It doesn’t cost a lot of money to have fun with your child. I’m serious. I feel they are the least expensive at this age to entertain. There are playgrounds, picnics and free classes around your town. Finger painting, chalk and (my favorite) dance parties are fun at home!
When she was a baby, I’d lay Lauralie on her changing table mat and play toddler songs. She’d kick her feet and give big smiles as I clapped my hands and made silly faces with her. It was my favorite part of the day! Now that she’s two, we have dance parties at home and in the car. She loves it. What kid doesn’t enjoy the hokey pokey and some Disney classics?!
Lauralie is an only child so I love taking her to the playground to interact with other children. We pack some snacks and she rides the swings and slides down the slides until her heart is content. And she makes a friend or two depending on her mood.
A lot of indoor play programs offer a free class. They are usually called “free play” and they last about an hour or so. I recommend trying different locations and seeing all the options that are available. Find one that both you and your child are comfortable with. I take her to those as well and she does a great job. We haven’t found one that we absolutely love, but we have plenty of time! For now, her home base is on Sundays at her and her father’s church. She loves to “praise Jesus” (as she says) with the other children!
I purchased a water table for her when she was about 1 and a half. It’s not something I would’ve thought about had I not saw one in the store. It keeps her content on the patio while enjoying the Florida sunshine. Bubbles are definitely another favorite that is easy and fun for toddlers.
This may seem wild, but learning to paint her nails has taught her patience and concentration. She practices her colors and takes her time when painting her nails and mine. Lauralie knows she has to blow her nails and lay them out so they can dry. She enjoys the process because her end result is pretty nails.
She has a mini ball pit that she’s had since she turned 1 that my best friend gave her for Christmas. Now that she’s older, we use the balls to practice our colors and counting. It’s also fun for hide and seek! Blocks are a big hit right now. She likes to see how tall she can stack them until they fall down and she repeats the process.
Chores that seem boring to us adults can be fun for kids! Picking out the colors and counting the fruits and vegetables at the grocery store for example. Or helping separate laundry and cleaning up can all be turned into a fun activity. It just takes a little thinking outside of the box along with a smile!
The Whitest Black Girl 