I have to confess, I didn’t love being a toddler mom. At the time, I found joy in watching my sons soak up the world—swirling around in a bubble bath, tasting a food for the first time, or announcing there was a train on the tracks. But toddler-centric activities like going to the park or playing pretend were never at the top of my list. Why? Because it was really hard to get anything else done.
Toddlers are like that. They demand your attention, and while it feels right to give it to them, moms have to squeeze in regular adult activities, too. You can do that and still be a great mom to a little one. It just takes little tweaks to make these 5 everyday activities kid-friendly.
Home Repairs
The woman who watched my kids while I worked got them each a handyman apron and a toolkit with a screwdriver and interchangeable heads. We also tossed in a mini flashlight that was easy for little hands to turn on and off. Anytime she’d see something around the house in need of a fix—a dead lightbulb or a loose handle on a drawer—she’d have them grab their tools. They didn’t do the work but they got to watch, shed light, and jump in when they could.
Involving kids in simple repairs around the house helps them learn dexterity and gain a sense of accomplishment.
Cooking
This is the most obvious but maybe most difficult of all the kid-friendly activities. Everyone knows it’s great to get your kids involved in the kitchen, but oh my goodness, does it require a load of patience! Letting your kids help when you’re trying to get a meal on the table is the last thing most of us want to do, so you’ve got to get creative. Making asparagus? Show your toddler how much of the end to snap off and sit her on the floor with a bowl. Grilled cheese sandwiches? Hand her the loaf of bread and tell her to lay out 10 slices on the counter.
Kids who help in the kitchen are more likely to eat the food on their plates, so it’s a great way to expand their palate.
Car Rides
Trust me, you don’t need to give your toddler a screen to make a car ride kid-friendly. A friend of mine often had to drive 30 minutes each way to bring her husband supplies at work. She said she dreaded loading up her 2-year-old until she turned the drive into a challenge for herself. She looked around for things she could describe out loud: “That’s a huge red truck next to us!” “The wind is blowing the trees really hard. I hope the birds are OK!”
Taking your kids along in the car without screens is a great opportunity to talk to them and encourage them to engage their senses.
Grocery Shopping
You can’t slide your toddler into the front seat of a cart and not expect him to point out and beg for all the bright treats at eye level, but don’t write off grocery shopping with your toddler just yet. You just have to give him something to keep his hands busy. My son used to love organizing the cart. You can also give your child the coupons to hold and ask him to help you find the food in the picture. When you get home, slide a stool up to the sink and let your kiddo wash the fruits and veggies and put away unbreakable items like toilet paper and cereal.
Taking your toddler grocery shopping might slow you down a bit, but it’s a great way to teach colors and numbers.
Running Errands
The next time you have an errand-filled day, take a moment to look at your list and see how to make the day more kid-friendly. Have a package to deliver? Let her carry it into the post office and drop it in the bright blue mailbox. Delivering a load of hand-me-down clothes to a friend? Bring crayons and a piece of construction paper in the car, and let your toddler draw a picture to go along with the gift. Getting a car wash? Bring a couple toy cars and a few wipes and create a wash of your own in the waiting area.
When your child comes along to run errands, it gives him opportunities to interact with other adults and see how things outside your home function.
When your child comes along to run errands, it gives him opportunities to interact with other adults and see how things outside your home function. Click To TweetWhat’s another everyday activity you’ve made kid-friendly?
