I drew a blank.
I didn’t know what to have George do. He was getting into the laundry while I was folding it.
I was about to go nuts. I needed something for him to do.
I drew a blank, though. What can a toddler do?
Duh.
I just made a list of 50 activities just for your toddler.
And I still couldn’t think of one.
So I thought about my list. What on there could I do at that very moment? What did I have handy and takes no preparation?
Ah. Cups.
Thank you to The Imagination Tree for the idea!
I have plastic cups.
So, I set out a stack of a few plastic cups and just let George play with them.
However he wanted to.
He transferred them from one pile and made another.
Tried it upside down, pretty much any way you could possibly put a cup together with another cup, he tried.
And he just played.
With plastic cups.
Huh. How simple.
By the way, my laundry still didn’t get folded.
Oh well.
I did notice though that these cups are #6 plastic! When making the list of recyclables you must upcycle for your kids, I remembered Creative With Kids used this plastic to make shrinky dinks!
We’re so doing that. I told Henry about it and he was super excited (I even got the oven ready for it…), but he got distracted by Dad and headed outside instead. So, another time we’ll be making some shrinky dinks! Can’t wait!
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Emily says
We actually got my 5 yo a package of plastic cups for a Christmas gift last year. He and his 4 & 6 yo cousins had snagged some out of the cabinet at Thanksgiving and spent an hour + playing with them and knocking them down. He & his 2 yo sister have a ball building with them, bowling at them, and seeing how tall they can stack them.
Jamie Reimer says
What a fantastic gift Emily! I love that!
mytoddlerdiaries says
I found your activity to be quite handy and very helpful. I linked your blog in my blog on the activity. :-) Thanks for the idea.
Aprille says
Ooh I did this With my son before he turned 1 and he LOVED IT, but thanks for the reminder!!!! I had forgotten!! It’s so hard to get housework done with him around sometimes!!! I’ll definitely be trying this one again soon!!!
Joy says
What a great idea and so simple, I will have to start looking more at what I have at home to entertain my little one. Thanks for such easy ideas for things to do at home, love getting your emails with your ideas too! thanks :)
Jen@Plain Vanilla Mom says
Plastic cups are the best! They never get old. Our big kids constructed and entire “city” out of them one day. Entertain them for a couple of hours! Even the babe likes to bang them around. Cute post :)
Kristin says
What a great reminder!
My house is overrun with those cups. I always think I need more, and then get home and have too many. Maybe I can slim down the stash! :)
Rachel says
So simple, and yet so fun! Now, why didn’t I think of this?
I’d love if you link this (and any other relevant post) to my Teaching Time for Toddlers link party–which is open all week!
http://philwife.blogspot.com/2012/05/teaching-time-for-toddlers-montessori.html
Jamie says
Thanks! Linked up :)
Jill @ A Mom With A Lesson Plan says
I love how simple toddler learning is! Great post. :)
Jamie says
Thank ya Jill! :)
Amanda @ Dirt and Boogers says
It’s always the simple things that toddlers love the best. Good job thinking on your feet. We have a stack of those cups too, maybe I should keep them handy.
Jamie says
It is. The simpler the better for toddlers. Just one item. No thoughts or preplanned actions- just let them go. They seem to love that.
Ali @ At home with Ali says
I love it Jamie. I wonder if George is similar to my youngest one – she is not interested in toys but loves anything ‘real’. She would totally get into those plastic cups.
Jamie says
Sort of. George likes his toys too — well his ‘farm toys’ that seem real… but he does like anything that I use. Wants to explore it all :)