Rainy Day Activities for the Active Toddler

Rainy days + Active toddlers = Stressed Out Mommies!

Here are some activities to keep toddlers busy while waiting for Mr. Sun to reappear (assuming that you don't want your TV tuned to Disney Junior all day):

(1) RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT. When you shout "Green Light", your toddler is free to run around. When you shout "Red Light", he/she has to freeze until you say "Green Light" again. My daughter loves this game and it does come in handy. Once, my tot was running straight for disaster and wouldn't stop no matter what we shouted. I finally screamed, "RED LIGHT!!!" and she automatically froze.

(2) HUNT AND GATHER. Arm your tot with a basket or bucket and have him/her gather toy bugs, fruits/vegetables, easter eggs, etc. (depending on what toys are readily available) that you have scattered (or hidden) around the house. You can have your toddler count or identify the objects along the way.

(3) BUILD A FORT. Tie a blanket to some furniture to make a makeshift tent/fort so your child can have a pretend campout within your home! Note that if you do this once, your tot will likely ask you to do it again and again. Proceed with caution unless you're cool with seeing a blanket draped over your furniture every now and then.

(4) GET CRAFTY. It can be something as simple as getting out the crayons, paint, and coloring books, or an arts and crafts project (Want more? Check out Toddler Craft). This is a good opportunity to bond with your child. I often sit quietly and paint/color along with my tot. It's a great way to wind down and de-stress.

(5) HIDE AND SEEK. Nothing beats a classic! Have your child close his/her eyes and count to ten while you find a suitable hiding place. Then the search begins! This teaches your child to wait patiently and practice counting skills while engaging in fun and active play. If your toddler is too young, you might want to consider having someone guide him/her through the process of the game.

(6) HOP ABOARD! Have your tot hold on to your waist and march around the house as you pretend to be a boat, plane, train, or car. Sing songs (i.e., Row, Row Your Boat) as you move along. Grab Daddy, Granny, Yaya, or whoever you pass by to make a longer (and merrier!) line.

(7) DANCE! Crank up the music and let loose! Bring out some toy instruments (maracas, castanets, tambourine, drums) to add to the fun.

(8) HEAD, SHOULDERS, KNEES, and TOES. Another classic activity that helps your tot learn about body parts. Click here for the music and lyrics for this and other popular children's songs.

(9) THUMB THROUGH OLD PHOTO ALBUMS. Take this time to reminisce and teach your toddler about your family as you show him/her your family photos.

(10) READ A BOOK. If you haven't had the time to sit down and read to your child, now is the perfect time to do so. :)

Have fun, hang loose, and don't worry - the sun will shine again!

I Have Two Hands...I Can Help Clean Up!

Cleaning up after oneself is a good habit to teach early on, one that will surely benefit your tot (and you!) as he/she grows older. You can start by having your toddler pack away his/her toys before moving on to another activity (or tuning in to Nick Jr and Disney Jr). Always have him/her assist you or the yaya in keeping toys and books after playtime. If you are finding it difficult to engage your child in something as mundane as cleaning up, you can turn it into a game and eventually, he/she will get into the habit of packing up. Here are some tips to help your toddler get in the swing of things:

 (1) Sing a special song for cleaning up. You can look up these tunes that may already be familiar to your child:

Barney's version (Let's Go To The Firehouse): Clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere; Clean up, clean up, everybody do your share

Dora's version (Dora Saves The Mermaids): Clean up, clean up, everybody clean up! Everyone everywhere!

Gymboree version: This is the way we pack away, pack away, pack away. This is the way we pack away here at [Gymboree] -> instead of "Gymboree", you can change to "[child's name] house"

(2) Make a game of it. Have your toddler toss the balls into a basket. Challenge him/her to arrange her toys by type, color, or size.

(3) Engage in pretend play. My daughter pretends that her table and boxes make up a "toy store" and her bookshelf is a "book store". She has to properly arrange the items she "sells" and "buys".

(4) Teach your child to pack away gently (i.e., do not throw) so that the toys and books remain in good condition.

(5) Do as you teach. Help him/her pack away and show him/her that you also clean up after work or play.

Taste Makes All The Difference...

The sales representative at Mercury Drugstore suggested Natravox as a better tasting alternative to Augmentin. I checked my pedia's prescription and it was on the list of options for my tot's antibiotics, so we got a bottle and tried it out. Finally - a full dose of medicine without the kicking, screaming, spitting up, and vomitting! My daughter claims that it tastes just like chocolate. *Whew.

* Both Natravox and Augmentin are still in powder form when you purchase them, but you can ask the staff at the drugstore to prepare (i.e., mix in the water) it for you.

Toddler/Preschooler Doesn't Like to Get His/Her Hands Dirty

Does your toddler or preschool throw a fit whenever he or she is asked to handle glue or paint in school? Does he or she ask to wash hands in the middle of an artwork activity? Don't fret - this is fairly common, especially with children who are faced with paste and paint for the first time. Sometimes they just need to get used to it and realize that it's harmless and ultimately, fun to use. You can help hasten the process by giving them their own glue, paints, and activities to do at home.

(1) GLUE/PASTE - I recommend Kumon's Let's Sticker and Paste activity book. It's fun, colorful, and age-appropriate. The first few activities involve putting stickers in the appropriate places (stickers are included in the book) such as sticking animals on a farm, winter clothing on a child, flowers on an apron, etc. The latter part involves cutting (to be done by an adult) and pasting activities to complete parts of animal faces, put together a vehicle, paste toys in a cabinet, etc. After going through the activities in this book, my toddler was no longer afraid to use glue in school and she became quite adept at properly aligning items to be pasted unto her worksheet.

(2) PAINT - Buy fingerpaint and let loose. Extra-large coloring books are best for first-time painters. You can also simply cover his/her hand in fingerpaint and teach him/her to make colorful handprints. You might want to invest in a smock or apron as well, to keep their clothes clean.

(3) If you feel that your child's fear or dislike of paint/glue goes beyond a mere case of ickiness, you might want to consider alternatives, such as using a paintbrush to apply glue. When in doubt, consult your teacher and/or pediatrician.

(4) ALWAYS check the labels to ensure that the glue and/or paint is non-toxic and safe for children.

(5) Make it clear to your child that the paint and/or glue is to be used for the given activity only. Stress that it is not something to be smeared liberally on the walls, flooring, or other people.

Toddler Travels: Fun Ranch, Alabang

I went to Fun Ranch thinking I'd find animals (my daughter is overly fond of horses and ducks).  Silly me!  Instead, I feasted my eyes on this enormous children's play area encompassing 4-5 levels of plastic balls, obstacle courses, slides, foam, foam, and more foam.

At the time, my toddler was only a little over a year old, but already able to walk so I figured we'd give it a go.  She had the time of her life.  At the corner just past the entrance was the "toddler's area", a mini play area just 2 levels high in the shape of a ship.  It had steps, a wheel, slide, a vat of balls, and tunnels.  There was also a large cushion in the shape of a starfish where she launched herself and lay down quite happily.

Of course, I knew it wouldn't end there.  Eventually she wanted to go exploring to the big kid's area.  This humongous structure reminded me of the medieval "gauntlet" in the movie, First Knight.  There was actually a large ball with spikes (made of foam of course) hanging down one of the levels as part of the intricate obstacle course designed for kids.  Did I mention everything was made of foam?  One of the highlights for me was a rickety bridge that was fully covered by a net on both ends giving you the feeling of being suspended without any danger of falling.

We didn't stay long in the non-toddler area, mostly because there was a party that day and there were a lot of screaming kids and teenagers running around and I feared my little girl would be trampled in the melee.  Also, the choice means to return to the first level is via the slides.  Otherwise, you'd have to go through these holes on the floor and there is the added danger of a baby falling through one.  This is probably why they have a designated toddler area ;)

Other features of note are the availability of walkers and toy cars - though these were rather worn already.  There was also a section with large foam (what else?) blocks wherein kids could build an actual castle or fort.

I've only brought my daughter to Fun Ranch that one time, but have resolved to bring her back when she's older and can explore the place in full.  Also, the rather finicky and prissy mom in me likened it to a playground - I'm the type who likes to keep my baby in uber clean, open and/or semi-isolated areas.  At least until she turns 2. :)

Travel Tips:

(1) Bring socks.  If you forget, don't despair - they will sell you some at the ticket counter.

(2) Go on a weekday so it would be less crowded.  Call beforehand to ensure there's no party and/or reservation.

(3) Bring a change of clothes for your baby.  A towel and/or change of clothes for you as well.  The place is air-conditioned, but is just at the right temperature (i.e., not overly cold).  Your child is sure to sweat if he/she overexerts himself/herself.

(4) Be prepared to go through the obstacles courses yourself to keep tabs on your child, especially if he/she is just a toddler.

(5) When I was younger, I've read about the dangers of sharp objects that may find their way in sandboxes or pools/vats of balls.  I've yet to experience this firsthand, but it doesn't hurt to inspect the area before you let your child swim in a pool of plastic balls.