There are all sorts of ways to keep a two year old occupied...unfortunately, almost all of them come at the risk of losing your own sanity.

They're like kittens...pretty much everything amuses them. My suggestion: put the fine china on a low shelf and put animal crackers amongst them...you'll have no more china, of course, but you'll have one very happy two year old!

Yea, Like Gideon said.  A 2 year old's attention span is about10 minutes.  Coloring books, paint (watch out!).  They like that as well.

And Cartoons!  Sponge Bob and such!

You might try checking out the "lesson plans" available online. You may have to modify them for her age, but there will be lots of artsy ideas for her to get her hands dirty with.

One REALLY fun thing is pudding painting (grab some chocolate pudding and big sheets of paper). Maybe do it in an empty bath tub that way she and her work surface can be easily cleaned up afterwards.

She can play by herself some, and it is good for her. Pull out some dishes and let her play with them. She may bang them together and make noise or she may pretend to cook. Dolls or bears are fun for her to pretend to care for. Little ones usually like putting stuffed bears/dolls/puppies to sleep or pushing them around in a stroller.

Any safe odds and ends you have can be put in a bucket and given to her. She'll dump them out and study, explore, and play with them. They don't even have to be toys, just safe things that have different colors, textures, patterns, and uses.

Hope that helps!

My boys always loved a big washing-up bowl full of water and some different size containers to play in it with.  Tex's idea with the pudding finger-painting was always a winner in our house, as was assisted baking.  We used to make cookies or fairy cakes, they loved being able to mix and measure the batter out or cut the cookies into shapes....and of course, the best part was being able to eat what they'd made later!  Pots and pans and wooden/plastic spoons make an awesome noise - my kids used to have little marching bands with plastic mixing bowls as helmets and the pot lids as cymbals.

Watching TV doesn't have to be a brain rotting experience; you can interact with her as she's watching TV and talk about what's going on on-screen

Bear in mind the more active you are with her, the more you'll wear her out and she'll sleep better at night.  Some kids instinctively know that their parents are gone and don't sleep as well as they usually do, so keeping them active is a good idea.

Man, I miss having little kids around sometimes!

Take her to the pool. It will keep you busy and wear her out where she sleeps good at night. I don't know any kid who isn't worn out after a few hours at the pool. And it's okay to let her watch a video just don't let her veg out in front of the tv all day. Have fun.

So my potential answer of "alcohol - heavy doses" is not correct?! Darn it.




Seriously, keeping 2 year olds occupied isn't an easy task as they are incredibly curious and normally very frenetic. They'll bounce from fascination to fascination, playing with this or that, and then seeing something else that catches their fancy. Getting one to sit still, at least if you don't want to veg them out watching Barney and Friends, is not easy.

My wife and I had our son and daughter watching a good many of the Sesame Street and Disney sing/dance-a-long videos. We went for the most educational stuff we could find, and then let the kids watch as long as they were happy. My son and daughter were actually pretty good about letting that stuff occupy them for a good while. After a bit though, they would be bored and they'd have to have something else to do, be it playing outside in the park area, down the slides and back up again repeatedly, etc.

Any physical activity you can have little ones do is normally a good thing as it'll tend to wear them out and let them get tired. As long as they aren't kept awake long in the tired period you can encourage them to take a little nap and let them and you both recharge a bit. Just don't waste the opportunity to recharge your own batteries so you can keep up for the later round

I have absolutely no advice to give, Sally, I just wanted to let you know I admire your courage for taking on a two year old. I know she is the apple of your eye and all, but still, the task sounds completely daunting to me. I don't know if I'd have the patience. You will make a wonderful mother one day

They're like kittens...pretty much everything amuses them. My suggestion: put the fine china on a low shelf and put animal crackers amongst them...you'll have no more china, of course, but you'll have one very happy two year old!

...I miss my sanity already!

And Cartoons! Sponge Bob and such!

Kids TV drives me crazy.  Even if I can just hear it, it makes me want to eat my own fist!

One REALLY fun thing is pudding painting (grab some chocolate pudding and big sheets of paper). Maybe do it in an empty bath tub that way she and her work surface can be easily cleaned up afterwards

I would just like to thank you on behalf of my neice, who had a fabulous time with this Tex, she really loved it!

Dolls or bears are fun for her to pretend to care for. Little ones usually like putting stuffed bears/dolls/puppies to sleep or pushing them around in a stroller.

She usually pretends I'm just one big doll!  Oh the fun we have....

Any safe odds and ends you have can be put in a bucket and given to her. She'll dump them out and study, explore, and play with them. They don't even have to be toys, just safe things that have different colors, textures, patterns, and uses.

Thanks chick, that is a really great help.

We used to make cookies or fairy cakes, they loved being able to mix and measure the batter out or cut the cookies into shapes....and of course, the best part was being able to eat what they'd made later!

We are going to attempt the baking thing today, I have to say though I am extremely nervous!  I just don't want anything to happen to her!  I'm such a wimp!

Bear in mind the more active you are with her, the more you'll wear her out and she'll sleep better at night. Some kids instinctively know that their parents are gone and don't sleep as well as they usually do, so keeping them active is a good idea.

We have problems with the sleeping.  She usually wakes up during the night and is impossible to get back off because she is here and it's all so exciting.  Because she's stayed a few nights in a row though, she is lots more settled and is sleeping right though, I am loving it!

Take her to the pool. It will keep you busy and wear her out where she sleeps good at night. I don't know any kid who isn't worn out after a few hours at the pool. And it's okay to let her watch a video just don't let her veg out in front of the tv all day

That's an excellent idea!  I haven't done the whole swimming thing for ages!  Oooh I'm all excited!

So my potential answer of "alcohol - heavy doses" is not correct?! Darn it.

That can be the back-up plan

My wife and I had our son and daughter watching a good many of the Sesame Street and Disney sing/dance-a-long videos. We went for the most educational stuff we could find, and then let the kids watch as long as they were happy

Yep I agree somethings are educational, and she does pick up alot from it, I guess I just want a good balance!

As long as they aren't kept awake long in the tired period you can encourage them to take a little nap and let them and you both recharge a bit. Just don't waste the opportunity to recharge your own batteries so you can keep up for the later round

I've made that mistake once, of not taking the opportunity to sleep when she did, it won't be happening again!

I just wanted to let you know I admire your courage for taking on a two year old. I know she is the apple of your eye and all, but still, the task sounds completely daunting to me. I don't know if I'd have the patience. You will make a wonderful mother one day

Thanks Maso, that really means alot

Thanks all for the advice, it's really helped xxxx

Kids TV drives me crazy. Even if I can just hear it, it makes me want to eat my own fist!

Hey!  No one said it would be easy.

I have a 2 year old and know exactly how u feel. Here are some of the things I do with him.

If I want to do some work and keep him busy, I give him 3 bowls -- 2 empty and 1 with 2/3 different pulses kile the red kidney beans and soya beans. I ask him to identify and seperate them. Then count (dont put more than 5 each to begin with. You can then increase the number gradually to 10) And if you can sprout them before hand, its even more safe, lest the child decides to eat it.

You can also give the child some dough and a rolling pin and ask him to make some thing for you. Or give some blocks that can b used to cut the dough and make shapes.

Make paper boats and let the child sail it in the bath tub.

Enjoy!

I have a 2 year old and know exactly how u feel. Here are some of the things I do with him.

If I want to do some work and keep him busy, I give him 3 bowls -- 2 empty and 1 with 2/3 different pulses kile the red kidney beans and soya beans. I ask him to identify and seperate them. Then count (dont put more than 5 each to begin with. You can then increase the number gradually to 10) And if you can sprout them before hand, its even more safe, lest the child decides to eat it.

You can also give the child some dough and a rolling pin and ask him to make some thing for you. Or give some blocks that can b used to cut the dough and make shapes.

Make paper boats and let the child sail it in the bath tub.

Enjoy!

I give him 3 bowls -- 2 empty and 1 with 2/3 different pulses kile the red kidney beans and soya beans. I ask him to identify and seperate them. Then count (dont put more than 5 each to begin with. You can then increase the number gradually to 10) And if you can sprout them before hand, its even more safe, lest the child decides to eat it.

Sounds like a fantastic idea...she will be back in a few hours, and guess what she will be doing, hehe!