Entertaining a toddler? Set aside the flashy toys. Consider this, instead: The simplest things — bubbles, dry pasta, a deck of cards to stack — are enough to keep your grandchild giggling for hours. Give these easy activities a try the next time your favorite toddler stops by for a visit.
Watch out Mister Bubble!
Any tot can take a bubble bath or blow bubbles through a wand. Up the ante with this in-the-sink extravaganza. Just don't forget to grab your camera first! You’ll love capturing the look of sheer glee on your toddler’s face.
The goods: A manual eggbeater and Ivory soap
The steps: Put the stopper in your kitchen sink and fill it with warm water and Ivory soap (or any other gentle soap). Tie an apron on your grandchild and help her step onto a kitchen chair. Remember: Stand behind her at all times -- as the bubbles pile on, they up the slipperiness factor. Once she’s at the sink, show your grandchild how to use the eggbeater to whip up mountains of foam. Not only is she working on manual dexterity with this, but you’ll be grandparent of the hour!
Memory Match
What toddler doesn't love playing Peek-a-Boo? This variation on the theme adds objects and a tray to the standard hands-covering-eyes version they already know and love.
The goods: A tray and some kitchen objects -- a spoon, a spatula, a plastic container.
The steps: Walk around the kitchen with your grandchild, placing the curious items on the tray as you go. Explain what the utensils are and what they do. Then, when she's not looking, remove each one-by-one and quiz her on what’s missing. If your grandchild is 4 -plus, have him cover his eyes and touch the objects before identifying what’s on the tray, and what’s not.
Pasta play
A bag of dry pasta easily transforms into a stunning, priceless piece of art from your grandchild to her Mom and Dad. Here’s how:
The goods: Bowtie noodles, glue, and construction paper
The steps: Using the glue, have your grandchild affix the noodles to the paper. Spice up the motif by adding buttons or Cheerios. Or, give them torn strips of vibrant construction paper or funny pages from the newspapers in your recycling bin to make the project more colorful. Caveat: Be sure to supervise closely to ensure that your grandbaby doesn’t choke on her first masterpiece. The toddler set is notorious for sticking anything, and everything, into their mouths.
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