Things to do with 2 year olds

[sherrardk]

Hope someone has some ideas for me. My youngest children are two year old twins and I find that we have too much time on our hands now that the others are at school. I don't feel that I am doing enough with them. We've got educational toys, go to playgroup, the park, for walks, etc. We can't realistically do painting (as ours is a rented house so wouldn't want to get paint on anything I shouldn't) but we do drawing and colouring. Swimming is out of the question (I've tried it - it's not particulary safe). Anyone have any other ideas for us to try bearing in mind that there are two of them and only one of me). Thanks.

[jaydah]

Perfect age to introduce to library/books/stories/music/DVDs for their imaginations to soar. Twins often live in their own bubble and any new experience will be bounced between them to its enth. Dont miss this opportunity to expand their minds.

They will make friends at library and all will fuss over them.

[sherrardk]

Thanks for that - hadn't thought of that as I haven't joined the library since we moved here (not really had the time). Will have to find out if they have a story time session or similar.

[B00]

What's up with leaving 'em strappedi n a pram outside the pub whilst you have an afternoon tipple?

They'll be outside, in the fresh air, and wil be fed too, provided you pop out every now and then (wouldn't want folk to think you're a bad mum or owt would you?) with a lemonade (to share, no need to go daft and spoil them) and a packet of cheese & onion crisps.

On a serious notei jaydah's suggestion is a cracker- get them into books at an early age, it's amazing the headstart it gives them when it comes to schooltime.

[jno]

^except B00 would keep the crisps for herself.

But yes, books. Get a reading scheme and gradually teach them to read. My mum taught me to read before I started school, and I did the same with jno jnr. Gives them a heck of a good start. (And it doesn't all have to be reading for work - ordinary picture books will be fine too.)

[welshlibranr]

Oh sher, I know they are hard work!.......I think they may enjoy baking with you, just easy stuff!...........But best bet is tire them out, take them to a park/open space, and just let them run!...........................worked for us, my gransons are 3 and 4, 10 months between them!...............Manic!...................
.

[pink-kittens]

cooking, icing cakes, play dough (search net for recipes), role play, let them play with your pots and pans, let them play with tins from the cupboard
If you have a lino kitchen floor you can paint in there? Painting in the garden perhaps? I pin wallpaper to my fence. Sand play, water play (put lots of towels down
Let them help with housework
Gardening, library trips, reading, nature walking, paper rubbings, dressing up in your old clothes, soft play day,
cardboard boxes last for ages, material with pegs

[sherrardk]

Thanks all for the answers - our walks are getting shorter and shorter (as they are getting heavier and heavier) and they can't walk far on their own (and I can't risk them both wanting to be picked up at the same time). Will try the library and maybe start doing some cooking with them (don't know why I hadn't thought of that).

[redcrx]

get a tray and put corn flour and water on it, its a messy thing to play with and the little ones love it. But once finished with you can just sweep it up or vacuum any on the floor.

[sherrardk]

Hi Pink-Kittens - we do lots of this stuff already (just hadn't realised it), it's just that doing things where we leave the house has to be 'controlled' as they can be a handful with there being the two of them. Soft play is a nightmare - they follow the rule of 'divide and conquer' with them going off in opposite directions. Two of my other children are quite close in age (20 months apart) but twins is definately more 'trying'.

[welshlibranr]

Make your own play dough sher, it's 1lb of salt to I/2 lb flour, bind with water, to make a stiff dough, you can add food colouring if you like, store in an airtight tub, and just use again, or bake it at a low heat and keep their creations! Good fun, and really cheap!.................Still got some 'creations' from my son and daughter 30 years on!..........

[sherrardk]

Hi Welsh - why have I forgotten all these things? It must be true that you loose a certain amount of brain power with each baby you have (I can't have much left by now).

[jaydah]

Dont forget the richness of classical music at bedtime to soothe their sleep and for Chopin to sink in. Less is more, dont overload their minds.

[jno]

if cooking with children, a little grated nutmeg improves their taste...

[sherrardk]

Hi JNO - not sure if I could eat a whole one though.

[welshlibranr]

Oh sher, it because your life is so very busy!....................you'll do fine!..............make them some dough!..................they'll love playing with it!...............nice and messy!...but not causing any damage!.............pefect!...............and lots of running around in open spaces, best thing ever to tire them out|!................

[zzxxee]

get a big roll of cheap wall paper lots of paint for hand and feet painting !!!!!

[boxtops]

do they like dressing up yet, sherrard? our dressing up box was one of our favourite games when we were little, although the twins might be a bit young yet.

[usathome]

Dont forget the library have some good talking books for toddlers too, my kids loved them and listend to them over and over again they knew them word for word in no time.

[fuzzienz]

Hi, I know this is tiresome but maybe try making some quick cookies it is tactile for toddler's and they lovemit. Also playdough anything to keep their hands busy will also help brain development.

[annie0000]

My husband stayed at home with our two who are 13 months apart - when they were toddlers, he had a strict routine of what happened when. Set times for the toys to come out, puzzle time with jigsaws, story time before naps, play doh or craft time. He also used to set up the play tent indoors and have a play with that, teddy bear tea party, wrestling on the floor, putting water in the bath and playing with boats, They use to like to help with the cleaning as well - just give them the little brush and dustpan and let them sweep up. As for trips out, ours used to like to visit the pet shop/fish shop to look at the tropical fish in the tanks - free and plenty to look at and just as good for that age as a sea life centre!

We also used to rotate the toys and only bring out one crate at a time on a weekly rotation so they didn't get bored with them.