We follow the inhale-exhale rule at our house. A quiet activity followed by a moving activity over and over again. So, morning, quiet activity…reading anything learning oriented (not Baby Einstein); then a chase game. Next a stacking game; then dancing to a favorite tune; then telling a story with play figures and silks. Next…well you get the point. At least one outing a day works great for me- two hours at an indoor mall playground, a museum…(great kids rooms in many museums), story time at the library even the toy section at Target or an independent toy store works. You can get lots of ideas by joining a Waldorf playgroup or a music class for toddlers and it gets you out of the house!

That, and painting (use sponges or big brushes or fingers) are both pretty messy, but entertain my TWO toddlers for longer than just about any other activity besides the tearing up the house one.

http://www.toddlertoddler.com is an awesome site with lots of unique, fun ideas. I also just read about another book that I can’t recall the name of right now so when I find it, I’ll return with it.

Building forts will be a big deal in our house this winter. With 2 toddlers, my creativity will be in keeping them calm, and not hurting each other. I plan to get a refrigerator box from a local hardware store and let them decorate it (as long as our house isn’t for sale still).

Ditto the washing dishes and playing at the sink. I’m going to attempt baking this winter with them. They’ll just be turning 2, though, so I’m not going to give it much pressure.

We’ll host some play dates, too, because we can’t sit in our houses alone all winter. No amount of activities or toys could keep that amount of time sane.

• Splash in the kiddie pool
• Finger paint
• Sculpt with play dough
• “Cook” with water-filled pots and wooden spoons
• Bathe washable dolls
• Wash dishes (real or pretend)
• Blow bubbles
• Just about anything that you could do in your yard, but is generally too messy for the house.

We have some books of butchers paper and crayons which they love (well, one of them likes to draw and the other likes to make a meal out of the crayons).

Reading, they’re always up for that.

Haven’t tried the playdough yet must admit.

Now that it is getting warmer here we have alot of time outside in the garden. It seems to be where they and I are happiest.

- cooking in his Little Tykes kitchen, using Playdough as the food

- coloring using a cookie sheet to hold the paper and crayons in one place

- coloring with his Elmo Aqua Doodle

- “washing” dishes (playing in the sink water)

- playing with his train table

- doing crafts that I find online at various sites