I admit I've had it easier than most parents these past few months. Having my daughter turn 3 during the stay-at-home orders brings its own set of challenges. But when this first started, there was so much I didn't have to think about. For one, while she was in programs, she wasn't registered in school — so I didn't have to play the part of a homeschool teacher. Secondly, I was already used to having her at home for most of the week. Also, there's only one of her.
But even today, the weekends can be tough. Prior to the lockdown, weekends used to be filled with fun family trips to Target, where I bought way more than I should have. Or we met up with her grandparents, and they wore her out with affection. But things have obviously changed. My toddler is very enthusiastic to check out the world and have adventures. I'm not a bad mom, but again, she's 3. That means I'm chronically tired. There's no caffeinated beverage in the world that can match a toddler's spirit.
Kids have a ton of energy — especially toddlers. And since we weren't socializing, that meant I needed to brainstorm some "events." At least every weekend had to have a "thing" attached to it.
Now, my mom was a very crafty lady who always had great ideas up her sleeve. If she were in this position, surely she'd know what to do. So I tried to channel her energy and find fun experiences for my toddler that we could do at home. Here's what we've thought up so far.
1. We started baking.
It's important for me to let you know that by "baking," I mean "baking from a box." I admire the people who can create delicious recipes from scratch. But based on my own admittance that I'm a tired mom, along with the fact that my daughter is very good at mixing minimal ingredients together, boxed mix was the only way.
The first thing we made was chocolate chip cookies. Like most people in the world, she was happy with the results.
The next week, we focused on banana bread — since it's the perfect way to make use of the over-ripened bananas you forgot to eat. It's also one of the easiest recipes in the world and perfect for amateur bakers.
My daughter was especially thrilled to make this since it happens to be Mom Tiger's favorite treat in Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. If you're looking for something to make with your child, just see if there's any standout recipe from their favorite children's show. It makes the experience more personal.
2. We explored the outdoors.
My daughter loves hanging out in the woods and going on nature walks. But since we were stuck at home, we made these trips outside even more special. Instead of just taking a walk around lunchtime, she went on hour-long excursions, discovering what was outside (and likely gaining a little bit of confidence while walking through unfamiliar territories).
3. I was more forgiving about letting her jump in muddy puddles.
My daughter is also a fan of Peppa Pig. So it should go without saying that she's developed a love of muddy puddles. While my husband and I aren't necessarily clean freaks, we had a limit with her prior to stay-at-home orders. A little bit of mud was OK. Gigantic puddles? Another story.
But we both lightened up a bit. A lot of playtime opportunities were taken away from her, and this was such a harmless joy. It wasn't like we were going anywhere immediately afterward. It's OK for kids to get a little muddy every once in a while.
4. I bought a splash pad.
And it was hands down the best decision I could have made. Our backyard isn't really big enough for an inflatable pool, so I figured the pad would be the next best thing. It's a unique way to beat the heat, and she still has a lot of fun with it. On hot weekend days, the splash pad comes out at least once.
It's also fun for adults to join in. It'll remind you a lot of running through the sprinklers as a kid, but it's much safer.
5. We practiced science experiments.
A big one was "Sink or Float?" You can use any household item you want (given that it's waterproof) and have fun and experiment. She might not grasp the scientific concept behind it, but it's a good start.
Speaking of large tubs of water, we also had fun turning aquatic capsules into mini sponges. Figuring out what each one would morph into was exciting for her. And she felt proud telling me that the shark sponge was actually a dolphin. (It was a shark, but I digress.)
6. We made a homemade bird feeder.
Before tossing out a milk carton, I realized that it could be upcycled into something fun. Since my daughter seems to love watching the birds outside, I figured we could make an easy bird feeder to help them out.
So far, we've seen more squirrels than birds — but it's still a fun way to connect with the outside. Pretty soon, we're also going to try the old-fashioned "pine cone and peanut butter" method for feeding the birds to see if that'll work a little better.
7. We painted — a lot.
Paint doesn't have to go only on paper. You can also paint boxes to create castles or to just make them look a little prettier. I've been so impressed by her artistic methods and can't wait to introduce her to more tools in the future, like pastels and clay.
You can also make really creative gifts to mail to the relatives you've been thinking about. Popsicle sticks can easily turn into frames or holiday ornaments. And since these crafts were made with love during such a pressing time, they'll mean even more.
8. We gardened.
It's never too early to teach kids about how to grow flowers and vegetables. My goal is to get my daughter invested early so that she'll be more tempted to eat the nutritious food we grow. Plus, it's a great activity we can do together.
Right now, watering plants is straight-up fun. But there's so much that both of us can learn if this continues to be a shared hobby.
