Home All Day with 10 Mo. Old Son and We Are BORED. Activity/toy Suggestions??

I so remember those days!

At that age, even grocery shopping or heading to the mall is a fun activity for the baby. They get to check out the world and other people from the safety of their stroller or the cart, and it will be a nice change of scenery for the both of you. Some malls also have play areas or bookstores with a children's section, and they're great places to head during the hot part of the day in the summer. I think we were at Target at least twice a week at this stage, lol. Along the same lines, a quick trip to the pet store is also fun since baby will love to see and maybe touch the animals.

Some would think since the baby can't read, the library wouldn't be an option, right? Wrong! Your local library probably has some story times and maybe even a small play area in the children's section (I know ours has puzzles, toys, activity tables, and even a small slide).

I agree with the others, joining a MOPS (stands for mothers of preschoolers - but it's from birth+) or local Mother's Club is very fun and beneficial for the baby AND for mommy. You get to meet other moms in the same stage of parenthood and life, and the baby gets to interact with other babies/kids (or just watch and parallel play at this age). As he grows, it will be a great outlet for home playgroups, playground trips, etc... and you both will probably make some great friends.

As far as toys, push toys or simple riding toys (NOT motorized) can entertain them for hours as they're learning to walk and move. My almost-3-year-old still hops on his riding toys every once in awhile. Also, shape sorters or any bucket/container that the baby can put small objects into and then dump out will be popular. My little ones also liked the FP Learn & Groove table and similar (noisy!) toys that they could hold onto and push buttons and all that. They kept their attention until at least 18 months or so. Blocks that can be stacked and knocked over are pretty much universal. When mommy makes a tower, baby can knock it over and clap. Soon, he'll be the one making the towers.

Other simple activities would be bubbles, playing in sand (outside), playing with measuring cups/spoons/pans while you make dinner (the plastic container cupboard is almost always empty at my house because the kids love playing with them), reading books, playing hide & seek or peek-a-boo, etc...
Everything is educational at this age, so just be creative and have fun :) The boredom will pass. He will probably get some new toys for his first birthday, and he will also start exploring more and keep mommy on her toes!

Hopefully my suggestions are age approriate, my little one is 20 months and how quickly I forget what it's like when they are younger!

It's summer there right? So how about:

Going to the park for the swings and slide
Playing in the sand with bucket, spade, shovel
Filling up a baby pool with water to splash in
Throw in some cups for pouring, watering can, balls
Feed the ducks
Go to the zoo
Have a picnic

I also agree with Bethany, a playgoup will be fun for both of you!

1 thing that can be easy to forget : You are not an "entertainment machine", and everday life is *exciting* for small children. So MOST IMPORTANTLY go about your daily life just bringing him with you. But provide a soundtrack/narration of your life. ALSO, don't forget that "Boredom Breeds Creativity"

That said... some of this is everyday life schtuff, and some of this is definitely "entertainment":

- Laundry. We'd dump all the clothes on the floor and throw them into piles sorting them. Dark, light, red, white, lacy. Then he'd get to take the pile we were washing and help throw the clothes into the machine. He'd help pour in the soap. ClickClickClickClick! of the dial. He LOVED to "Bang! Big Noise!" the lid shut.

- Putting clothes away. "What's BLUE? Lets find the BLUE shirts. Where's grey? Where are the GREY pants? UNDER the tan shorts! Oh boy! Yellow shirt! Mommy loves her yellow shirt! On the hanger it goes. Let's OPEN the drawer. Let's open the BOTTOM drawer. 1 shirt, 2 shirts, 3 shirts, 4 shirts.... 1 pair of jammies, 2 pairs of jammies, 3 pairs of jammies oooh! this one has YELLOW STARS. Where are the jammies with the ROCKETS? That's 4 pairs of jammies. Where are my socks??? (socks on my head) I can't find my SOCKS? Oh you FOUND them. Socks don't belong on HEADS!!! Silly socks. Socks belong on FEET. Oops not THESE socks. These socks go in the TOP drawer. Which is the TOP drawer? etc ad nauseam .

- Cooking. Infants can't help that much. But they can help make a mess ;) And in "serious" frames of mind can help stir things, rip up lettuce, push the button down on the toaster.

- Cleaning. Again, they're not much help, but it's a fun game. But at about a year they can wipe things up, and they can hold dustpans, and they can help put all their toys away (esp if you make it a running/throwing game. If you're vacuuming they can help get everything up off the floor and they can help push.

- Daytime baths. In hot weather kiddo was in the bath maybe 5 times a day. ALSO until he was about 2 we didn't use a tub. We used a BIG plastic bucket with rope handles. I filled it up so that the water was bellybutton level, added bubbles, and drug it around the house with me while I cleaned and he played. In the summer I filled it with cool/lukewarm water. Joy. Also, I'd sometimes fill it and set it next to the couch and read or watch a movie while he poured water back and forth, back and forth.

- Reading adult books. while kiddo was an infant (preverbal) I'd sometimes just read MY books out loud. Obviously not horror or romance ;) There's more language understanding going on than they can imitate. But that way We'd get cuddle time, & I'd get some good reading in. Also, the BIGGEST trick anyone ever gave me about reading to kids was to "read stuff YOU liked". So in picking out kid books... that's what I did. If I didn't like a kid book, it didn't get bought. (We spent a LOT of time at Barnes & Nobel when kiddo was a baby/toddler. In part as something fun to do, in part because I read each and every children's book before I bought it (I like about 1 in 8 come to find). They also usually have a "Thomas the Train" set for kids to play with.

- Make a room a "gym". We turned our living room into a gym. Tunnel to crawl through, things to jump off of (the couch and the chair... he learned very quickly that there are "different rules for different places" AND "ask first". Even before he could talk, he could ask by pointing and looking hopeful.

- Pots + Pans = DRUMS :) :) :) Of course, I have high noise tolerance

- Empty Pringles Chip Tubes + beans + tape for the lids are WAY too entertaining. Shaken, rolled, thrown, etc.

- Montessori schtuff. A BIG part of early montessori is "every day life". Stacking things, zippers, buttons, pouring. For some ideas... here're some links:
http://www.montessoriforeveryone.com/
http://www.nienhuis.com/index.php

If I were you, I would probably find out if there are any moms clubs in your area and sign up. They usually have a lot of fun mom and child-friendly outings and you can sign up for one of their playgroups, which will be good for both you and your son. Another plus to joining a moms club is that, at least the ones that I had been involved in, usually have a monthly mom's night out.

Hope this helps.

Find a Gymboree or other Mommy and Baby class and join now! It was SUCH a lifesaver for me! I joined when my son was about 8 months old. I met some great M.'s that I still hang out with them now (my son is 3). It was great to get out and do something fun with him and have some adult talk with other M.'s. Now we get together every friday to do something all together. And usually one or two days during the week we will go to each others homes. Another idea is the mall. My son LOVES the water fountains and the play areas. Plus, our mall has a carosell and train, so there is plenty to keep him entertained.

I am not sure of things to do at home with him, but there are lots of things you can do away from home. I would suggest any library programs offered in your area. Most will have a lap sit program where they do songs, books, and otehr activities with babies and toddlers. I have been to many in Louisville and they have all been great. My boys have been going since they were a couple months old and love it. Also if you are in Louisville the Speed Art Museum has a kids place called Art Sparks downstairs that is really awesome. I think its five dollars a person. Great for preschool kids and tey have a seperate room for toddlers and babies. I am sure there are a ton more but can't think right now. I would suggest joing a mom's group. There are several on yahoo. I am not sure about the area you live in but if you search yahoo groups for moms groups you might find something. In Louisville you can find some super groups and meet some super moms. I am part of the south louisville moms group and we do playdates, go to the zoo and things together, and have moms nights occasionaly. We also let each other know about events in the the area. Good luck and treasure your time he want be little for long. .

If you do not mind messy things let him paint with pudding on the table or high chair, get an underbed box, fill with water, dry noodles, or anything you have around the house that would be safe for him, let him play with buckets, measuring cups, trucks etc... (If you do water I suggest putting a plastic barrier like an old shower curtain, large trash bag cut open etc... down first then a blanket down on the tiled floor. Also remember that water is heavy so keep that in mind for dumping it out reasons. If you have a deck or yard that you can use that would be good also.

Also switch the toys/books out. When he has not seen them for a while then it is like getting a new one.

Why not sign up for a class at your local YMCA, Gmyboree, etc? He's getting to the age where he'd probably enjoy the company of other "babies" and the toys and games they have. With Fall coming up, lots of people are likely to be registering for something to do while their bigger kids are at school.

You can take him swimming, to library story time, etc. I know we have a resource here in IL called "Oaklee's Guide". It gives a list of free activities and events as well as other kids appropriate places like the zoo, children's museums, etc. Perhaps there is a Mom's group in your area? We have several of those too - they plan outings and playdates for a small annual fee to join.

For us, we try to get out in the am - do our activities, then are home in the afternoons for naps, making dinner, etc. I think that getting out in the morning teaches them to get their energy out so we can relax and play at home/in the backyard in the afternoons while the baby naps.

I hope these suggestions help you.

JOIN A PLAYGROUP!!! I havn't yet, but I am making sure that my kids have constant playdates. I'm currently looking for the right playgroup for us and I can't wait!

Babies love to play in water. I had a small blow up baby pool that I put about an inch or two of water in and threw in some measuring cups, bath toys, sponges, etc my daughter had so much fun with that. Also, I bought her a water table and she still loves that thing. I bought her the Step2 one that is fairly simple without a lot of bells and whistles and the legs come off. You could get that and leave the legs off it until your son gets a L. taller. Or, instead of spending money on a water table, you could just fill up a big bowl and sit it in front of your son and let him play.

Sorry, I saw that you mentioned it is too hot outside. In the winter, I would throw a beach towel down on the kitchen floor and let my daughter play with a bowl of water that way.

I did not read your responses, so some of this may be repeat of earlier posts.

Look up MOPS groups in your area. (mothers of preschoolers) It is a great group that meets either once a week or once a month and he will get to interact with other kids his age and you will get some mommy time with adults.

Try a local library...they usually have story time and activities.

Buy a membership to the Nashville zoo and go there on nice days and have picnics.

Hope this helps.

Jen

Many have suggested a moms group, and organizing one here in my town has been a lifesaver for me! Check www.meetup.com to see if there's one near you! :)

Try taking a parent tot swim class at your local pool. I'm from California and live in a city where it gets really hot in the summer and at our local pool they have a swim class for you and your baby... It's the cutes thing ever!! I take my 4yr old to the pool everyday and see these parents in the pool with little baby's in swim wear, they are too cute!!! It's also fun for the both of you.