Isn’t it hard knowing exactly what to do to occupy your really bored toddler? I say, “Put your toddler to work!” Fun work that is! Continue reading for a list of 10 things your young toddler can help with now. I describe young toddler as a child closer to one year old that is just newly walking. A new toddler, if you will.
I have one that is a little over one and she’s at that stage where she wants to cling, cling, cling! It’s almost like, they have nothing better to do when they get tired of entertaining themselves. If you’re lucky the self entertainment lasted a whole 5 minutes!
So your toddler toddles over to you with hands raised up to you and proceeds to demand to be picked up, immediately or threatens to whine. No, she can’t see that you are washing dishes right now. Or whatever else is going on for that matter. Does she care for an explanation? No way! Well, maybe if you raise your voice a little (or a lot) she’ll get startled and it will buy you a little bit of time…
However, I don’t know about you, but at this early stage, I’m beginning to realize that I don’t want my voice raised in exasperation to be a go to for my child. I want to be the one in control of my emotions so I help her to be able to control hers.
Why Put your young toddler to work?
I have found that my toddler feels so proud of herself when she can accomplish simple tasks and get praised for them. And as of yet she’s so eager to help it’s just the cutest thing ever. It’s helping me enjoy more time with her by watching her grow and realize all that she is capable of!
The following, is a list of 10 things your young toddler can help you with now. It may even be more depending on your specific situation. The point is to realize that there are actually so many different ways to engage your little one as you are doing your every day tasks. This can be rewarding for the both of you.
1. put dirty clothes in laundry basket
This is a lovely ritual if you have a nightly bath. The routine is wonderful for a toddler and she can start to learn how to take her clothes off and put them away immediately, before getting into the tub. The less things you have do at at this time of day the better, am I right?
2. Put away clean cutlery/dishes
This one may take a little practice. Mine gets this done half the time and the other half of the time ends up licking the cutlery. It will take a little patience, but like all things in your parenting life, stick with it and keep repeating it. The results are incredibly rewarding.
3. Throwaway dirty diaper/filled up trash bags
I would say this is seems to be a fun one. Perhaps it’s the novelty of opening a trash can and shutting it. I, however, wouldn’t give your child individual items of trash because things like empty bottles, wrappers, boxes, containers etc seem to make the best toys! (Unless, of course, you don’t mind for what you intended as trash morphing into a play toy).
4. Put dirty clothes in the washer
If not reachable for your toddler, you can use a stool/ladder for a top loader.
5. Put washed clothes in the dryer
As long as they aren’t heavy sheets, this is a winner. Also I’ve found that if you partially place the bigger items in, your toddler will love stuffing the remainder into the dryer.
6. Getting his/her own water whenever thirsty
Have a cup filled with water in a reachable position. Put this cup in a specific location. You will have to work with your child on putting it back in its location. It will take a lot of repetition and helping your child put it there. But it will definitely pay off. It will save you from hearing one of the reasons that your toddler may whine. And it also makes you feel like a proud parent! It is such a rewarding feeling enabling a child to help his/herself when thirsty.
7. Put dirty utensils etc in the sink
I wouldn’t do that to the dishwasher – only the sink because the sink is just out of reach. Also dropping stuff in it makes a fun sound for your little one.
8. Brush teeth
Or at least rolling the brush around the mouth and attempting to get the tongue.
9. Trying to eat with a utensil
With certain foods like peas, and chunky sauces (think chili), this seems to make eating more fun and maybe last a little longer. If there’s something you may need to finish up while your child is adequately distracted.
10. Tidying up
Putting toys away, shoes and (we already talked about clothes). But you get the idea. Toddlers seem to be so good at opening cabinets and drawers, so just make sure that the stuff that has been pulled out of them are replaced and all the drawers and cabinets are shut afterwards.
Bonus: Puting groceries in the shopping cart
This is not really an around the house task. But, I must say at this stage, 1 year plus, I enjoy taking my toddler grocery shopping as I have been doing so since she was a baby. I feel that this exposure is good for her and help her know how to conduct herself (hopefully) at the grocery store. Toddlers love to touch everything and I found when grocery shopping you can hand them an item. They play for a while and you can teach them to throw it back behind them into the cart, ready to grab the next item.
So, they’re a lot of things that even the littlest ones can help out with! Of these 10 things your young toddler can help you with now, I’m curious to know any more ideas and success you’ve had in your household.