Help! Need ideas for indoor activities for 16 months!

Ok...so I am a working mom and I am lucky enough to have my mom to watch the twins during the week.
She is looking for ideas for things to do during the day. They are just so activethese days!
They start off their day after breakfast with a walk in the stroller or wagon.
We live in FL where it is very, very hot so she can only take them for a walk after breakfast for now.
They are still on two naps a day.
They listen to music and dance.
They listen to music and play.
They read read and read some more.
They play with their toys.
What else can she do to pass the time?
Should they have time to play independently too???

 

How about getting some playdoh? Or crayons?

 

We live in South Florida and it is really hot and buggy (mosquitos) these days. We are always looking for ways to spend the days as well. Crayons haven't worked real well for us thus far, mine just like to eat them, so I've set those aside for a while.

I've got beach balls. We've blown them up but not completely; they are easier for them to pick up when slightly soft. They play with those, picking them up and carrying them around the house.

We put a blanket on the floor, we have hardwood floors, and the twins sit on it, and we pretend it is a boat and we tug them all around the house in the "boat"

I just bought a water table on sale at TRUs for $19.63 this week. I set it up outside near the shade of the house. It is a little buggy late in the day but if we do it earlier, it is not so bad. The kids really love that. It is more manageable than the pool but the kids still get soaked.

I've been thinking about a sandbox with a lid on it, for more outdoor play.

The laundry basket is really popular at our house. They fill it with stuff and drag it around and then empty it again.

I like the play doh idea. We'll try that one.

I am sorry I don't have a lot of great ideas but wanted you to know you are not alone in the sweltering heat!

Sotto

 

1- to 2-year-old toddler
Toys for this age group should be safe and be able to withstand a toddler's curious nature.
1. Cloth, plastic or board books with large pictures
2. Sturdy dolls
3. Kiddy cars
4. Musical tops
5. Nesting blocks
6. Push and pull toys (remember - no long strings)
7. Stacking toys
8. Toy telephones (without cords)

 

what about a ball pit i bought some balls and just put it in a small blow up pool i bought for 5.00 at the christmas tree shoppes. they love it. haven't tried play doh as everything goes in their mouth we play pat a cake itsy spider counting abc's. i walk around the house very silly and keep looking back at them and they follow me around laughing. we play tag where basically i go after them and they laugh when i get them. books, we do a picnic on a blanket with the radio on and sit down and have snacks and a drink. then i just take out the blanket on the deck and shake it off. walks in the am around the block, sometimes a drive in the car and trip to walk around the mall. they play with each other when we get home and they go crazy with there toys. pop in a dvd for half hour that has numbers, letters, shapes, or just turn noggin on they love jacks big music show and laugh hysterically. play horsey on my lap. i lay on the floor and they crawl all over me and use me like an obstacle course. i push them around in their cars, they sit in their high chairs in the kitchen with some cheerios and some toys and watch me cook or bake them muffins, waffles, pancakes, while they get some snacks of the things i cook (snack time), sing and dance, jump around, i do things and they try to mimic me )faces, motions, waving, etc.

put up a blanket like a tent and crawl under it, they love crawling in and out and even sit inder it and play with their toys. then they pull it down and hide under the blanket and play peek a boo.

 

Your twins' are younger than mine, but it doesn't hurt to try. We buy those bulk paper towels and for some reason I left it out by the laundry room area. My twins' got into them and guess what? They were stacking it up and then knock them down. They get a kick out of it. (Paper towels that haven't been open yet)

I would hold off the play-doh until they reach around 18-20 months to show them. I just recently introduced play-doh. They do like to take it out of the can and squeeze/run around with it. To do craft, it is trying time for us.

I second best is the ball pits! You can't go wrong with them but will your mother be okay to have balls all over the place?

Another idea, we brought my twins' a climb/slide by Step2 (small one) w/football, basketball hoop on the side and then opposite side is to throw balls in it. I hope others can give you some creative ideas! Or get a simple to use for indoor/outdoor with a big Step2 Slide take practice for them to climb up and down the slide with assistance but they will be worth for your money. When they reach 18 months or later, they'll learn how to climb up and go down the slide on their own.

I hope this helps!
D, w/Rianna and Justin (22 mos)

 

The color wonder markers are great because they only work on the special paper and if they get it all over them, you can't tell. These still occasionally go in the mouth but I don't think it'll kill them...plus it doesn't color their teeth.

I also agree with the ball pit...mine love theirs! DH bought a Diego one at Walmart on sale, and they love it (supposedly for 3+ but I'm not sure why...we let ours use it with supervision of course)!

We do lots of reading and puzzles. We do "free" play time, which usually involves my tupperware cabinet but that's okay.

Mine are at the age that they like to do certain things that you ask...like let's put these away. So we make a game of putting up our shoes, toys, etc and that can take a while but they love it...plus it teaches them to put things away.

Empty paper towel rolls and laundry baskets can provide lots of fun too!

I also keep a set of ride on toys inside that they can ride inside when it's too hot outside.

 

We are in FLA as well. With to the heat and the afternoon rains it is difficult to rely on any outdoor activity. WE LOVE our water table. We have a wrap around porch and we put the water table and a bunch of toys on the porch and they are entertained for an hour at a time - that is HUGE! I have also started with crayons (Jack and Lily are 14 mos old). I purchased two foam boards and a package of big coloring sheets. I tape a coloring sheet to each foam board and put them on the floor with the box of crayons and they are really starting to get the hang of it. It also keeps them coloring on the paper etc...
We use sidewalk chalk on the porches as well.
I have also bought them a set of little plastic golf clubs and many many soccer/bouncy balls.