]

We stand on chairs here.   All the time really, lol.

[deb]

There is a pricey wooden contraption that is fantastic for smaller kids. Bigger than a stepstool....oooh, found a linky! http://www.mylearningtower.com/  I know there's no way we could ever afford one but if you have a handyman (or handywoman! ) friend maybe you could rig up something with the salient features.

If you're worried about the chair-standing (we do to a point but we aren't strict about it - but our dining chairs fold up so we have to tell the girls "not THESE chairs!"), an you get one that's the right height just for counter work?

We also got stepstools in different heights so both girls could do stuff at the counter, and oh, kids can mix thing and do other food prep work seated at the dining table as well. I've been know to bring what I'm working on to the table and cut veg there while the girls do some other job or even just watch and we can talk and I can show them how this and that works.

[First Time Mom]

As an alternative, we mix flour with water and food colouring, it's a different texture and won't hurt them if they taste it (but won't like it enough to eat more past the first taste).

We just found the most amazing crayons- they are roll up so they don't break like the typical crayon, and they have erasers on the ends!! Totally erase off everything!

Because I have a 5 year old we do a lot of "dance parties" here , ds LOVES to dance around!

When I'm in the kitchen we play "please bring me the...". I pick all sorts of items and it's time consuming for him. If I'm doing something complicated in the kitchen and I need undistracted time Gray will sit in his high chair with paper and crayons. He'll sit for a good 15 minutes which is often longer than what I need.

[Jiinx]

that is a neat contraption. Wish I knew some handy wo/men!

My daughter likes to cut and sweep and help me around the house but what kinds of knife did you guys use for cutting as they got older?

Also, say I wanted help to make cookies - how do you persuade them to not taste the batter? I was reading in Montessori that eating during the process should be discouraged and it's best that they learn to eat when everything is ready. Easier said than done - I myself love eating while cutting fruit/grating cheese! hehe

[teilvnav]

That is a cool stool! Ours is from Ikea, and cost $20; it is made of wood and has two steps (the top one is wide like a platform). It puts Nathan at chest height with the counter, so it is perfect for helping and watching.

Sara, one of Nathan's little toddler cutlery sets came with a 'knife' and that is what we use for him to help cut things. It is basically a very blunt butterknife with a good sized handle. It works with playdough, as well, or just goofing around with cookie dough. Let me know if you find anything that works to stop the tasting; I have to keep an eagle eye on Nathan so he doesn't grab handfuls. Not a huge deal when it is cookies (although still not a good idea), but when it is meat it is terrible! We made meatballs together the other day and I eventually just put him down and deal with the tantrum. He wouldn't stop trying to sneak bites.

[Love, laughter, & PJs]

He wouldn't stop trying to sneak bites.

I know I am a vegetarian but even so - gross!!! Kids are too much. 

I'm going to check Ikea for a wooden stool, Amy.  That sounds perfect.

[mac20]

following along too x

[Jiinx]

Thanks Amy! Oh my..sorry about the tasting of ground meat Ick..We were cutting broccolli for a pasta dish later on and she was tasting it while she "cut". I don't think reasoning will work at this age - she wants the sharp knife I cut with..not a boring dull one I supplied her with.

I'll check out the stool as well. I just put everything on the floor atm..cutting board, bowl to put cut veggies in..

[teilvnav]

I know! It is so gross, and potentially dangerous. He is too young to understand yet of course, and thought that I was just being mean. Oh well, he got over it. (And he didn't actually get any in there, don't worry.)

My IL's are getting Nathan a little table and chairs for Christmas, which is awesome. I think that he will love doing stuff at his own little table.

[Jiinx]

oh yes!!!
I need get that too...we don't quite have room at the moment so I'm not sure what to get rid of...hmm

but yes, a small table and chair is a definite must have.

[deb]

Our kitchen is small but by now we're all used to looking for the stepstool and kicking it out of the way if it's in front of something we want to open.

[twogirlsmommy]

We got dd a small table and chair from ikea! I cannot wait for her to see it christmas morning because she is obsessed with our dinning room chairs and sitting like big girl to do things

[teilvnav]

Here are a few pictures of Nathan playing with his dish of dried lentils, peas, and beans this week. He is standing on his trusty stool.

[Jiinx]

wow awesome pics

I need to go to ikea.

[Love, laughter, & PJs]

Great pics!  Wishing Ikea were closer for us.

[Canadian_Mom]

Thanks for the ideas.  My grandma got DS the small table/chairs for christmas, so I might leave the lentils playing for that table (I bought a funnel and scoop for them) and might look for a special stepstool/chair that he can stand on in the kitchen.  Yet again, awesome ideas!!  You guys rock!!