Since I'm reaching the tail end of the pregnancy, (five weeks left!) it's getting very unpleasant to run around town with P. We've been having more inside days until the hubs gets home. I've put together a list of fun activities we like to do that get us both interacting and learning together.
I do want to say though, that something that is really important to me is making sure Penelope is independent. To really foster that independence I make sure I'm not spending my entire day entertaining her. It can really feel like that's your job when your staying at home with kids...that your supposed to entertain them all day. But I've learned to set aside sections of the day for me and Penelope time and REALLY be present. No phone checking, thinking of how much I'd rather/should be doing xyz etc.
Another thing with all this play is I never tell her "how" to play. Like when she's painting and she decides to use the other end of the paint brush. Or when we are doing tea parties, I don't come up with what we're doing or eating. I follow her lead. I love watching how creative she can get and I really don't want to show her that there is a right or wrong way to play. It's just how creative she wants to get with her imagination and I'm there for the ride.
Cookie makin'
So here's a list of some really fun stuff that she loves:
PAINTING - Get washable paint!
LETTER TIME - To learn her letters I'll grab her foam bath letters (5 or 6 at a time) and bring them over to her chalkboard. We'll play find the letter I name, then I draw a big version of the letter and a little version. We'll go over what sound the letter makes and what words start with that letter.
COOKING TOGETHER - She likes to rinse the veggies and stir the pot. I always talk her through what I'm doing and what all the ingredients are.
COLORING - Coloring books, chalkboard coloring
STORY TIME - I let her pick the books, many times I read the same one like 80 times at P's request
DANCE PARTY - She literally is a dancing queen so I usually turn on a toddler radio station and try my best to pregnant waddle for a good while.
TEA PARTY - Her newest obsession. She brings out her dolls and we have a party full of cupcakes and oatmeal and chicken. Lol this is the food she is "making".
PUZZLES - We have a couple that we use, they are both educational but it really isn't about finishing it. I just sit with her and talk to her while she tries to figure out the process.
BATH TIME - I love taking baths with her but jeez our bathtub is so small, it doesn't happen as often as I'd like. But she LOVES it.
LEGO BUILDING - More like I build and Penelope crushes it. Or steals my building and tries to build...and crushes it.
PLAYING CATCH - She actually loves playing catch. So we can do this for a good while.
FORT HOUSE - Break out all the blankets and pillows and I play with her on the floor of her little fort.
HIDE AND SEEK - She still isn't understanding hiding from me...so I have to run and get away from her in time to hide. She absolutely loves it though.
I really don't believe in TV everyday for kids. I think we've gotten by for so many years before TV's were invented and children are better for it. She does watch it, but like 2-3 times a week at most. So the days we are inside we do fun activities together and the rest of the day she has to use her imagination. The best and most creative things happen when she's bored!
