activities/games/toys that kept your kids engaged for a while?

hi there!

i am just wondering if there's anything in your house that will keep your kids engaged for a while--either together or on their own? i am beginning to wonder if i'll ever cook a meal w/my boys in the house! they play fairly well together and every now and then my guys will go up to 40 minutes or so on an activity, but most of the time they either want me to play w/them, or they play ok for a while but then a disagreement escalates and they need referee-ing before things get ugly. i am just wondering if we need other toys or activities that they might like, and that might capture their attention (w/out making too much of a mess!).

any suggestions?! thanks a bunch!

~~jl

 

Tinkertoys!! Though there are 10,000 tiny parts to get strewn around the room... My guys can build happily for 30-45 minutes some days. :good:

 

Legos! And not the duplos, but the real ones. I bet Tinkertoys would be a huge hit. Thanks Val for the birthday idea!!

 

Blocks, cars, my little ponies. Those are the things that keep my girls happy and occupied. I also rotate their toys a lot to keep them interesting. The fewer options they have out, the more they play with what they have.

 

1. Tinkertoys for sure. We got a big set for $1 at a garage sale and they have been well used for a good three years here!

2. Blocks: Melissa & Doug make a great set of plain wooden blocks. They are a little pricey but a great investment. They used to (and still do) make ramps and castles and roadways for their hot wheels.

3. Megablocks: we used these every day before graduating to Legos.

4. Lincoln Logs: They may still be a little young, but we started with Lincoln Logs at that age and now they are pros!

5. Tunnel: the nylon play tunnels are loads of fun!

6. Dominos: not to play but to stack and then topple over! And then by the time they are 5, they can learn to play the real game. We liked this for when I was cooking because they could set them up at the table while I worked!

 

Washable markers and paper and/or coloring books - DD will do this for over an hour

Trains and tracks - they're starting to put them together now and create different designs for the track.

Jigsaw puzzles

Playdough

 

In addition to the other suggestions...my two still play with their play kitchen and we have a chalkboard in the kitchen as well that they love to draw on, so that keeps them occupied while I do stuff around the house.

 

As you mentioned cooking:

Instead of toys what about getting them involved in dinner preparation? My LOs are still younger but they love cooking and baking with me, tasting different foods, helping to set the table, unload the dishwasher etc. It takes a lot longer than alone but it is great fun and keeps them happy during that critical hour before dinner. I have a low table in the kitchen where they can stand and I kneel on the floor and we get to work together, I only do the seriously dangerous things on the counter-top.

 

We just recently brought the Tinkertoys, Lincoln Logs, and Duplo Legos (put away Mega Blocks)out. The older boys still have the little Legos, so the boys can still play with those supervised by the big boys. My guys still like hot wheels a ton and can spend a lot of time playing with those. I've hesitated to get the Thomas stuff out, because it's never been a hit with the little boys. PP who recommended rotating toys is right on. Whenever we do that it renews interest in old toys. We do that with the dress up stuff. I get to put it away for a while so we don't need to clean it up and they get all excited when we bring it out again.

I would love to get them some sort of racing toy like Criss Cross Crash, that is more little kid appropriate. Criss Cross Crash doesn't hold up to little kid play. But they would spend hours racing cars.

 

thanks for all the suggestions, ladies! we will definitely start w/lincold logs and tinker toys--faves from my past! we do actually rotate toys, though we just really don't have all that many. my boys are both extremely athletic and we have TONS of balls and sports equipment outside (and live across the street from a great park), so they've never really had a big interest in staying indoors and concentrating on any one thing for long. but, i really think they need to do that more often, so thanks for the ideas! also, i LOVE cooking one on one w/them, but having both in the kitchen right now is still a challenge. kudos to any mom who can cook w/both kids around!.

thanks again, jl