From the category archives:

Toddler

Makin’ it: Wipeable art table

January 30, 2012

For many years, when I watched HGTV, I would tell myself that if only I had a staple gun, I would be reupholstering stuff left and right. And then my husband bought me a staple gun for Christmas two years ago. Twenty-five months later — yesterday — I used it for the first time. We [...]

Toddler fun: sitting in boxes

December 28, 2011

To accommodate our holiday guests in our tiny dining room with its four-top table, my husband ordered a new camping table from Amazon.com. It arrived in a cardboard box big enough for a 7-year old boy and a 4-year old girl to lie down in. How do I know this? Because my kids got in [...]

Launch Camp Grandma

December 12, 2011

As your next weekly challenge, we’re sharing a favorite activity from our book, The Rookie Mom’s Handbook: In the long run, Grandma, baby and Mom and Dad will all look forward to this annual tradition. Since you’re still a rookie, however, do this to the degree you feel comfortable. How it works: You and your [...]

Activity #381: Find some excellent graffiti

November 28, 2011

This challenge, your 48th, goes out to all the urban mamas who need a scavenger hunt for the day. Take a picture of your baby in front of graffiti – as explained by Dutch, the dad who writes on Sweet Juniper. He has an awesome set of Flickr photos that inspired us to do this. [...]

Fun with foam, part 1

November 22, 2011

Too wet to go out? Too cold to play ball? Too sick for preschool? With a can of shaving cream or a bar of soap, here is lots of good fun that is funny: Microwave Ivory Soap. Take a cue from our friend Wendy and put a quarter bar of Ivory soap in the microwave [...]

Make this toy: wheelie dog

September 23, 2011

If you’re up for making a quickie toy for your toddler to push around, read on to find out how to make a doggie rolling toy from a simple paper plate. Materials: flimsy paper plate markers or crayons scissors hole punch drinking straw two small empty spools Instructions:

Toddler’s Rules

September 22, 2011

I saw this on my local parenting listserv (no further source available) and couldn’t resist typing it up.

Activity #567: Host a kid scavenger hunt

September 16, 2011

Argh! Shiver me timbers, Monday is Talk Like a Pirate Day, so I offer a thematic scavenger hunt for little kids. Some folks might tell you that to be a pirate, all you need is an eye patch. Or a parrot. Or a peg leg. But in my house, all you really need is the [...]

Activity #589: Tape up a train track for your toddler

July 31, 2011

A few weeks ago, a stroke of genius hit and I laid these “train tracks” down on the rug in Julian’s room. At four-and-three-quarters, he is over the whole Thomas thing, but larger scale train action definitely still turns him on. All you need is a roll of painter’s tape, the kind that removes from [...]

Reader tip for too many stuffed animals

July 1, 2011

Inspired by the idea to turn a Pack ‘N Play into a ball pit, Rebeca from averageparent.com took it in a new direction. She takes an armful of her son’s stuffed animals and puts them into a cardboard box, or empty laundry basket, to create a cozy play area. He loves it, and it’s a [...]

Video post: tips for play group fun

June 23, 2011

Whether you’re in charge of toddler playgroup or just trying to balance some one-on-one playtime with all the other things you’ve got going on, we have a few tips and tricks for you. One more nugget of hard-earned wisdom that didn’t come up during our video is to keep all breakable glasses out of the [...]

Activity #277: Camp in your own backyard

June 21, 2011

In theory, my family likes to camp. We celebrated Holden’s first birthday with a camp-out barbecue bash. We camped in a big group when I was pregnant with Milo (pregnant camping is questionable). More often, we fall apart trying to reserve a spot, pack the gear, be healthy, and coordinate with friends. One solution: Pitch [...]

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