re: Toddler Time!

My son and i love to dance and when he's dad comes home for lunch we go out said and play we just got him a puppy so he trys to wlak him lol

Hi my name is Kae-C. I have a 29mth old daughter and a 17mth old son. On top of that, my husband is in the Army (infantry) so I have my handsful. We moved to Washington about to be a year ago. Big change from Texas and big adjustment for me weather wise...lol.

My two love to run, draw, color and dance. Very active them two sometimes too much for me...hahaha. I start to run out of ideas for them to do in the house since it rains like 10mths out of the year here.

We're lucky to live right down the street from the ocean so whenever Landon gets a bit antsy, we take him to play in the sand and you've never seen a child get so excited. It's easier to clean than dirt and we really don't have to worry about him making a mess. Only down side is when he gets a bit curious and tries to eat it lol.

Walk in the park(great excersice for me)
Chalk outside making pics -easy to clean
Create pictures. Get a foam doorknob lots of stickers easy and lots of fun
Painting- be with them at all times
Dancing
Create things paper towel inside paint it, stickers, my kids love.

Library has great books on creating things for toddlers

My little one loves to colour paina dn dance as well but she is only 19 months and still has a habit of putting everything in her mouth...so I haven't attempted play doh yet, and thank goodness crayola has magic markers that are non toxic lol...I just pretty much let her decide what she wants to do, she has a huge imagination and if she wants me to participate she lets me know otherwise I just sit back and watch her create and explore.  

I make soap bubbles using baby soap and let her pop them...she gets a KICK out the really huge ones. We also have this nice section of woods in our backyard...so we go for walks in there and she always goes out and hunts down little flowers to carry around. And then...when it gets too dark for her to play and we've exhausted ourselves from all the running around, I'll pull out a game controller and let her "play along" with whatever game I'm into at the moment. (Her favorite controller is the Playstation one...the analog sticks make her giggle when she moves them or "clicks" them)

Save money and create your own fun. Here are a few of my favorite recipes:

Flour Finger Paint
3 cups flour
2 tbls liquid soap
3/4 cup water
food coloring
1. Mix all ingredients together. Use a spoon to put a blob of it on the paper or counter for your child. Finger paint.

Face Paint- easy to wash off.
1 part cornstarch
1/2 part water
1/2 part cold cream
food coloring
1. Mix all the ingredients together and apply with cotton swabs.

Salt Paint- when it dries, it sparkles.
1/4 liquid starch
1/4 cup water
2 tbls tempera paint
1. Mix all the ingredients together.

Cold Playdough
1 cup salt
1 cup flour
1/2 cup water
food coloring
1. Mix all ingredients together to proper consistency. Add in food coloring and store in airtight containers.

Peanut Butter Playdough- your child is going to stick it in their mouth anyways.
1 part peanut butter
1 part nonfat powdered milk
1 tsp honey (optional, not for children under 1)
1. Mix all together

Peppermint Playdough
2 cups warm water
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 tsp cream of tartar
4 tbls oil
4 tbls peppermint extract (or experiment with other extracts)
red food coloring
1. Mix the first 6 ingredients together. Stir until the dough pulls away from side of bowl.
2. Divide the dough into 2 balls and knead the red food coloring into one ball.
3. Show your child how to twist and blend the two colors together.

Homeade Clay
2 cups baking soda
1 cup cornstarch
1 1/4 cups cold water
1. Mix al the ingredients together and cook over a medium heat while stiring constantly.
2. When mixture reaches the consistency of mashed potatoes, remove from the heat and place on a clean plate or counter.
3. Cover the clay with a damp cloth until it is cool.
4. Knead the clay, and mold and sculpt as desired.

Spray Chalk
1/2 cup water
4 tbls cornstarch
3 drops of food coloring
1. Mix all the ingredients and put into spray bottles.

I like to do almost everything with my children that has been written here, You ladies are amazing. A couple of other things: 1. I use food coloring in our ice cube trays and when taking a bath, the kids can pick out what color ice cubes they want their water to be. 2. I let them eat their popsicles in the bathtub. Less messy and fun for them. 3. We play a music game where we dance and when I stop the music they have to freeze. 4. I made green, red and yellow traffic signs using construction paper and popsicle sticks. When I hold up the green they walk fast, the yellow they walk slow, etc. 5. They have always helped me in the kitchen since I can remember. All my children have their own aprons and step stools to help out.