Keep Your Kids Busy - and Happy!

I know how busy you are because I'm that busy too. I know how much attention your kids need because my boy needs that much too. I know you need your kids to be entertained without your intervention for at least an hour right now -- because I need it too. Let's talk about it: (and have a laugh about what can happen if you just don't watch them)

The following was written when my son was around 2-3 years old: What works for me

• TV
  I pick highly entertaining but nonviolent stuff like Little Einstein's or Thomas the Train - I rent DVDs to avoid spending lots of money.
  
  
• Special toys
  My son's special toy is anything related to Thomas the Tank Engine. I ordered a used lot of wooden trains off ebay and I only give him a new one when I really need a break for a few minutes.
  
  
• water play
  If I'm cooking I put him at the sink on a chair or on the floor near me in a bucket big enough for him to take a little bath in.
  
  
• Play with them more
  I know this is counterintuitive, but I have found if you get down on the floor and really focus on your child, chances are they play can play better by themselves, and for longer.
  
  
• Find a good preschool or daycare
  If you can't afford it look into any state sponsored payment plans or assistance plans or even scholarships - some preschools have such a thing. The local Montessori preschool my son goes to takes them as young as two, not potty-trained, and holds a fundraiser every spring in order to pay for scholarships for local children who wouldn't otherwise go to preschool
  
  
• Rotate their toys
  Instead of leaving all of their toys out all the time, till they just ignore them, put away half of the toys for a month or two. When your child has forgotten all about these toys bring them all back out at once and put the other half away.
  
  
• Trade babysitting
  Find a friend who could also benefit from this and take his/her kids for an evening in exchange for another evening where they take your kids.
  
  
• Mother's Helper
  I hire the neighbor's 14 year old girl for a few dollars an hour to come play with my boy. I cook or clean or work in my office. If you are going to be home the whole time, children as young as 9 or 10 could come play with your children for a dollar or two an hour.
  
  Here's some suggestions that recently were posted on the Positive Parenting Mailing List (most require the parent to be right there, but will keep the kids busy for a bit): Audiobooks for older children, shaving cream (with or without food coloring) in the bathtub, paint with water (no cleanup - construction paper or the driveway works well for this). During dinner preparation kids can be kept busy with the following: let them butter the cooking pan, clean the garlic, or color on the dishwasher drawer with soapy crayons.

  The following require parents to be actively there with the child

• pets
  We have mice and a dog. Joe likes to play with these mice for hours at a time. We used to have baby chicks, a rabbit, and two rescued baby birds. He has held these animals since he was about 16 months old and still needs occasional intervention to not be too rough, but he mostly does just great. At this point I can just be in the same room (maybe cleaning cages lol) and not right on top of him.
  
  
• Butterfly Garden
  Plant some milkweed in your yard and your child will love to watch the caterpillars grow.
  
  
• Computer Games
  Joe loves to sit on my lap and play the games at Hit Entertainment or Noggin.com. He also likes to just pound away on the keyboard in a word document. He calls this the letters game.