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!

Choking Hazards

As a new mom, one of my early fears was dealing with a choking baby. We often see toys labeled "not for children under 3 years" or "choking hazard" so we know from the get-go that it does happen and it's no laughing matter. So what are the things babies can accidentally swallow and what do you do when faced with this kind of emergency? Below are a couple of links to articles that are very helpful in this regard (courtesy of BabyZone):

Top 10 Things Kids Accidentally Swallow

What To Do If Baby Is Choking

Animated books

Animation embedded in books? You better believe it! With Scanimation (Waddle, Gallop, etc,) and Animotion (On The Go, etc.) technology, kids (and adults!) can watch in awe as animals, people, and vehicles move on the pages of the book - just like an old-fashioned animated clip! While the text on these books are typically limited to short rhyming phrases and there is little (to no) story whatsoever, the moving pictures still provide ample amusement and entertainment, while introducing young children to the concept of movement.

The Waddle! book had my toddler laughing out loud in the bookstore. I thought the colors on On The Go were more visible, though, and bought this instead.

These books are available at the local bookstores (National, Power Books, Fully Booked).

Dissecting The Garbage Can Myth

This is an actual conversation I had with my 18 month old daughter one afternoon after I taught her to throw her empty jelly containers in the garbage can on the morning of the same day:

Baby: "Blanket garbage"

Me: "No, sweetie, you throw the blanket in the garbage, you'll never see it again.  Anything you throw in the garbage you don't get to see again."

Baby stares at me a moment, then scrambles down from the bed and opens the garbage can.

Baby: "Jelly still there."

Books For Tots: Brainy Baby

Get a good grasp of the basics with the Brainy Baby series.  These board books provide large, colorful images that introduce your child to the world of numbers, animals, shapes, colors, and letters.

When I saw the word "baby" in the title, I imagined my little one would immediately take to these kinds of books.  It wasn't exactly love at first sight for my baby.  I learned that mere images weren't enough to amuse her and had to inject funny noises and animal sounds to make it more interesting.  I also taught her that books were not toys - she could not fold, toss, or step on her books.  Over time she came to respect and love these tiny tomes.  These days a trip to the toy store makes her face light up, but a trip to the bookstore - ah, now there's a treat that can convince her to take a nap, eat her vegetables, or visit the doctor.

My baby now has two shelves dedicated to her in our mini library (my husband and I are quite the bookworms ourselves) and is close to occupying a third.  And it all started with a little series called Brainy Baby.  My daughter just turned 2 and has already memorized the contents of these books, but we still use them regularly to refresh her skills.

You can purchase a set of 4 board books at Toy Kingdom.  A set comes in a bag with handle, making it convenient to lug around.  It also makes it very presentable as a baptismal, birthday, or Christmas gift. ;)

Books For Tots: Hola! Soy Dora

Dora's Little Library was a big hit with my baby - and with me! One pack contains 5 books.  Each book is a miniature, simplified version of an existing Dora book/adventure.  At around 3x3 inches, these board books were perfect for my baby's little hands.  She enjoyed flipping through the pages and picked up a lot of learning points. Dora's Little Library teaches the basics of numbers, words, and opposites in true Dora form i.e., English and Spanish ;)

The second set I purchased, entitled Dora's New Adventures, introduces children to concepts such as siblings, school, doctor, dentist, and manners.

I'm quick to snap up one of these sets whenever I come across them - at less than P300 per packof 5 books, I get more value for my money than buying a single Dora book ranging from P150 to P350+. ;)

Where to Buy: Powerbooks and Fully Booked

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.