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You are here: Home / Newsletter / 74 Week / Keep your Toddler Busy at Play

Keep your Toddler Busy at Play

January 11, 2007 by Paul Banas Leave a Comment

Taking care of children is a high-stress job. Parents realize this today as they deal with their toddlers’ curiosities, their wishful natures and their short attention spans. So it’s quite understandable when things get very frustrating. One simple and positive solution to this problem involves an approach through play. As a parent, you will find that learning to play with your children quickly yields its positive benefits:


  • Children can retain their own independence as they increase their learning.

  • Parents gain some much-needed opportunities to tend to other responsibilities.
Children are endowed with a natural sense of curiosity and are always fascinated about how things work. Using just a bit of ingenuity, you can turn this natural advantage into a learning opportunity for your children. Here, then, are some tips to keep your tiny tots busy and happy everyday:


  • Treasure Hunt: Empty their favorite stuff into a cabinet. The kids can use it retrieve their treasures and even to play hide and seek

  • Construct a tent: Use chairs and a sheet to make them a tent where they can read and sleep.

  • Clay Time: Spread a plastic tablecloth on the floor and provide homemade play dough in their favorite colors and don’t forget the plastic cookie cutters.

  • Break Time: Make sure the kids get periodic breaks and get some private time with you .

  • Snack alert: It is always better to have small snacks readily available if your kids get hungry. Make up paper bags full of raisins, pretzels, dried fruit, or other healthy treats.
All the while, you need to look out for cues as to what they want and transform the playtime around their desires. This gives children a sense of control and guarantees the best results.

In case you haven’t, childproof your children’s playroom. It is essential that you provide a safe and healthy environment for your children to play in.

Filed Under: 74 Week

About Paul Banas

Paul Banas is happy married dad of two great kids living in San Francisco. He writes now about kids, new technology and how the two interact for GreatDad.com and for Pregnancy Magazine (pregnancymagazine.com) where he is also the publisher.

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Great Dad Talks is a series of conversations with experts on all aspects of the family adventure. With the perspective that “dads don’t always think like moms,” our mission is to support dad voices and our slightly different approaches to parenting. We’ll try to find solutions to every day challenges like getting kids off the couch and making STEM classes available for both boys and girls. But we’ll also tackle bigger issues when they come. The one main theme will be to support dads in the most important role of their lives that of being a great dad. Connect with us at greatdad.com and watch the video version of these podcasts at YouTube.com/greatdadnews

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