It’s transition time at Chez Sticky Feet. Clara and Anna have officially given up their naps which means Mama is in need of ways to keep the trio occupied to squeak in a little more work time in the afternoon. Working the equivalent of 2 full-time jobs teaching online, plus writing and blogging, plus caring for children for all but 12 hours a week (oh yeah, and laundry, cooking, etc.) – well – let’s just say I need at least an hour of “rest” time each afternoon to attempt to get a few things done. I am sure someone will say or imply that this makes me a bad mother, but I’m beyond caring. I’m just trying to keep us all sane.
Clara and Anna had gotten to the point where all they did during nap was take all of their clothes off, throw diapers at each other, sing, and chatter. I was at my wit’s end. After researching Pinterest and chatting with my friend, Laura, I bought six tubs at Target and filled them with different toys and activities that the trio could do in their room during “rest” time. Most of the contents were things we already had that I stole from around the house. Amazingly, they seem like new again! I did purchase a few new Color Wonder sets and I have a lacing set in my Amazon cart, but the biggest expense was the tubs. Each box has a few board books, some type of puzzle or little pieces project, some type of electronic/noise making gadget, and other randomness. I am looking for good ideas for other activities, projects, etc. that I can put in the tubs. If you have any suggestions, please share!! It needs to be items that they can do independently and that won’t destroy the room beyond normal pick-up (i.e. no PlayDoh or real markers).
We trade the boxes and let each child choose a box each day filled with items that would seem new to keep them occupied for a little while.
In many ways, the busy boxes have been very successful. The kids love selecting which box they will have for the day and carrying it from our room (there is no where to store said boxes…) to their room. Even better, they are all entertained. The girls actually stay in their room better than Bo stays in his and I have a bit of time to grade essays mid-afternoon. However, what I didn’t anticipate was how much two-year-old, twin toddlers can destroy a bedroom. The pictures above are mild compared to when they decide to empty their pajama drawer.
Bo has had rest time since he was the girls’ age and while he definitely makes a mess, the girls put him to shame. They seriously must work together to destroy everything in sight. Even though it takes me a good half hour to clean up the destruction after every rest – it’s still worth it.
I only have 1 question—-Why are you cleaning up after rest time? Even toddlers in daycares here are taught at an early age about pick-up pick-up time. There is a song that goes along with it and all the children have to help with pick-up and put things back on the shelves or back in the boxes.
A suggestion for young kids is also not to have too many toys available for them. Many blogs I read put things in “storage” and limit their toys for a period of time and then put those away and introduce them to the “new” toys. Even daycares do this.
It keeps their interest active and they don’t get bored with having too many things to choose from to play with.
When you say the girls have given up their naps–does that mean totally or just a morning or an afternoon nap. Kids need at least 1 totally quiet time a day, mostly in the afternoon—at least until kindergarten age and many all day kindergartens still have nap/quiet time in the afternoon–not so much for the teachers but for the kids so they are not cranky in the early evening for their parents.