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!

Games for Moms: PSP and DS

NES, SNES, 3DO, Sega Saturn, Neo Geo, Playstation 1, Playstation 2 - consoles I've known, loved, and tucked away in favor of handheld DS and PSP as soon as my little bundle of joy came out.  Spending hours in front of the TV just won't cut it anymore!  Thankfully, modern technology has evolved the simple Game & Watch into more sophisticated machines with more memory, better graphics, and less accessories (anyone else remember the bulky magnifying glass you can hook up to your Gameboy to create a bigger screen?) such that I can still enjoy my gaming experience without ignoring my child.

With the advent of handheld devices such as PSP and DS, I can still explore and conquer 3D worlds!  And when my baby starts to holler - a menu here, a click there, and my journey is saved, ready to be resumed at the next nap time!  PSP gains extra points for me for being able to remember where you left off even after you power down.  This is something I take for granted when I pick up a DS.  I sometimes turn it off thinking I'm holding my PSP - a true disaster after an hour of level grinding.

As a multitasking mom, I tend to look for "casual" games that are simple and straightforward, but unique and entertaining nonetheless.  DS games often top the list in this category, simply because developers tend to inject more creative aspects to the games to make up for lower graphics and memory.  Controls such as a touchscreen and a microphone leave plenty of room for innovative, ground breaking game concepts (Scribblenauts, anyone?).  Still, PSP should not be dismissed - for where else can we enjoy our classic RPGs with graphics that are at least at par with PS2 games?  Games like Patapon prove that you don't need to deviate from standard control buttons to develop something new and fresh.

This series of blogs will tackle my favorite handheld games and is dedicated to all gamer moms who have had the audacity to face the curious toddler who innocently picked up the bubblegum pink PSP and say,

"Sweetie, this is not a toy!"