Ten Things Toddlers Can Do Besides Watch TV

Interaction, reading, and play activities are always better than watching TV.  These activities are important in the healthy development of social, emotional, and intellectual skills.  Here are some ideas for activities to do with your toddler instead of watching TV:

1.  Explore  Baby-proof an entire room & put an assortment of toys & safe household objects in the room to play with.

2.  Watch  Hang a bird feeder outside a window where the child can see the birds & squirrels.

3.  Listen  Play music at a moderate volume & encourage your child to sing & dance.

4.  Touch  Toddlers like to dig, scoop, and mold, exercising their fine motor skills.  Provide some play dough or a bowl half filled with beans & cups for scooping

5.  Splash  Let your child play in the bathtub.  However, never leave your child alone even for a minute when he or she is in the tub.

6.  Look at Books  Read a book or just look at the pictures with your child.  Try to have some books that are unfamiliar so they will hold your child's attention.

7.  Bag It  Let your child unpack & repack a suitcase or tote bag with toys or safe household items.

8.  Sleep  Help your child develop a good sense of naptime & bedtime habits.

9.  Help  Since toddlers like to be where the action is, let them play alongside you while you work.  Think creatively about how your child can help you with the task.

10.  Find a Friend  Trade babysitting time with other parents of toddlers so your child can experience being with other children.  This interaction will contribute to healthy development.