Dog Bathing Time

Toddler ages: 26 months, 26 months, 3.5 years

Materials you'll need:
-a plastic tub
-dog soap
-a dirty dog

It helped to have the help of the 15-year-old girl. And the twins had more fun watching than they did actually washing.

Here they are...

Thanks for listening!

Mud Puddle Time

Toddler ages: 26 months, 26 months, 3.5 years

Materials you'll need:
-a mud puddle

This is self-explanatory, but if you would like the details on where we were when the 3 three and under were getting this dirty, go HERE.

If you would like to know what we ate when the 3 three and under were getting this dirty, go HERE.

Here we go...

Flower Gardening Time

Toddler ages: 26 months, 26 months, 3.5 years

Materials you'll need:
-6-pack transplants
-1 small shovel per toddler
-pots
-potting soil

This activity was so fun, probably because I was the one taking the pictures, not digging in the dirt. Hope you have fun, too!

If you get too hot, you can do this...

So pretty, but get ready to get your hands dirty!

Clean-Up Time

Toddler ages: 26 months, 26 months, 3.5 years

Materials you'll need:
-wash rags

Directions: Just dampen a wash rag and let your toddlers clean what their hearts desire. Mine love to do this...



....and I hope yours do, too!

Football Time

Toddler ages: 25 months, 25 months

Materials you'll need:
-as many footballs as you have toddlers

...and I say this, because we only had one, and definitely could have used more. Even so, there were many moments of fun. Check it out...

First of all, it helps if you have a beautiful park two blocks from where you're visiting...



...and to have two teenage helpers who are on vacation for Spring break...



The two teenagers both have great arms and were able to throw the football very far across the park, after which the twins chased it for more than half an hour...



Twin A tired long before Twin B did, and came and sat with me at the picnic table as I nursed the newborn...



This is definitely something we will be doing again, but with two footballs! Thanks for listening.

Swing Time

Toddler ages: 25 months, 25 months, 3.5 years

Materials you'll need:
-a park with as many swings as you have toddlers

First of all, if you have a newborn, make sure he is well-protected from the sun...

Okay, now it's time for the fun...

And now for a tip. If your toddler can find a friend to push him, it will be all the easier for you...

Stop and Go Sign Time

As you've probably noticed, I've been away for a while taking care of our new baby! And now, just as things are starting to settle down, Dad went and took the 3 three and under on a 5-day trip, so they won't be available for blogging fodder for a while.

Thank goodness I'm friends with Quirky Momma over at quirkymomma.com, who has agreed to be a guest poster here at TV-Free Toddler Time! Thank you so much for your help, Quirky Momma, and I can't wait for my 3 three and under to return so we can try this!

Here we go!

STOP AND GO SIGNS

This is a super simple activity I remember playing when I was a kid. Basically, we created a stop/go sign and one person got to be "in charge". When the sign said go we ran around like crazy banshees! When it said stop, we'd stop. Super simple! Kept them entertained for quite awhile. I even got a morning "quiet time" as a result of all our running! I have some resting preschoolers this morning.
...

What you need to make your sign:

• Paper towel roll (I think we used the insert from our Aluminum Foil)
• Paper Plates
• Stapler (to attach the plates to the roll)
• Markers

Learning Applications:

• Following directions - mix it up. Try going on all fours, or only walking backwards during the "go" time, or jumping, whatever, let the leader use their imagination!
• Recognition of sight words: Go & Stop. These will be helpful at stop signs and the like.
• Practice looking both ways when the "stop" sign changes to "go". Pretend you are on a street. I have my kids hold hands when we are in a street or parking lot.
  
  
  
  

This was a fun way to reinforce the "how-we behave around cars" behavior.

For more from Quirky Momma, check out her activity blog HERE. Thanks for listening!