I was hanging out at a friend’s lake house last weekend and Zach was being a little… you know… 1 year old. He was not interested in ANYTHING he was SUPPOSED-TO-BE interested in so finally I picked up a plastic soda bottle, washed it out and made a toy out of it. A soon-to-be mommy watched this and then said, “ok- explain to me what you just did there.” So here are some of my go-to solutions for either 1) I don’t have a toy and need to give him something to do or 2) my child is not currently interested in actual toys.
PLASTIC BOTTLES
Usually they will just play with the empty bottle but I also make them more interesting by doing one or all of the following…
Add water
Add soap
Add food coloring
Add glitter
Add fuzz balls
Add sand
Add rocks
Add anything that keeps the child’s attention.
STRAWS
This is particularly helpful at restaurants in that hour after you have finished eating but the check JUST ISN’T COMING and the baby is over it. So, I save this until its needed, ie I don’t give him straws until the squirminess starts. When he tires of the plain ole straw, I tie a knot in it- I don’t know why but then it is an all new toy. Finally, worst-case-scenario, I start putting a tiny amount of water into the bottom of the straw and blowing it on him. I also keep a couple straws in the car to hand him in times of need.
PIECE OF PAPER
Only done after he got over the urge to eat it.
SPOON
Similar to the straw. No tying.
PIECE OF CLOTH/ CLOTH NAPKIN/ PIECE OF STRING
Can be just given, tied in knots or tied into a circle. Let the exploring/ creativity begin. I’ve also been known to give him my belt in desperate times.
EMPTY PLASTIC CUP
He will chew on it, scoop stuff with it, stick his hand in it. He has, by far, many more ideas for what to do with this item than I do.
FOOD
When all else fails, I will give him a piece of bread or cracker and he will usually work on that for a while.
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