Kids 3 and Under

[Francine]

What do you do with a group of two years olds when all else fails? My group is tired of everything that I have, they are bored to death. Mostly it's cabin fever and they want to be outside but we are pretty much still in the winter season here in Michigan so we can't spend all day outside. I think I have a pretty good supply of toys, I do rotate but even that doesn't seem to be helping right now. For example, they will ask to play with the cars so I get out the cars, that lasts for less than 5 minutes then they are asking for "sompin else : )" it's one thing after another all day. They seriously don't want to play with anything, they are tired of it all! I need something that will hold their attention while I feed an infant or change a diaper. I can't be with them entertaining them the whole day, I have two infants to care for as well. I would be a rich women if I had dollar for every time I say " go play toys" every day, they are at the point where it feels like I am torturing them by making them play with toys. HELP PLEASE! I can't take another week like last week.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Dance party? Read books? Art?

[Evansmom]

I may be in the minority but I think it's ok for children to be bored as long as it doesn't cause behavior issues. If its causing behavior issues that's different. But when my kids come to me bored I either put them straight to work washing windows, tables, book shelves, floors, picking up toys, wiping down walls etc. that way they stop coming to me saying they are bored. They know I will put them to work . Or I say "only boring people are bored" . And I let them be bored. Eventually they usually come up with super awesome new ways to play with the toys.

If you don't like or can't use that approach then I would try setting out household objects that they can't break/won't harm them like plastic bowls, plastic or wooden spoons, pots and pans, boxes, tape, yards of fabric or play scarves. Or something open ended like that that they can make into anything they wish. That way the kids have to do more when the toys do less. KWIM?

[MNMum]

My 2 yos wouldn't even know to ask for something else. They freeplay most of the day. Maybe they are younger than your group? They turned 2 in December and I have a 19 mo old. They love when I bring in something new to play with the current toys. Today I brought in 3 toilet paper tubes and showed them how to put matchbox cars through them. They did that for awhile, then came up with other ways to play with their cool new toy. It works best if it's not actually a "toy".

[rmc20021]

I think as long as they CAN do it, they WILL do it.
I set a timer when things get rough and they HAVE to play with what they have until the timer goes off. Sometimes it gives them enough time to think of other ways to play with what they have and then they get so absorbed in it they are the ones who are not ready to rotate to something else.

[Scout]

Bake! My kids love to help make muffins, cupcakes, banana bread, you name it!

[AmyKidsCo]

I may be in the minority but I think it's ok for children to be bored as long as it doesn't cause behavior issues. If its causing behavior issues that's different. But when my kids come to me bored I either put them straight to work washing windows, tables, book shelves, floors, picking up toys, wiping down walls etc. that way they stop coming to me saying they are bored. They know I will put them to work . Or I say "only boring people are bored" . And I let them be bored. Eventually they usually come up with super awesome new ways to play with the toys.

If you don't like or can't use that approach then I would try setting out household objects that they can't break/won't harm them like plastic bowls, plastic or wooden spoons, pots and pans, boxes, tape, yards of fabric or play scarves. Or something open ended like that that they can make into anything they wish. That way the kids have to do more when the toys do less. KWIM?

What about different art materials or play dough? Water, ice, small cups and eye droppers in the sensory table (or bowls if you don't have a sensory table)?

[LK5kids]

I have two's and under. They really only play with the grocery carts! They fill 'me up and walk around. They will play with playdoh for about 20 minutes about once a week. If I get it out more they get bored with it.

They LOVE the sensory table. Mine has rice and lots of containers, scoops, etc.
It is messy, but they will play there for 45 min.

I have three rocking toys they use a lot! A rockin Ikea moose, a rocking Dino and a rocking horse.

They kind of keep real busy doing not much of anything with those grocery carts! I have a 5-7 minute circle/story time each day. I also have morning snack that breaks up the morning.

[spud912]

My 2 year olds are the easiest of the bunch to entertain. Sure, their attention span is virtually non-existent but they are entertained by the simplest of things. Here are their favorites:

• Books
• Cars
• Building materials
• Containers and smaller items to put in and out of the containers
• The sensory bin (I mix it up monthly)
• Balls

[Lilmissy76]

Maybe these littles need some more structure for their day? Music Time, Arts & Crafts, Finger puppets, story time ? Do you have a daily schedule. Children this age have a very "Short" attention span, and many need to be taught "how" to play through "Guided Play".

On a gloomy day indoor forts and flashlight fun were always a hit!

[NeedaVaca]

Pinterest has awesome ideas! I find projects on there all the time.

[Lavender]

A giant cardboard box. First it is a canvas for artistic creativity, then it becomes fodder for roleplaying games. Finally it becomes a large motor tool as it is climbed in and through and finally broken down.

[Starburst]

I may be in the minority but I think it's ok for children to be bored as long as it doesn't cause behavior issues. If its causing behavior issues that's different. But when my kids come to me bored I either put them straight to work washing windows, tables, book shelves, floors, picking up toys, wiping down walls etc. that way they stop coming to me saying they are bored. They know I will put them to work . Or I say "only boring people are bored" . And I let them be bored. Eventually they usually come up with super awesome new ways to play with the toys.

If you don't like or can't use that approach then I would try setting out household objects that they can't break/won't harm them like plastic bowls, plastic or wooden spoons, pots and pans, boxes, tape, yards of fabric or play scarves. Or something open ended like that that they can make into anything they wish. That way the kids have to do more when the toys do less. KWIM?

I think the reason why kids get bored easily is because there is so much overstimulation from too much toys. Most of the toys kids have now their toys are mini versions of adult toys (computer, cell phone, cars). And I agree, one way to get kids to get out of the "I'm bored" mode is to put them to work and after a while they will learn if you a bored there is always something to do and it might push them to be more creative to avoid doing house work . I plan on teaching some minor life skills (such as simple manners {can be done with dramatic play} and simple chores {like fixing your bed or watering plants})

I used to watch a 2 year old and a developmentaly delayed 4 year old for 7 hours straight 3 days per week and never once did I turn on the tv and they were never board. There were a few times when we played the same games everyday a few times a day but that was because they loved it so much they made it part of their routine . They did have toys but the toys were more of props for dramatic play (like a blanket to be a kangaroo/ butterfly or a box for a car/boat/train/plain/house). They also really loved stacking plastic cups and tryingto collect them all again in one cup. Music and movement are really good too.

[jamiem]

My kids are a bit younger (20 months and 13 months) but they have enjoyed sensory play with oats-I dumped oats into a couple cake pans and gave them measuring cups and spoons and they played happily for over half an hour. We have also done finger painting with greek yogurt-just use plain and add food coloring. I saved up a bunch of lids-milk, juice, tea, etc and put them in a kleenex box. I also have a clear plastic container filled with pom poms. They spend a lot of time dumping out, sorting them, putting back in, etc.