Keeping Toddlers Occupied

Updated on June 10, 2013
C.H. asks from New York, NY
11 answers

My husband and I are about to spend 10 days in a hotel with 18 month old twins and I am filled with dread. Unfortunately this isn't a holiday but will be our home while we move house so it's going to be a stressful time. Any ideas what we can do to keep our twins occupied and calm during this transitional period? My head is spinning at the moment so even the most obvious ideas will be gratefully received x

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So What Happened?

It's been hell! We have another 3 nights in the hotel but their routine is so out of whack that it's not been easy at all. They soon got bored of their toys we brought and although they enjoyed the zoo and seeing friends you can tell they are confused with what's going on. Another thing is they are not impressed with hotel food so it's been hard feeding them. I guess they like good ol' home cooking.
We will be in our new home by the weekend though and hopefully things should settle down. Thanks for all your tips, I think we have tried every one except swimming as sadly where we are staying doesn't have one.

Featured Answers

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❤.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Bring a stroller that accomodates both of them. Take them for walks & to
walk inside the nearby mall.
Let them play on the indoor mall playgrounds.
Google places to take babies of that age in that area.
Bring new toys & mats for them to play on in the hotel.
Bring blocks & their fave toys.
Bring mats for them to play on the ground in the hotel.
Buy infant lifejackets so you can them to the pool & let them float w/you
holding them one at a time or one for each you and hubby.
It will be okay.
Take them for walks in their stroller around the hotel.

3 moms found this helpful

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P.K.

answers from New York on

It is summertime. Do things with them everyday outside. Use hotel for naps and night time. Go to park, zoos, visit friends, visit family, take walks, picnics, children's museum, library programs. take advantage of this time. When will you have 10 days free again with your kids.

6 moms found this helpful

A.J.

answers from Williamsport on

This could actually be fun believe it or not. Don't forget that lots of cities have families permanently living in very tiny apartments. Have a few toys, but don't let the room get completely jammed up with them. A nice little bin is enough and see what unfolds. Get out for walks. Let them run in the hall sometimes while teaching them to be quiet. When my son was 18 months I was on bed rest for almost two months during difficult pregnancy in my mom's tiny house. My son and I spent most of the time in an RV in the driveway. It was small with not much for hi to do, but he was fine in the environment and got used to it. His sister (4) adapted too. They had to be quiet and not touch a lot of trinkets when in my grandma's room or mom's house...it was a good learning experience. I've also let my kids run in hotel halls at that age with no screaming allowed. It's a good opportunity to teach "no" for touching the AC unit and lamp cords and phone etc. Pretend it's a little apartment and hang in there-good luck! Honestly they just like climbing on and off the beds the best. That never seems to get old.

4 moms found this helpful

R.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

In addition to keeping them occupied with outside activities, I just saw the best idea for quiet playing, make blocks out of pool noodles! Building/playing with blocks develops fine motor skills, and encourages creativity and problem-solving skills, the genius of these is they're quiet, if they're dropped or thrown no harm, no foul, no noise, less stress for all :)

http://www.thecraftyblogstalker.com/2013/05/what-can-you-... - they're pictured about 8 ideas down.

And, you can toss them in the tub for a water ball pit, too. They'll still be usable once you return home, use a large tote to store and carry them, and if you have access to dollar stores in NY, (here in SoCal we have Dollar Tree), you can buy a bundle for $10 or so.

3 moms found this helpful

K.G.

answers from Portland on

I feel you.I have twins and while we were moving it was not easy.What we did is we went to the mall and we had my sons play in the play place.They soon fall asleep.Have them play with toys.Bring a lot they don't have a long attention span.Have them go to the pool with your husband and you.Have some fun with them in the day,then they will fall asleep easily! Play some games with them.Just do normal things you would do normally at home.

Have fun:)

3 moms found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

I would find the closest playground and visit it once a day.

If the hotel has a pool, when your husband comes home, play in the pool.

If the hotel has a ball room that s not being used, ask if the kids can run around in there.

I agree also about look around for libraries or book stores that may have a story time.. Visit a children's museum, a zoo.., farmers market, Always take drinks, a sack lunch and and a snack.. it will save you a ton of money.

2 moms found this helpful
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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Stay in the room at night time and go do normal stuff during the day. Eat a bowl of cereal and some fruit for breakfast unless they have a hot breakfast. Then go to the local library for kids time, find other activities that are going on that are free. Find a local splash pad or kiddy pool where they can run amok and play. Get a DVD player and some of their favorite movies. Do movie and popcorn after dinner. It helps them stay calm and ready for bed.

Go to a local mall and walk around window shopping. Make it a special treat by stopping in someplace they love for a snack.

I watched my friends kids for 3 days while they moved. It was a lot of fun. If you're moving within the same town surely you have some friends that would take the kiddo's for an extended play date during the day. Then you can spend some time planning where stuff is going to go. That's always fun.

2 moms found this helpful

C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

We would unplug the phone when our kids were tiny and they loved playing pretend making phone calls on it. We'd let them play in the bath for a long time. Definitely an outing every day - get those kids out to playgrounds, pools, whatever is nearby to have them run around. Take turns - one of you doing moving work while the other one takes the kids somewhere to let them get exercise. Good luck!

2 moms found this helpful
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B.A.

answers from Minneapolis on

The key is to keep them busy. Have a schedule. Breakfast, outing, lunch, nap, active place outside of the hotel, back for dinner, then a walk, back for bath and bedtime. They will be active and you will have to find places for their energy. Find local library, parks, malls if the weather is not good.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.L.

answers from Cleveland on

just plain filling up the tub and letting them splash in it, you can buy bathtub crayons or just give them cups to fill and dump. Don't leave them but its like a little pool for them

Books on CD and something to play them on, if you have a tablet i'm sure there are apps and stuff, there might even be free ones. i youtube eric carle and we listen to the very hungry caterpillar.

Stickers are great and quiet, let them stick them on each other. Playdough and sticking toothpicks or spaghetti noodles in it are fun for that age, if you maybe have a table and cheap dollar store tablecloth.

can you get some of the bubble packing material and let them jump on it to pop it if the rooms are pretty soundproof.

make a tent with a blanket for their stuffed animals.

read stories

take video of them and let them watch it.

videos lol barney teletubbies

peek a boo for hours

let them call and "talk" to all your relatives for as long as gramma will let them.

lots of snack time
nap time

several bottles of bubbles for outside or in the tub

good luck mama

2 moms found this helpful
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F.B.

answers from New York on

pass out, stack, shuffle, and build a house of cards.
go on a nature walk, look for bugs and collect leaves and flowers.
stack and unstack plates and cups.
blow and pop bubbles
play in the tub,
wash dishes
paint with water (you can draw with your wet finger).
read a book
visit the library
read the numbers/ letters on license plates.
do a relay race (run to the car, then back to mommy, run to the mailbox, then back to mommy etc).
pillow forts
color
watch tv
sing songs
play peek a boo
good luck to you and yours,
F. B.

1 mom found this helpful
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