When you want your child to do something he may not be excited
about doing (homework, a chore, cello practice) negotiate a time
with him that he will do it. E.g. Your child is playing with leggos
on the floor. You say, "You need to practice piano. Would you
like to do it now or in ten minutes? Okay, in 10 minutes it will
be 5:30." (work on this)
Put out a banana, tooth picks, raisins, and a knife. Let your
kids cut up the banana, decorate it with raisins pierced by toothpicks,
and then eat the banana.
Build a tent out of chairs and blankets -let the kids hide or
play in it.
Move the high chair outside.
Give the kids a small area of their own in the main living space
of the home. Make it cozy. Fill it with pillows and books, and
let them have their own space to cool out.
Give your kids a watering can and them water the grass or plants
outside. Take a paintbrush to the park and let them"paint" the
wooden structures with water.
Let the kids play dress up with your clothes. Keep a dress up
basket . Put in all the old handbags, scarves, hats, gloves, and
prom dresses you don't know what to do with.
Hide pennies in the yard and let the kids have a treasure hunt.
Take a sheet, hang it on the wall and let your kids paint a mural.
Make a bubble bath with shampoo and get in with your toddler.
Give your kids pillow cases and let them jump around the house
in them.
Give your kids paper and glue or staples and let them make chains
to decorate the house for the holidays.
TV Snacks
While your
kids are watching TV, instead of potato chips or pretzels put
carrot, cucumber and celery sticks on plates in front of them
and watch their vegetable consumption soar.
A Time to Take Measure
Give your kids measuring tape
and let them measure themselves, each other, you, the furniture
and anything else that strikes their fancy.
Flashlight
To keep young children busy, give
them a flashlight and put them in a darkened room.
Bottoms Up
When you're changing your baby,
let her be without her diaper for as long as possible. It's good
to expose her bottom to some fresh air. Notice how much freer
her leg movements are when she's diaper-less. If you're worried
about wetting, place a diaper pad under her.
Phone Box
To keep you baby or toddler
busy while you're on the phone, create a phone box with:
empty spool threads
a baby hair brush
a small mirror
a board book
an old or toy phone
a little change purse
and anything else that would safely
amuse your child
Keep this box on a high shelf and
bring it down ONLY when you are on the phone.
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