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How to Keep Toddlers Busy When You Have to Get Crap Done

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How to Keep Kids Busy When You are Busy and need to get things done

Are you looking to keep your toddlers and kids busy at home while you work from home– or just need a few minutes to yourself to just get crap done.

Here’s a big list of things you can do with your toddlers to keep them busy indoors without tv or screens that will keep their attention on toys, activities, and fun instead of you!

Here’s how to keep your toddlers busy at home while you get crap done with so many fun kid activities!

Big ‘Ol Box

A box is so many things and can keep toddlers and kids busy forever!

Yep. What toddler can resist a gigantic box?

Just grab markers, crayons, scissors, construction paper, glue, or nothing at all, and see what amazing things can come out of a box.

That’s it, easy right?

My kids love boxes of all shapes and sizes for creative play and self-play! I don’t have to get involved at all with box play!

If you have a young toddler, you can just throw them in the box too with crayons or whatever, so they won’t escape!

Just save those diaper boxes and random boxes for days you really need a break!

Big Paper Roll and Markers

There’s nothing like laying a huge roll of canvas paper on the floor with markers, crayons, etc. to invite creativity.

I got a big paper roll at IKEA for cheap, but you can score a long paper roll at Michael’s or even Amazon if you are looking for it at your doorstep.

I also sometimes will save the big brown paper from our packages and will have my kids’ color on that as well and it can always double as wrapping paper for gift wrap as well!

You can also just do big poster boards with crayons and/or markers as well, but the big paper rolls definitely last the longest and you can just roll it up for another day!

Craft Kits

Prepared craft kits are great when you need to get crap done.

Just lay the prepared craft down and let the kids get to work!

I love Alex Toys craft kits, especially the big busy box! There are a few different crafts, and a lot of them are individually packaged, so you can just pull one out for your kids! Some are super simple too, and perfect for toddlers!

You can also find prepared craft kits for kids at Michaels and other art stores! If you go a few days before a holiday or a couple of days after, you can usually find great deals on craft kits at Michaels as well! I usually try to scoop them up on clearance!

You can also make your own craft kits when you have time and then stash them away for a rainy day.

My kids usually do better with crafts when they have a kit and have some direction (and it’s less messy usually) than just free-flowing the art projects, but everyone is different.

Magnetic Tiles

Magnetic Tiles are hands down my (and my kids, of course) favorite toy!

If I could pick just one toy for my kids, this would be it!

They play with them every day, and usually for a while too! There’s so much to do with them– and engage both my 2.5 and 5-year-old!

Magna tiles can get a little pricey, we actually don’t have any of the original brands, but we do have a few knocks that work just as well!

We have Picasso tiles and PlayMags and another random brand. I like the PlayMags a tad better if they are the same price, but Picasso tiles and other brands are fine too! The different brands also work fine together, I think as long as they look like they will work together, they will.

Note: I did try to get another set to add to my collection and totally didn’t pay attention and got a “mini” tile. The picture made it look like the real size, but they were tiny, so just double-check to make sure you don’t make my mistake!

Magnetic tiles are definitely my favorite toy and perfect for days that I’m exhausted and need to get things done because they get hours of play with them!

Playdough

Playdough is one of those activities that I always pull out when I need an extra few minutes to cook dinner, wash dinner, or just need a minute of quietness.

I usually opt for the easy option of store-bought play dough with some tools to go with it, however, you can also make play dough too.

I’ve had a few Pinterest fails when it came to homemade playdough, but I know many people make it with no problems! Even better, you get an activity making it and then an activity with playing with it!

I just hope you have a little more luck with finding a great homemade playdough recipe– mine always comes out too sticky and messy! (I’ll link when I find a good one though!)

Playdough is such a fun and easy activity for indoor play. Make sure to tuck it away and use it on days you really need it to make playdough more fun.

Marshmallow Building

Depending on the age, you may want to consider marshmallow building! Throw some marshmallows down with toothpicks (if they can handle it) or spaghetti pieces, and have them get to work!

You may need to build a square or something to get their creative juices flowing, but my kids loved the freedom to build and play with food. They would also eat while they played, which kept them extra busy!

I love laying this activity out on the dining room table when I need to work on the computer next to them or while I’m cooking dinner!

You can find more about marshmallow building from my another post by me here.

Busy Boxes

Dinosaur Dig Busy Box for Toddlers

Busy Boxes is the only thing on the list I don’t do super frequently. I’m just too lazy to prepare busy boxes and I’m just not that creative. Plus, my kids just don’t keep activities for too long, plus adding sand and rice can sometimes get messy in my house.

However, you can throw whatever in a box and hand it out and the idea is that they keep busy with whatever toys or activities are in the box.

I will sometimes take a clear tub and collect all the “crap” we get from birthday parties, kid events, Halloween, etc. and then give that to them instead of just tossing it all in the trash. Sometimes the small toys can keep them busy for a minute, and then when there’s a huge collection of them, it makes it a little bit more interesting.

There are so many things you can do with busy boxes to keep it interesting.

There are now more store-bought Busy Boxes too so you can always buy a busy box as well if you don’t feel like making anything.

Forts

Forts are a great way to keep kids busy because they may not want to leave their fort when it’s built. Word to the wise though, make that fort a steady thing or you will be constantly be rebuilding.

You can also place a tent indoors and let them play in it, or even just throw a few blankets over the crib and let them play.

I think sometimes it’s the novelty of the fort and tent, and the construction style. You can always change it up to make it somewhat new and fun too.

I *sometimes* removed the cushions from the couch to make it more fun and keep their attention longer. Gasp!

Silly Bath Tub Play

I am doing this currently as I write this post! My boys (2.5 and 5) are in a bath with LOTS of bubbles, their legos, and with their stuffed animals too! I’m just sitting here on the floor next to them as they have fun!

My kids love taking a daytime bath because it’s just so silly and I will add toys in there to keep their attention longer!

You can just do bubbles, legos, toys, or really whatever you want. You can even do a bath without even adding water– just toys!

I like to add toys because they clean they also get clean in the water and it’s nice to get all those germs off everything!

Also, you save yourself from doing bathtime later on in the day!

Spark Sink/Water Play

My son could stand in front of the sink forever and play with the water!

So just grab a tub and fill with water– it’s even better when it’s nice out so you can do this activity outside!

We also love the Spark Kitchen Sink because it has a REAL WORKING FAUCET.

Just be forewarned though, it doesn’t last terribly long. The pump actually lasted longer for us than others, but it won’t last forever. I think it lasted around a year for us, with on and off play. But I do know someone who’s pump broke within a few days of play.

The sink will also randomly start working again for a few minutes after not working for months, and then die again.

But for $20, you should get your money back pretty quickly in babysitting money.

My son played with this FOR HOURS.

Just make sure to put a big towel underneath it, as it gets a little wet and messy, but not terribly so. Or just bring it outside if it’s nice out.

The Spark Kitchen Sink is a Walmart exclusive I believe, but you can find it on sites like Amazon too, but you will be paying more than retail for it. There are also other brands that also have a real working faucet as well, I just didn’t buy those brands of sink in my house and I think Spark was the first to introduce it.

You can find a knock-off version at Burlington Coat Factory, T.J. Maxx, etc. call Just Like Home Kitchen Sink and it’s a similar price, if you can’t find the spark one or would rather shop in stores.

Water Play is always a hit in our house and I don’t really engage much, just watch!

Long Snacks

Those Apple Pouches are great. They are quick, healthy, and great in a pinch. They are great for on-the-go and in a rush as they don’t take too much at all!

I love the apple pouch but sometimes we need the exact opposite. The all-time-consuming snack.

The snack that takes forever. The snack that will entertain your kids for awhile. The kind of snack that keeps them busy so you have a break.

I like to do long snacks that can also be an activity.

For Example: Crackers + Peanut Butter + Do It Yourself.

I give my kids a (safe) butter knife, crackers, and peanut butter and they love making peanut butter sandwiches. They are also learning motor skills as they are buttering the crackers themselves.

It’s not terribly messy either– a little messy, but manageable.

They keep themselves busy + I’m getting work done.

There’s a lot of other long, time-consuming snacks too, so it doesn’t just have to be peanut butter crackers or crackers and cheese!

The Novelty Activity

whisk a toy that keeps a baby busy

All Hail The Novelty. You know that item that super random item that will keep your kid busy forever for that moment in time and then they will never see or play with it again.

The novelty item is just a great way to keep a kid busy when you are exhausted or really sick.

Some you would never even give your kids on a regular basis but you are exhausted for some peace in quiet. A novelty item is great for this.

Not all novelty items are not the same and may work again, and some will just never work for your children, because all kids are different.

Here are a few “novelty items” that worked for my kids:

  • Flashlights
  • Keys
  • Bubble Wrap
  • Balloons
  • Slinky
  • Spin Tops (Grampy usually brings one to restaurants & keeps them busy)
  • Light or Glow Sticks (be careful if you have a biter)
  • Contact Case (just be careful with this one since it’s so small)
  • Tupperware with lots of covers and lids
  • Ice Cream Scoop, Pans, Rolling Pin, etc.
  • Whisk (you can put pom poms in it for more curiosity)
  • Spray Bottle
  • Window Clings
  • The Big Toy Book (I grabbed a few a Target at Christmas time to bring out

Let me know what your favorite novelty items are and have worked well for you– I need more!

Scavenger Hunt

Make a scavenger hunt for your kids! It can be a formal one or a casual one! (I usually do causal ones and just hide stuff!)

I sometimes will just hide legos all over the living room for the kids to find all the parts. Super easy and it keeps them busy.

If you want to get fancy, you can make list (with words or pictures) for your kids to find certain items listed.

You can find a lot of scavenger hunt ideas here if you’re looking for something organized.

If you’re looking for something quick and easy, just hid pennies (depending on age) all over your house. That’ll keep your kids busy for a few if they are little!

Ice Cubes

Something about ice cubes make them really fun!

Sometimes all you need is ice cubes, a tray and a silly tool to pick them up with.

One time I tried to “paint ice cubes” that I found on Pinterest where you take paint, a paintbrush and ice cubes and my 4-year-old was not impressed. “Mom, THIS is the activity”.

Painting Ice Cubes for Toddlers

So, make sure the ice cube activity is age appropriate and fun!

However, I find that just taking out ice cubes are fun and easy! I usually do it outside on the deck when I can!

I will also freeze their small toys like dinosaurs and have them dig them out of the ice! Depending on the tools you provide, it can keep them busy for a long time!

Play then Walk Away

“Engage, Play, then Walk Away!”

Start an activity, show them how it works and play with them for a few minutes. When they are totally engaged, walk away!

Chances are they are still going to play! I find this works well with my kids, because I have two and they continue to play with each other instead of me.

I do this a lot with magnetic tiles and other building toys, I’ll start the frame and they will just take it from there!

A great way to play with my kids, but also a chance to get some things done because they continue to self play!

“Quiet Time”

My kids no longer take naps, so I don’t get that blissful afternoon break. I use to do quiet times, but truthfully, we don’t do it anymore.

I used to put them down for a nap like they were actually going to sleep, and they would sit up in their cribs and play with their toys for an hour or so… once in a lucky moon they would fall asleep.

But quiet time can just be placing them in their beds, or putting them in a quiet place with books or quiet activities.

You both need a break, and quiet time is a great afternoon break for you both to recoup.

FaceTime with Grandparents or Friends

Can’t take advantage of in-person babysitting? When I feel completely done for the day or need to get stuff done, and my kids have SO much energy, I’ll call or FaceTime my parents or in-laws.

Have the kids talk to grandparents, friends, aunts, uncles, or whoever they love talking too, and have them “watch” them for awhile.

Obviously, you can’t run an errand or anything like a real babysitter, but it’s great just to sit next to them and have them keep busy and bonding with family at the same time.

Toy Rotation

Easy Toy Rotation for kid toys to stay organized and more toy play

I love not keeping every single toy out for instant play and instant messes and will rotate toys in my house.

Toy Rotation is just that… keep some toys and bins tucked away, and rotate toys for new ones. I keep big bins in the closet and will just take a bin for a day, and other times I’ll completely rotate the toys in our living room.

The nice thing about toy rotation is that “new” toys will appear. I feel like my kids will play with their toys longer when they haven’t seen them in awhile.

If they always see the same toys, and can access every single toy, they will play less. They get overwhelmed and bored. At least, I feel like that’s the case with my kids.

I like to keep totes in a closet and will take them out and rotate toys or even just pull out a toy or two when I feel like they need something else to keep them busy.

When I’m really tired, I’ll have “an ace” toy tucked away nearby and will bring it out when I need it. It’ll keep them busy, and the toy is “new”. It’s usually building related with my boys because they love to make and build things.

Screens

Sorry, but if you need to get things done, screens do the trick. If you want to feel less guilty, PBS has so many great educational shows and your kids will learn while you get a break and/or get your own crap done.

However, there so many different things you can do, so if you don’t have to pull out the screens either!

I find the more I switch things up, the more engaged my kids are! They tend to forget about activities, so rotating them works best for the most engagement and effectiveness!

What are you favorite things to do with the kids when you have to get crap done?

*This post contains affiliate links which means if you make a purchase through an affiliate link, I may receive a small commission so thank you for supporting this mom and this small site!


7 Easy Indoor Activities to Do with Toddlers

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7 Indoor Toddler Activities

Looking for some super easy indoor activities to keep your toddlers busy and entertained!

Here are some ideas of simple yet fun things to do with your toddlers when you are stuck indoors!

*This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy if you have any questions.

Make a Crib Fort

Easy Blanket Crib Fort for Babies and Toddlers

Forts are a go-to favorite of mine and we make so many forts, mainly in the living room with pillows, blankets and cushions.

However, my two year old is fazing out the nap (wahh) and I needed the break during the afternoon stretch so a Crib Fort was invented.

I took a large comforter and threw it over the crib and my 2 and 4 year old LOVED it.

The Crib Fort was a hit.

They played in the crib under the blankets for over an hour.

I sat my butt in the rocker and rested. It was seriously the best and my kids had so much fun!

Make sure the blanket you pick is a big one because throw blankets may be a tad small and consistently fall off.

I did a full comforter and it was great. Depending on the blanket, it may get dark so you can add some flashlights or glow sticks to add to the activity as well!

Forts are great, but the crib fort was a new twist and a big hit with my boys!

Make and Play with Snow

Easy Fake Snow Recipe for Kids

The winter (or anytime really) can be long with little ones, especially when you can’t get outside.

When my youngest was really little is was so hard to get outside when it snowed when it was just me, and my older toddler was so anxious to play in it.

Sometimes it’s too cold to go out, it takes too long to get ready, or just too hard in general, that I’ve brought the snow inside.

I’ve scooped up snow from my deck, put it in a big container, and threw down some towels underneath. Viola— instant easy activity!

If you don’t have snow currently, or never get snow, you can totally make it.

I’ve made this recipe with my boys. Warning– it’s totally messy, but a big hit! Who needs real snow right?

Water Play in the Bath Tub

Getting an impromtu bath and water play can be a fun and easy way to break up the day.

I feel like my kids love getting in the bath when they don’t have to get clean, ha.

Sometimes I’ll even throw real toys (like legos) in the tub for them to play with. That’s so silly mom.

PLUS, throwing toys in the bath tub with the kids gets the toys clean so it’s a win win during flu season. And Ex

Big Box Play

Boxes are always a hit in my house. It’s like an extra perk of getting all those online orders 😉

There’s SO much to do with a box! I usually just put it down and see where the imagination goes!

When my son was really little, I would just put him in there with crayons and he was contained and having fun!

Sometimes I’ll participate or grab supplies, but usually I’ll have my kids lead the way when it comes to box play!

Playdough

Playdough is one of those activities that I always pull out when I need an extra few minutes to cook dinner, wash dinner, or just need a minute of quietness.

I usually opt for the easy option of store-bought play-doh with some tools to go with it, however, you can also make play dough too.

I’ve had a few Pinterest fails when it came to homemade playdough, but I know many people make it with no problems! Even better, you get an activity making it and then an activity with playing with it!

I just hope you have a little more luck with finding a great homemade play dough recipe– mine always comes out too sticky and messy! (I’ll link when I find a good one though!)

Play dough is such a fun and easy activity for indoor play. Make sure to tuck it away and use it on days you really need it to make play dough more fun.

Fun with Magnets

magnet tiles kid favorite toy

There’s so many different things you can do with magnets!

We have so much fun experimenting with them! We will use our fridge or baking pan as a base and see what will stick to it!

We use magnetic tiles a lot and it’s such a fun toy because it’s a magnet and a block!

My kids can play with Magnetic tiles for hours. It is probably the best investment toy in my house. They are a little pricey, but we’ve gotten soo may hours of play out of our magnetic tiles!

The best part is that the kids will usually play with these with little help from mom. Sometimes I’ll play and make things with them, but other times, they can play for quite awhile with them by themselves!

I’ll even put them on the fridge and have them play with magna-tiles while cooking dinner!

Magna-tiles can get a little pricey, we actually don’t have any of the original brand, but we do have a few knocks that work just as well!

picasso magnetic tiles for fun building activity for toddlers

We have Picasso tiles and PlayMags and another random brand. I like the PlayMags a tad better if they are the same price, but Picasso tiles and other brands are fine too!

The different brands also work fine together, I think as long as they look like they will work together, they will.

Magnetic tiles are also great to experiment with other magnetic to see what sticks to what!

Have a Picnic Indoors!

Can’t get outside? Have a picnic indoors!

My boys love to throw the blanket down in the kitchen and eat our snacks and/or lunch on it!

It such a great way to combine mealtime and playtime!

My boys love playing picnic and will usually initiate it too! They’ll grab a blanket and start thinking of ideas for food and things for our picnic!

It’s a super cute activity– and practical too!

Who needs to go outside when you have a picnic anywhere!

Dance Party!

There’s no better way to get all that energy out with a Dance Party!

My kids love when I turn on the music and just dance! It’s such a simple activity too and a great way to burn some energy!

Just turn on some music of your choice and have fun! You can also add some balloons, glow sticks, dance mats, etc. to make it extra fun!

Silly Obstacle Course

On days that you can’t simply get outside and there’s A LOT of energy to get out and a dance party won’t cut it, try making an indoor obstacle course.

Lay some pillows on the ground for them to jump over, a tunnel to go through, silly rope to go under, etc.

Some times I’ll tape construction paper shapes to the ground that they need to jump to and from, and it’s a hit with my 2.5 year old.

It’s great to get energy out when we can’t get outside!

I hope you find a few ideas to keep your kids busy while stuck inside! Enjoy!

You May Also Like: How to Keep Your Toddler Busy When You’re Exhausted

The Best Board Games for Preschoolers and Small Kids

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Best Board Games for Families, Kids, Preschoolers and Toddlers

Are you looking for the best board games to play with preschoolers and young children?

I love playing board games and game with my toddler and preschooler, and I love family game time as a family of four!

My youngest is 2.5 and there are some games that he loves to play too, although some games are better than others! My preschooler is the perfect age for board games and loves to play with us!

It’s such a fun and easy family activity with quality family time, and a lot of the games are a little educational too!

Here are my favorite board games for preschoolers and young kids:

*This post does contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy if you have any questions.

The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game

The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game is an award winning family favorite game!

It’s a great game that teaches fine motor skills and color matching and it’s just so fun too!

You basically need to collect the most acorns first to win! It’s a simple game, but it’s a lot of fun and great educational game without even knowing it!

My 2.5 year old is just getting the hang of it but it’s perfect for my 4.5 year old! We love playing this one as a family too!

For more information or to purchase The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game, please click here.

Banana Blast

Banana Blast was gifted to us and this game was an instant MEGA hit!

My 2.5 and 4.5 year old LOVED playing with this and my little one did pretty good at playing this!

You roll the dice and you try to sneak a banana from the monkey! Whoever gets the most bananas before he jumps, wins! You also try to catch that monkey to steal two bananas away to help you win the most!

Usually whoever catches that jump monkey, will usually win!

We sometimes get some sore losers, even my husband, but my kids can play with this for awhile all together!

Some great family fun for all!

For more information or to purchase Banana Blast, please click here.

Pop the Pig

Pop the Pig is a fun game, and perfect for little ones who are just getting into games! It was one of our first games!

Truthfully, we use Pop the Pig more as a toy than a game.

We feed him him burgers and when he gets full, he pops out! It’s super silly! My younger one loves this more than my almost 5 year old, so it’s a great beginner game!

It’s a great game to play casually and more like a toy if you’re little one is quite into board games yet too!

For more information or to purchase Pop the Pig, please click here.

Guess Who?

Guess Who? is a classic board game that I remember playing when I was little!

You need to make guesses to narrow down the person the other person picked, and to find the correct person first!

This is a two person game that my almost 5 year old is just getting into! I would say 5+ is good for actually playing the game and is too young for my little one, but my 5 year old and I have a little quality time together with this one!

For more information or to purchase Guess Who?, please click here.

Richard Scarry’s Busytown, Eye Found It Toddler Game

Oone of our favorite authors is Richard Scarry, and we love Busytown and it’s great to see the world in a board game!

Richard Scarry’s Busytown, Eye Found It! game has you racing around Busytown to find hidden objects!

We actually are gifting this game for our son’s fifth birthday after hearing so many positive reviews so I’ll post an update with my thoughts later when we play this as a family!

For more information or to purchase Richard Scarry’s Busytown, Eye Found It! game, please click here.

Zingo!

Zingo! is an award winning preschool game that is great for pre-readers and early readers.

Zingo! is basically Bingo with a Zing and a great way to learn sight words for preschoolers and young kids!

For more information or to purchase Zingo!, please click here.

I’ll add more as we find more family favorites too! What are your favorite board games for small children?

The 100 Best Baby Books Recommended by Moms

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100 Best First Baby Books and Children Books Recommended by Fellow Moms

There are SO many great baby and children books to add to any kid’s library!

There are also a lot of terrible books out there that makes you realize that you could write a children’s book better than some currently out there!

And there are A LOT of children’s books to choose from that is can be totally overwhelming!

However, here are a list of 100 books recommended by real life moms that are all-around family favorites to add to your home collection!

You’ll find a lot of these on many lists and you probably have a few of these already! You may also discover a few new ones! I know I have discovered a few new favorites already!

This post does contain affiliate links and I get a small percentage if you make a purchase (thank you!) but it can be on whatever, and don’t have any particular interest or stake in any book whatsoever.

The books are listed in no particular order, just how they were recommended and compiled.

You’ll notice a few from the same authors too– you can’t go wrong with anything from Eric Carle, Sandra Boynton, Nancy Tillman, Mo Williems, or Dr. Seuss + many other authors!

Here are 100 baby books and young children’s book to add to your home recommended directly from fellow moms!

100 Best Baby Book Suggestions:

  1. On The Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman
  2. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
  3. Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton
  4. The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
  5. Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
  6. The Fat Cat Sat on the Mat by Nurit Karlin
  7. You Are My I Love You by Maryann Cusimano
  8. Pajama Time by Sandra Boynton
  9. Time for Bed by Mem Fox
  10. Ten Tiny Toes by Caroline Jayne Church
  11. The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen
  12. Peek A Who by Nina Laden
  13. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
  14. I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti Shustak
  15. I Love You, Stinky Face by Lisa Mccourt
  16. Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
  17. Good Night, Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
  18. Snuggle Up Sleepy Ones by Claire Freedman
  19. How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen
  20. Night Night Farm by Amy Parker
  21. Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae
  22. I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug by Caroline B. Cooney
  23. If I Could Keep You Little by Marianne Richmond
  24. I’d Know You Anywhere, My Love by Nancy Tillman
  25. Goodnight Little One by Susan Larkin
  26. Gregory, The Terrible Eater by Mitchell Sharmat
  27. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
  28. Jamberry by Bruce Degen
  29. Richard Scarry’s Best Word Book Ever by Richard Scarry
  30. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
  31. The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Audrey Wood
  32. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
  33. The Belly Button Book by Sandra Boynton
  34. Olivia by Ian Falconer
  35. But Not the Hippopotamus by Sandra Boynton
  36. Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker
  37. Milk and Cookies by Frank Asch
  38. I’m A Dirty Dinosaur by Janeen Brian
  39. Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You by Nancy Tillman
  40. I’ve Loved You Since Forever by Hoda Kotb
  41. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
  42. The Napping House by Audrey Wood
  43. Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton
  44. My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss
  45. Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers
  46. Little Owl’s Day by Divya Srinivasan
  47. Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Eric Carle
  48. Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
  49. Hound from the Pound by Jessica Swaim
  50. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
  51. There is a Mouse in My House by Jeanne Dore
  52. It’s Time to Sleep, My Love by Nancy Tillman
  53. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
  54. Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
  55. God Gave Us You by Lisa Tawn Bergren
  56. Little Pookie by Sandra Boynton
  57. Starlight Sailor by James Mayhew
  58. Bear Takes a Trip by Sheila Blackstone
  59. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
  60. Never Touch A Shark by Rosie Greening
  61. Never Touch A Dinosaur by Rosie Greening
  62. If Animals Kissed Good Night by Ann Whitford Paul
  63. I Love to the Moon and Back by Amelia Hepworth
  64. Just Shopping with Mom by Mercer Mayer
  65. Where’s The Bear by Nosy Crow
  66. Moo Baa La La La by Sandra Boynton
  67. If You Give A Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
  68. The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith
  69. Don’t Push The Button by Bill Cotter
  70. Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
  71. Night-Night, Little Pookie by Sandra Boynton
  72. Hippos Go Berserk by Sandra Boynton
  73. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Williems
  74. Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
  75. The Belly Button Book by Sandra Boynton
  76. If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff
  77. Never Tease a Weasel by Jean Condor Soule
  78. Dr. Seuss’s ABC: An Amazing Alphabet Book by Dr. Seuss
  79. Peekaboo Kisses by Barney Saltzberg
  80. Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers
  81. Mama Loves You So by Terry Pierce
  82. Baby Beluga by Raffi
  83. Mary Had a Little Glam by Tammi Sauer
  84. Corduroy by Don Freeman
  85. Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? by Dr. Seuss
  86. My First 100 Words by Roger Priddy
  87. Dream Big, Little One by Vasti Harrison
  88. Noisy Baby Animals by Patricia Hegarty
  89. Llama Llama Nighty-Night by Anna Dewdney
  90. Me and My Dad! by Alison Ritchie
  91. Tubby by Leslie Patricelli
  92. Potty by Leslie Patricelli
  93. I Wish You More by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
  94. The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin
  95. Oh, The Thinks You Can Think! by Dr. Seuss
  96. The Shape of Me and Other Stuff by Dr. Seuss
  97. Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb by Al Perkins
  98. From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
  99. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
  100. Go The F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach

Also, don’t forget you can always reserve a few of these through your local library!

I know I’ve checked out a few books at the library and ended up buying them because my kids loved them so much!

It’s a great way to expose your baby to more books for free!

Also, check to see if your library does book sales– we’ve gotten a few children books for .25 each and the proceeds support the library! Win, win!

Amazon will also have book deals, usually around Prime Day in July and Black Friday week in November, as well as some other random times during the year,

Keep an eye out for all those great book deals to save money to help make a big collection of books!

What are your favorite first baby books and children books?

15 Christmas Traditions to Start With Your Family

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Annual Christmas Traditions to do every year with family and kids

The Christmas Season is full of memories and traditions and such a special time of year– especially when you have little ones!

Here are 15 ideas of Christmas Traditions to Start with your Family and enjoy every December:

*This post does contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy if you have any questions.

Count The Days ‘Til Christmas

Count down the days until Christmas with a fun calendar! Make your own calendar as a fun craft with the kids or buy a traditional advent calendar!

I buy the .99 chocolate advent calendars from Trader Joe’s because it’s easy.

However, there are a lot of non-food advent calendars that you can easily buy if you don’t want to give a piece of chocolate to the kids each day and don’t want to make one:

There’s also the Melissa & Doug Countdown to Christmas Wooden Advent Calendar or you could make your own advent calendar!

Here are 35 DIY Advent Calendar Ideas to give you some inspiration of ways of counting down ’til Christmas!

Find “The Elf” Every Morning

Elf on Shelf Relaxing in Florida Palm Trees on Vacation

The Elf on the Shelf is a fun tradition to do with the kids each year– one you probably didn’t have growing up yourself!

The Elf keeps an eye out for Santa and flies back to the North Pole each night and reports to Santa whether a child was naughty or nice.

The Elf will return in a new spot each night and kids love to find where the Elf ends up!

Some elves are VERY naughty and will get into mischief, but our elf is sort of boring. He usually just stays up high so my little ones aren’t tempted to touch him– since he can lose his flying magic if he is touched.

Here are 70+ creative Elf of the Shelf ideas for some inspiration of fun things to do with your Elf!

Send a Letter to Santa

Write and send a letter to Santa and let him know what you’d like for Christmas!

You can even use a free printable Santa Letter and just fill in the blanks if you have a young or timid writer!

While you are writing your letter to Santa, it’s a great time to make your Santa wish list– an annual tradition!

Make and Decorate Cookies for Santa

We leave out milk and cookies every year for Santa, but we also make and decorate the cookies together!

I usually do a big batch of sugar cookies on the 23rd and we will decorate it then or on Christmas Eve! We make the cookies from scratch and then use our holiday cookie cutters to make fun shapes!

We will then decorate the cookies together as a family! Sometimes when I host Christmas Eve, I’ll leave the cookies not decorated and have the kids decorate the cookies at the party as an easy activity! It’s a hit!

Making and decorating Christmas Cookies is a family favorite! We usually play Christmas music while we bake too!

Make a New Ornament Each Year

Easy Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments for an Annual Holiday Tradition

We try to make a new ornament together each year to put on the Christmas Tree!

We will also use make a few and give them out to family and friends as a fun present!

We’ve done Salt Dough Ornament for the first few years but I think as my kids become older and more engaged we will decide on an ornament craft together and do a new one each year!

It will be fun to look at back and see how our ornaments grow each year in skill as our kids grow!

Decorate the Christmas Tree Together

Christmas Music. Hot Cocoa. Christmas Tree Decorating!

I love decorating the Christmas Tree together as a family with Christmas music, hot cocoa and family!

We usually decorate the Christmas Tree and the inside of the house at the same time!

We love decorating the Christmas Tree together as well as putting some homemade ornaments on the tree too!

Read Christmas Books at Night

Switch out those nightly favorite books for Christmas books for the month of December.

I know some people have a tradition of having kids unwrap a book every day in the month of December leading up to Christmas.

We don’t do that specific tradition, but I try to break out the Christmas books that we do have and get some others at the library for a good variety.

Some favorite Christmas Books for kids are:

Also, don’t forget to check out your local library to check out Christmas Books to help save some money!

We always make sure to read The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve, but I pull out some Christmas Books for the season.

Decorate a Gingerbread House

My kids will usually decorate a Gingerbread House with Dad while I’m out Christmas shopping or doing something else!

I’ll usually just buy the Gingerbread House box kits at Michael’s or Trader Joe’s but maybe we will make better Gingerbread Houses when the kids are bigger!

Family Christmas Traditions to Start With Your Kids and Family

Take a Photo with Santa

We always try to take a photo with Santa… at least attempt it because with two little ones it doesn’t always happen perfectly– or at all!

We like to find free photos with Santa since we never know how they are going to go. Bass Pro Shops or a local event are good places to look for free photos with Santa– although Bass Pro Shops can have long lines, especially my local one.

A few malls near me, surprisingly, offer free photos with Santa so do some research to see if you can find a free option first! We did PetSmart one year too so our dog could come too!

It’s always fun to meet Santa– even if it doesn’t go perfectly!

Drive and search for Christmas Lights around Town

Make driving around and searching for Christmas Lights a family tradition!

Check the local paper and local boards to see if you can find recommendations of local Christmas light displays too!

We love watching the Christmas Light battles on TV too and wish we had some of these amazing displays in our neighborhood!

However, my kids are so little, they love all the lights and Christmas displays!

Visit an Annual Christmas Event in Your Town

Do you have a Town Christmas Tree Lighting? A Christmas Pageant? Toy Drive?

Find a fun Christmas event and do it every year as a family!

A store near us does a free Christmas display and we see it every year– we even meet Santa there!

Watch Christmas Movies as a Family

Stay in one night and watch a Christmas movie as a family!

You can watch the same Christmas movie each year or discover a new favorite each year!

Open a Gift on Christmas Eve

Family Christmas Eve Tradition: Open a present the night before with family

As a child, we always opened a gift on Christmas Eve and something I now do with my kids!

I will sometimes put a gift to the side for Christmas Eve if I have something in particular I’d like them to open– usually Christmas Pajamas! If I don’t have Christmas Pajamas, I’ll have them open a box of their choice– with some mom approval first.

I love opening a gift the night before Christmas is a favorite family tradition in our house!

Sponsor a Child in Need

If you can, consider sponsoring a child for Christmas and grant some wishes on their Christmas list!

You can also donate toys to Toys for Tots or a local charity to help make a Christmas a little brighter for a child!

We always looked for a “giving tree” at a local church, mall, etc. and selected a child and gift from the tree.

If you can’t sponsor a child, but want to give back this Christmas, you can make it a family tradition to volunteer at a soup kitchen as a family, wrapping presents at a toy drive, or another act of kindness.

Giving back during the Christmas season may be an annual tradition that you’d like to start as a family!

Put Baby Jesus out on Christmas Day

We had a Nativity set in our dining room growing up, and before we started the Christmas morning festivities, one of us would put out Baby Jesus and add him to the Nativity scene.

My kids are so little, I have the Fisher Price Nativity Set, and will upgrade when they can handle a more fragile set.

It was a family tradition that we did every year and it was a reminder what the holiday season was really about.

What Christmas Traditions do you do with your family each year?

You May Also Like: How to Watch Hallmark Christmas Movies Without Cable

Ways to Keep Your Toddler Busy When You Are Exhausted

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How to keep a toddler or kid busy when mom is sick, exhausted or need to get work done with easy kid activities

Are you looking for toddler activities to keep your kids busy when you are exhausted, sick, or just need to get stuff done?

I’ve been super sick lately and I have two little ones at home so it’s super hard to rest and watch toddlers as a stay at home mom.

If you are sick, exhausted or just need a break, here’s a few easy things to do while mom is sick:

*This post contains affiliate links, please see my disclosure policy if you have any questions.

Toy Rotation

Easy Toy Rotation for kid toys to stay organized and more toy play

I love not keeping every single toy out for instant play and instant messes and will rotate toys in my house.

Toy Rotation is just that… keep some toys and bins tucked away, and rotate toys for new ones. I keep big bins in the closet and will just take a bin for a day, and other times I’ll completely rotate the toys in our living room.

The nice thing about toy rotation is that “new” toys will appear. I feel like my kids will play with their toys longer when they haven’t seen them in awhile.

If they always see the same toys, and can access every single toy, they will play less. They get overwhelmed and bored. At least, I feel like that’s the case with my kids.

I like to keep totes in a closet and will take them out and rotate toys or even just pull out a toy or two when I feel like they need something else to keep them busy.

When I’m really tired, I’ll have “an ace” toy tucked away nearby and will bring it out when I need it. It’ll keep them busy, and the toy is “new”. It’s usually building related with my boys because they love to make and build things.

Fun building toys for toddlers and kids for easy kid activity

I also get overwhelmed less with toy rotation because I am looking at less toys myself and will do less pick up every night.

Also, there’s less dumping of every single toy in bins and then walking away to play with the coach cushions or something…

Highly recommend toy rotation or just keeping aside a few toys to keep playing with toys a little more exciting.

Easy Crafts

My Giant Busy Box for an easy craft activity for kids

We love to do crafts and creative things, but it can be exhausting to find the craft, set it up, assist and clean up.

I love craft kits when I need a break and want something easy to keep the kids entertained.

I’ll get some cheap stuff at Michaels, especially when the seasons are changing. They tend to have huge clearance sales for holiday items before the holiday is even over.

For example, I always go into Michaels around December 20th and grab a few last minute crafts for 75% off! I did the same for the fall, when it was still technically fall season– and there’s usually some craft kits to choose from!

I’ve also done the Alex Toys Busy Box. It’s nice when you want to do a craft, but don’t want to think about it or set it up. You can pull out a bag, and the craft is in the bag with all the supplies. It’s so nice and skips a few steps, especially when you are sick.

There’s also some super easy and mess-free crafts in the kit, like stick stickers on pizza, and then there’s more elaborate crafts that need some help and creativity. However, you can pick the craft in the kit based on your mood.

I love doing craft kits when the kids are exhausted because they usually keep them busy and there’s not too much to do on my end besides the occasional assisting or “ooh ahh”.

Big ‘ol Box

Yep. What toddler can resist a gigantic box?

Just grab markers, crayons, scissors, construction paper, glue, or nothing at all and see what amazing things can come out of a box.

That’s it, easy right?

My kids loves boxes of all shapes and sizes for creative play and self play! I don’t have to get involved at all with box play!

Just save those diaper boxes and random boxes for days you really need a break!

Magnetic Tiles

fun and easy toddler play with picasso magnetic tiles when mom is sick

My kids can play with Magnetic tiles for hours. It is probably the best investment toy in my house. They are a little pricey, but we’ve gotten soo may hours of play out of our magnetic tiles!

The best part is that the kids will usually play with these with little help from mom. Sometimes I’ll play and make things with them, but other times, they can play for quite awhile with them by themselves!

I’ll even put them on the fridge and have them play with magna-tiles while cooking dinner!

Magna-tiles can get a little pricey, we actually don’t have any of the original brand, but we do have a few knocks that work just as well!

picasso magnetic tiles for fun building activity for toddlers

We have Picasso tiles and PlayMags and another random brand. I like the PlayMags a tad better if they are the same price, but Picasso tiles and other brands are fine too! The different brands also work fine together, I think as long as they look like they will work together, they will.

Magnetic tiles are definitely my favorite toy and perfect for days that I’m exhausted and need to get things done because they get hours of play with them!

Sand Box

Sand Box for toddlers for easy outdoor play

If it’s nice weather, head outside. Digging in a sandbox can keep kids occupied for awhile!

If you don’t have a sandbox or the sandbox novelty has worn out, you can also add sand to a Tupperware bin and place some shovels, cups, or kitchen tools for some sand play!

You could also put kinetic sand or make cloud dough and create an indoor sand box if the weather isn’t cooperating.

Keep in mind, that it could get messy for indoor play. The first time I did cloud dough, I got two hours of self play and easy clean up. It was amazing. Next time, not so much. It can get messy real fast, depending on experience.

But a sand box outside or on the deck is perfect for days that you are exhausted!

big pile of dirt at construction birthday party for kid activity to keep toddlers busy

We also went to an construction birthday party with a big pile of dirt and my kid was digging in that for two hours straight.

My son totally ignored the huge brand-new sand box and went straight for the dirt pile, so if the sandbox novelty has worn out, go for the good stuff.

Anyone need a big pile of dirt delivered?

Spark Kitchen Sink

Guys, water comes out when you turn on the play sink, just like a real sink. And you don’t have to stand at a sink with your kid for 10 minutes or waste water!

You put water on the bottom and the pump will bring up the water and it keeps recycling through the water.

My kids love it. It’s the Spark Kitchen Sink with a WORKING FAUCET.

Just be forewarned though, it doesn’t last terribly long. The pump actually lasted longer for us than others, but it won’t last forever. I think it lasted around a year for us, with on and off play. But I do know someone who’s pump broke within a few days of play.

The sink will also randomly start working again for a few minutes after not working for months, and then die again.

But for $15, you should get your money back pretty quickly in babysitting money.

My son played with this FOR HOURS.

Especially if you have a water/sink lover on your hands.

Just make sure to put a big towel underneath it, as it gets a little wet and messy, but not terribly so. Or just bring it outside if it’s nice out.

The Spark Kitchen Sink is a Walmart exclusive and available for $14.88, but you can find it on sites like Amazon too, but you will be paying more than retail for it.

You can find a knock-off version at Burlington Coat Factory, T.J. Maxx, etc. call Just Like Home Kitchen Sink and it’s a similar price, if you can’t find the spark one or would rather shop in stores.

There’s also the Little Tikes Splish Splash Sink and Stove for $20, and the pump works a tad differently, but I heard that it’s also a hit!

All three sinks were really hard to find two Christmases ago, but I think they are a little easier to find now.

The sink is definitely a hit and a great investment for $15-$20 since your little one should engrossed for awhile with this one!

Toys in the Tub

Toys in the tub… with no water. That’s so silly mom.

The Tub is a great go-to when you are exhausted and just want them to stay in one place for more than 5 minutes.

Throw them in the tub, put some toys that shouldn’t be there, and viola!

If your up for it, you can also add water for some longer fun.

You could even throw those toys in their for a silly bath time or put their bathing suits on and “go to the beach” if it’s been a long day or long winter.

I also like to throw toys in during the day for a bath because:

  1. It’s fun and silly
  2. It keeps the kids extra busy
  3. The toys get clean (!!!)

Using the bath during the day with or without water is a great activity that can keep the busy for a long time with minimal effort. You just have to stay in the bathroom with them for this one.

Time Consuming Snacks

annies fruit roll ups for an easy time consuming snack for kids

Those Apple Pouches are great. They are quick, healthy, and great in a pinch. They are great for on-the-go and in a rush as they don’t take too much at all!

I love the apple pouch but sometimes we need the exact opposite. The all-time consuming snack.

The snack that takes forever. The snack that your entertain your kids for awhile. The kind of snack that keeps them busy so you have a break.

My kids are eating that snack right now as I type this. I am sitting at my kitchen table and the kids are around and eating a time consuming snack. We are on about 20 minutes. It’s lovely.

There are many different options, but today I did food + activity + motor skills.

Crackers + Peanut Butter + Do It Yourself.

I give my kids a (safe) butter knife, crackers, and peanut butter and they love making peanut butter sandwiches. They are also learning motor skills as they are buttering the crackers themselves.

It’s not terribly messy either– a little messy, but manageable.

They keep themselves busy + I’m getting work done.

If we are on the go and need to keep them busy on an airplane, waiting area, etc. I’ll pick a less messy time consuming snack like fruit roll-ups or something.

What are your favorite time consuming snacks! I need some more ideas!

Don’t Wake The….

Don’t wake the {insert favorite animal or mystical creature}

We usually play Don’t Wake The Lion and I am (Mom) the Lion. I lay on the floor in blankets and pillows (cozy) and I’m a lion. Anytime the kids come near and try to uncover my blanket, I let out a big ROAR.

You can do this fun little lazy game with whatever you want. I’m usually a lion because my kids love ROARING, but you could be a big bear, pirate, dragon, or whatever your kids would like best.

You can even hid a little treat, treasure, or toy to make it more enticing and have them try to get the treat from the lion.

We get a few giggles out of it and I get to lay down in blankets and pillows without doing too much, but I still feel like I’m still bonding and having fun with my kids even if I feel terrible.

It’s silly, fun and lazy fun all at the same time!

Reading, Puzzles and Games

puzzles for toddlers for easy play and learning on the couch

This is one that you need to be present for, but great if you are sick and exhausted because it’s very low energy.

We sit on the couch and we read books. We do will do puzzles together and play board games and silly games.

I like to do things that I can sit on the couch and rest but I can still engage and do fun things with them.

Big picture books, magazines, maps, calendars, and baby pictures of themselves also do well as they like to look at different things! We can open up a big map and point to things on a map or talk about the numbers or pictures on the calendar.

It keeps them busy and intrigued, and I get to sit on the couch.

Behold The Novelty

whisk a toy that keeps a baby busy

All Hail The Novelty. You know that item that super random item that will keep your kid busy forever for that moment in time and then they will never see or play with it again.

The novelty item is just a great way to keep a kid busy when you are exhausted or really sick.

Some you would never even give your kids on a regular basis but you are exhausted for some peace in quiet. A novelty item is great for this.

Not all novelty items are not the same and may work again, and some will just never work for your children, because all kids are different.

Here are a few “novelty items” that worked for my kids:

  • Flashlights
  • Keys
  • Balloons
  • Slinky
  • Spin Tops (Grampy usually brings one to restaurants & keeps them busy)
  • Light or Glow Sticks (be careful if you have a biter)
  • Contact Case (just be careful with this one since it’s so small)
  • Tupperware with lots of covers and lids
  • Ice Cream Scoop, Pans, Rolling Pin, etc.
  • Whisk (you can put pom poms in it for more curiosity)
  • Spray Bottle
  • The Big Toy Book (I grabbed a few a Target at Christmas time to bring out

Let me know what your favorite novelty items are and have worked well for you– I need more!

And The Screen

screen time for kids with an iPad when mom or dad is sick

Since this is a post about parenting while exhausted, a screen like TV or an iPad will keep those little ones entertained while you rest.

I personally try to limit screen time, but when I’m sick, those limits go out the window.

TV and movies keep my boys still and entertained while I rest.

We usually stick to PBS programming like Curious George or Daniel Tiger because they learn some stuff and they’re household favorites.

We also watch some music programming like The Wiggles because sometimes they’ll dance and let some energy out!

I try not to feel too guilty about letting them watch a lot of TV and movies when I need it, because it keeps them safe and entertained. They are also little and won’t watch TV all day since they can never stay still for that long!

Some days are packed with stuff and a screen never turns on, and other days, screens are on more than usual. I think it all balances out in the end.

When you are completely exhausted, a little screen time is an easy activity that will keep them busy and entertained.

What are some things you do when you need to watch the kids when you are sick or completely exhausted?