Ideas for 2.5 Year Old...what to Play?

Oh my goodness...my little guy is driving me NUTS today! I have played with him (roll the ball) given him rides on my back, whatever! All he is doing is WHINING and all I want to do is toss him (nicely! ) in his room and close the door for an hour!

If you have ideas, that's great...otherwise, this is just my way of venting without yelling at him! :grumpy:

I'd probably just whine back at him, but that's why I don't have kids of my own.

Coloring?
Fallen leaf collage? (collect fallen leaves and paste them on paper)
The "mommy's got a hangover so let's see how long we can be silent" game? Oh, wait, I'm not supposed to tell anyone about that one...

Kelly,
do you have bubbles ? I used to make the best ones with Karo syrup, water and dishsoap can't remember if it was joy or ivory they were huge & colorful.
Is it still warm enough to play in the sprinkler?
fingerpaint?
just snuggle and read a book


I'd take him for the day if you were closer....

use today to make memories with him they are grown before you know it

Wow, the whinning stage usually hits at 3 years...I hope that doesn't mean he's going to go through that stage longer! Eeeks...

Take him to a park...poop him out ~ maybe he'll take a long nap.

Any Mom's play group? Swapped babysitting so he has a friend to play with?

Thanks for the laugh! I needed that!

Oh...he's whining, uh, I mean calling, for me again...


<pulling my hair out>

Oh...not many of you probably know, but he is not speaking yet. We are doing speech therapy once a week, but a lot of the time, he whines just cuz that's what he can do! He is making improvements at therapy (making new consonant and vowel sounds) but he has not moved on to putting those sounds together as a word!

KellyTheChef said:

Oh...not many of you probably know, but he is not speaking yet. We are doing speech therapy once a week, but a lot of the time, he whines just cuz that's what he can do! He is making improvements at therapy (making new consonant and vowel sounds) but he has not moved on to putting those sounds together as a word!

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Ohh, poor little guy. And poor you! It'll click at some time. Have you thought about teaching home some rudimentary sign language? My sister and BIL teach their kids some REALLY early, and the kids will sign "milk" or "apple" if that's what they want, before they can speak.

As far as activities, the bubbles sound like a good idea. Or wear him out at the park.

chefann said:

Ohh, poor little guy. And poor you! It'll click at some time. Have you thought about teaching home some rudimentary sign language? My sister and BIL teach their kids some REALLY early, and the kids will sign "milk" or "apple" if that's what they want, before they can speak.

As far as activities, the bubbles sound like a good idea. Or wear him out at the park.

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Good idea Ann...my neice is learning that at Day Care.

chefann said:

Ohh, poor little guy. And poor you! It'll click at some time. Have you thought about teaching home some rudimentary sign language? My sister and BIL teach their kids some REALLY early, and the kids will sign "milk" or "apple" if that's what they want, before they can speak.

As far as activities, the bubbles sound like a good idea. Or wear him out at the park.

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Thankfully, signing is the first thing we started on at speech. Sounds kindof counterproductive, but it gave him a way to communicate. He had been starting to throw fits, and I really think it was cuz he was just so frustrated! He knew WHAT he wanted to say, but had no way to say it!

He knows drink, please, thank you, eat, more, open, help, and we made up our own sign for "sticky tape" (he claps) cuz he LOVES to play with tape! LOL

Oh, and with our next one (we are trying to get preg now) I WILL be teaching him/her signs when they are little. They start to pick it up around 7-9 months old if you are doing them consistantly! I am sure our next one will talk at a year old though!!! LOL

I think it is wonderful to teach children sign language. They pick it up quickly...as well as other languages. I used to be a helper for a pre school boy who was/is deaf. I eventually received implants and can now hear sounds and speak. His speech is slow and drawn out, but he is doing well. We learned sign language together. He is now 11 years old and doing well.

Back to the original question...do you have the book Where The Wild Things Are? It was my son's favorite book at that age.

I can teach you the sign for beer. Then you can give him some and knock him out.


(I'm kidding! I wouldn't actually give a toddler beer!)

101 Things to do with a ToddlerKelly, here is a list for you!!! I had this posted on a Mom's board or two that I am involved in. I like #101 the best!

1. Color
2. Blow Bubbles
3. Play Hide-and-Seek
4. Peek-a-Boo
5. Play Chase
6. Do Fingerplays
7. Sing a song
8. Collect rocks in a basket
9. Make an obstacle course out of cushions and/or furniture
10. Make a fort out of cushions and sheets
11. flock to it for a Walk
12. Make a Car out of a box
13. Read a book
14. flock to it to the park
15.Fingerpaint
16. Play with Play-Dough
17. Toss Bean bags into a Bucket
18. Play the shell and pea game
19. Dance to music
20. Download games for toddlers from the Internet
21. Practice putting things in and taking things out of boxes and bags
22. Make a temporary slide out of a table leaf and your couch
23. Roll a ball back and forth on the floor
24. Scoop dirt or sand into a child's bucket (or use a serving spoon and bowl)
25. Practice climbing by stacking boxes on top of each other (only with adult supervision)
26. Put on a puppet show
27. flock to it fishing with a yard stick and yarn
28. Make a Horseshoe game
29. Make a Shape Puzzle
30. Play paper basketball
31. Run through a Sprinkler
32. Play with a bucket of water and a sponge (PLEASE WATCH CHILD AT ALL TIMES!)
33. Make a Drum out of an oatmeal box
34. Play with a kazoo
35. Wash windows together
36. Bang on Pots and Pans with a spoon
37. Brush each other's teeth
38.Play dress-up with stuffed animals and your child's clothes
39. Stack canned or boxed food on top of each other
40. Let child stack mixing bowls inside each other
41. Make a playhouse out of a large box (see links page for some great instructions! Entitled: Building a Playhouse)
42. Let child play with a sticker sheet (make sure your child doesn't eat them!)
43. Put stickers on fingers for finger puppets
44. Play a musical instrument together- i.e.recorder, piano, etc.
45. flock to it on a Smelling Hunt
46. Frost Cookies
47. Plant a flower or vegetable plant together
48. Roll a tennis ball into an empty trash can or bucket
49. Draw on a mirror with dry-erase markers
50. Play hide and seek together- trying to find a stuffed animal or other object
51. Have a splash party together in the bathtub
52. Put a leash on a stuffed animal and walk around the house
53. Record each other on a tape recorder (great for scrapbooks or journals!)
54. Make and try on paper hats
55. Give a piggie back ride
56. Play "Horsie"
57. Talk into an electric fan (it distorts your voice)
58. Play tug-of-war with a blanket
59. Collect flowers (felt, artificial, real...)
60. Make a camera and flock to it on a Safari
61. Play games with frozen juice lids
62. Disconnect your phone and pretend to make phone calls to relatives
63. Leave your phone connected and really make phone calls to relatives- let your child talk too
64. String large beads onto or along a shoelace
65. Squirt each other with squirt bottles
66. Glue shapes onto paper
67. Make sock puppets
68. Make paper puppets
69. Fill an old purse with toys
70. Use a paper towel tube as a megaphone
71. Make binoculars and flock to it "Bird Watching" or "Stuffed Animal Watching"
72. Put snacks in different fun containers (paper sacks, empty canisters, etc.)
73. Act out a story from a book
74. Walk on a balance beam- use a 2x4 placed on the ground
75. Draw with chalk on the sidewalk
76. Sketch an outline of your child on the sidewalk or paper with chalk
77. Paint child's palms with tempura paint and blot on paper. Makes a great card for loved ones!
78. Put lipstick on child and kiss a mirror
79. Make a puddle on cement and splash barefoot in it
80. Let child decorate and eat an open peanut butter sandwich
81. Make a toilet paper barricade for child to flock to it under, over, or through
82. Do the Hokey Pokey
83. Make a super-hero costume out of household items
84. Do Knee-Bouncing Rhymes
85. Play "Red Light, Green Light" saying "flock to it" and "Stop"
86. Make a shoebox train for stuffed animals
87. Make a pillow pile to jump on (keep it clear from any hard surfaces, including walls!)
88. Make an easy puzzle with felt and velcro
89. Make bracelets or collars for stuffed animals out of pipe cleaners and jingle bells
90. Learn numbers from a deck of cards
91. Play the matching game with a deck of cards
92. Make a domino chain
93. Have a picnic in the park, backyard, or living room!
94. Play dress up in Mommy or Daddy's clothes
95. Make a tin cup telephone and talk to each other in it
96. Make a nature collage
97. Mirror each other
98. Make a "Mummy Mommy" with toilet paper
99. Make a tape recording of short music selections and instructions to move in different ways
100. Make and walk along a toilet paper trail
101.TAKE A NAP!!

KellyTheChef said:

Oh my goodness...my little guy is driving me NUTS today! I have played with him (roll the ball) given him rides on my back, whatever! All he is doing is WHINING and all I want to do is toss him (nicely! ) in his room and close the door for an hour!

If you have ideas, that's great...otherwise, this is just my way of venting without yelling at him! :grumpy:

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Mine is only 1 1/2 and she is doing the same thing... and I feel like doing the same thing

Brenda~

I love that list!!

What does "flock to it" mean? Hope I am not being too dense!! LOL

Get out of the house and take him somewhere. A change of scenery will work wonders for both of you. Where to go? The backyard, walk around your neighborhood, the park, the zoo, the McDonald's playground, anywhere. I always have more patience in public than when we're stuck at home. Maybe after a big outdoor adventure he'll take a nap and wake up happy or dad will come home from work and you can pass him off!

I am all for putting him in his room to play by himself. I used to do that every day with my two boys. I left the door open and put a gate in the doorway so I could hear them. They had to be trained to like it, and we started with small amounts of time when they were under two years old. It started with playpen time. As they got bigger we moved to room time. You can't let him see you and you start with 15 minutes and add time every day. I usually had them stay in room time for 45 minutes to an hour.

Kelly, I saw the "flock to it" as well and was puzzled. Not sure what that is.

Kelly - Try bubbles and flashflights! Those are always fun for little ones!As far as the speech...you could teach him a few words in sign language so he can communicate some while learning to speak. I have many friends with kids with various ranges of issues, slow motor development, speech issues, etc. and the "baby" sign language helps them communicate.

I just realized Ann mentioned sign language above too...sorry Ann...great minds think alike...or is is warped minds think alike...or ??????

It must be the day! My 3 yr old is being the same way!

He is at the table right now painting....because it is the only thing he will do that does not involve clinging to me!
The weather is absolutely perfect outside - and he refuses to go out to play.


The sign language thing never worked with my son though.....I would do the sign and say it, and instead of learning the sign, he would learn to speak the words. He was speaking in 3-4 word sentences by 1 yr old! Now, he never shuts up!
But Kelly, my nephew didn't start speaking until he was about 3 1/2 - and when he did start speaking it was in complete, complex sentences. He is a very brilliant 7 yr old now - but still doesn't talk much. He is just quiet, and introspective.....but when he does speak - he sounds like a little adult! My SIL was always worried that there may be something wrong - but he just was on his own time frame!

KellyTheChef said:

Thankfully, signing is the first thing we started on at speech. Sounds kindof counterproductive, but it gave him a way to communicate. He had been starting to throw fits, and I really think it was cuz he was just so frustrated! He knew WHAT he wanted to say, but had no way to say it!

He knows drink, please, thank you, eat, more, open, help, and we made up our own sign for "sticky tape" (he claps) cuz he LOVES to play with tape! LOL

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Awesome progress Kelly! It really isn't counterproductive, it helps them communicate until they can verbally. ...and learning it that young, they may have it stick with them for many years to come and can talk to kids who actually are deaf. It is a good skill to have. I've been personally wanting to take classes for years!

ChefBeckyD said:

It must be the day! My 3 yr old is being the same way!

He is at the table right now painting....because it is the only thing he will do that does not involve clinging to me!
The weather is absolutely perfect outside - and he refuses to go out to play.


The sign language thing never worked with my son though.....I would do the sign and say it, and instead of learning the sign, he would learn to speak the words. He was speaking in 3-4 word sentences by 1 yr old! Now, he never shuts up!
But Kelly, my nephew didn't start speaking until he was about 3 1/2 - and when he did start speaking it was in complete, complex sentences. He is a very brilliant 7 yr old now - but still doesn't talk much. He is just quiet, and introspective.....but when he does speak - he sounds like a little adult! My SIL was always worried that there may be something wrong - but he just was on his own time frame!

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Very similar to my younger brother, only he was about 2 1/2. Mom says I took such good care of him he didn't need to speak, then it was in sentences. He went to MSOE got 2 degrees there and is a Director of Computer Engineering at a major company with 40-50 people under him way before he turned 30. The mind is usually churning when the mouth isn't....

ChefBeckyD said:

The sign language thing never worked with my son though.....I would do the sign and say it, and instead of learning the sign, he would learn to speak the words. He was speaking in 3-4 word sentences by 1 yr old! Now, he never shuts up!

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Now if we tie this to your restaurant story... What have you been teaching your child?!?!?! (Just kidding of course...couldn't resist! :blushing: )

janetupnorth said:

Now if we tie this to your restaurant story... What have you been teaching your child?!?!?! (Just kidding of course...couldn't resist! :blushing: )

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What would the sign be for that, I wonder? It wasn't in any of the babysign books I had!

janetupnorth said:

Very similar to my younger brother, only he was about 2 1/2. Mom says I took such good care of him he didn't need to speak, then it was in sentences. He went to MSOE got 2 degrees there and is a Director of Computer Engineering at a major company with 40-50 people under him way before he turned 30. The mind is usually churning when the mouth isn't....

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With my nephew, that is very true - you can just sit and watch him think through an issue for a long time, and then he will ask a very insightful question, or give his input on the issue at hand - it's fascinating to be around him!

One thing I never did with my kids was to allow them to have ALL of their toys whenever they wanted. We rotated boxes of toys about every 2-3 weeks. As he gets older, rotate every month or more. This way he will seem like he's got new toys!

Same thing for road trips...had toys ONLY for road trips...rotated those too.

Of course, my kids are 16 and 22...oh...and 49! It's an old trick, but works!

PS Kelly...had 3-4 boxes that I rotated...so they really "saw" then every 3 month for so...

ChefBeckyD said:

What would the sign be for that, I wonder? It wasn't in any of the babysign books I had!

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A few crossed my mind but not appropriate for children!

chefann said:

I can teach you the sign for beer. Then you can give him some and knock him out.


(I'm kidding! I wouldn't actually give a toddler beer!)

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Benadryl and dimetapp work the same...LOL and I swear I'm kidding! :angel: