25 Activities to Embrace While You Have Little Ones

I turned on my car and my stereo fired up. When my phone is connected, the default setting is to play songs from my Apple Music account, which I haven’t downloaded anything to in years. So as I adjusted my mirrors, the Veggie Tales song “I Love My Lips” blasted. I laughed and skipped ahead. No offense, Bob and Larry. I let the randomness continue and half of the songs included hand motions or animal sounds. It made my heart break and warm at the same time. I miss the “Wheels on the Bus” days.

At the time, though, I remember occasionally wanting that bus to break down. I would’ve been A-OK if the ants had stopped marching for a few minutes. It’s hard in those early years when the things you love—activities, music, food—are so different from what your little ones enjoy. But take it from a mom who just cried during “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” these 25 things to do with little kids are moments to cherish while you can.

1. Pushing her on the swings and listening to her squeal
2. Sitting next to the tub while he plays with a washcloth and bubble bath
3. Sing-along songs that repeat over and over and over
4. Letting her wear a costume to dinner, the store, church—anywhere
5. Reading aloud with silly voices and noticing she’s enthralled
6. Always having someone to talk to while you’re going to the bathroom
7. Listening to a litany of “God bless ___” at bedtime prayers
8. Being woken up way too early by a little one with a sleepy face and footed pajamas
9. Feeling him grip you tightly as you hold him and step deeper into the pool
10. Pointing out birds singing
11. Getting excited about going over railroad tracks
12. Crouching down to watch a bug crawl across the sidewalk
13. Chasing a naked bottom across the house after bathtime
14. Standing at the bottom of the slide and celebrating her bravery
15. Blowing up water wings
16. Celebrating when a meal is “all done!”
17. Putting on warm jammies and combing his hair after a bath
18. Counting piggies
19. Scooping pureed squash off her face
20. Blowing on his soft tummy and making him giggle
21. Playing peek-a-boo that never seems to get old
22. Chasing bubbles around the yard
23. “Reading” the bedtime story you actually have memorized
24. Holding his hands and swinging him around in a circle over the grass
25. Rocking her to sleep

But how do you embrace these moments while you can?

The little guys I used to tickle and play blocks with are now 9 and 10 years old, but if I could get a do-over, what I would tell myself to do would be this: simplify. Fewer toys to put away, fewer tiny socks to sort through, even fewer clothes. When we simplify, we naturally remove stressors and give ourselves a chance to be present.

We lean toward more instead of less in this stage because so many of the things we do with little kids feel rote. By having “more,” we think it will break up the monotony. I remember often feeling like I was trudging through the day, moving from one activity, routine, or mealtime to the next. I wish I’d been more present, but instead of feeling regretful, I’m trying to learn from my mistakes. After all, there’s a list of 25 activities to embrace while you have a 10-year-old just waiting to be written.

What’s something about having a little one that you know you’ll miss?