Entertaining a Toddler

I'm sorry for my extended leave from blogging. I've been taking some pretty intense classes lately and have just been trying to balance them with being a mother and wife! Oh, by the way, we are buying a house! Yay! That has been an experience, let me tell ya! We should be moving here in a few weeks. 

Dillon is now 15, (almost 16 months). I cannot believe it!!! He's getting so big and learning so much every day!

Lately, I have been going through a phase where I feel like I'm not doing enough for him. I feel like I need to give him more activities and opportunities to explore and learn. Here are a few things that I have come up with that are completely free, he has LOVED! They're simple, go to basics!

We had lots of fun this summer playing outside!

We took lots of walks with our new Boba Carrier (you can go here to check them out) I'll probably even write a post on how much I love them!

He loves this carrier so much and even though he weighs a whopping 25 lbs, it doesn't feel like I'm carrying much at all! He loves being a little koala bear and seeing nature! He also loves when I take him by a tree and he is able to touch the leaves.

We also have gone to the local splash park a few times. He was a little timid at first but now he absolutely loves it! He loves water period. Pool, bath, sprinklers.

We have gone to the parks a few times, he's a little too small to go tromp around the playgrounds but he sure does love going down the small slides by himself and swinging! 

When it's too hot out to play or its raining (like it has been lately!) we spend lots of time playing with blocks. This kid loves blocks. I mean LOVES. He will spend an hour stacking them. 

I probably don't have to tell you that boxes are the best toys ever. Seriously though, he gets in them, he stacks them, he puts all of his treasures in them (including our cat). We've been packing for the new house so there is always plenty around these days.

(of course he would pick the liquor box as his favorite)

And new to our list of things to do is PLAYDOUGH!! 

I was scared to do it at first, but it turned out awesome. He played with it for an hour! He had a blast digging his fingers in and using cookie cutters to make shapes. 

I made my own play dough because I wanted something that was going to be ok to eat if he decided to experiment, and frankly its too easy and cheap not to.

Here is my recipe:

1 cup water

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1 cup flour

1/4 cup salt

1 tbsp cream of tartar

choice of food coloring

add water and vegetable oil to medium sauce pan, then add other ingredients. heat on medium and stir continuously.

WARNING: its going to look bad... its going to get lumpy and ugly and you're going to freak out. JUST KEEP STIRRING! It will keep warming and coming together and get firm. Keep it on heat and stirring until it becomes very firm and does not stick at all to the touch. 

Keep it in a plastic zip bag and have fun!!! 

I am looking forward to start taking Dillon to a local museum that offers playtime for Toddlers, but our schedule has been a little hectic

Here are a list of other things that are great fun for the little one!

Pretend play

Reading books

Exploring outside

Playing catch with a large ball

Racing toy cars, (Dillon loves "ready, set, GO")

Hide and go seek

AND believe it or not, independent play is the best thing ever!

It promotes imagination, decision making, independence, and prevents you from hearing the words "mom I'm bored" when they get older!