By Lisa Henshaw
Following are some tricks-of-the-trade that I use to keep my twin toddlers entertained:
- Before I had my babies, I would see other moms giving their little ones a lot of snacks, and I vowed I would never do that! Now I say to my little ones, "Do you want Goldfish or Teddy Grahams?" The point here is that it's very hard to keep two toddlers quiet and well-behaved in a stroller while you are trying to pick out Father's Day cards. A small snack keeps busy little people focused and content.
- Washable crayons are a must. I place two splat mats (normally used under high chairs) down on the floor, one for each of my twins to sit on, and I place coloring books or giant pads of paper out for them along with crayons. It is the designated area for coloring. Start this from the first time they get crayons, and it becomes what they expect. Also, count the crayons you hand out to a toddler. Make sure you pick up the same number.
- I keep a basket of tub toys on the floor in the bathroom (with a towel underneath) and a potty chair on each side. When I need to use the bathroom, they play with their toys and usually sit on their potty chairs. It also helps at bath time. I tell them to pick out their toys and put them in the tub while I get things ready for their bath.
- My twins had an allergic reaction to bubble bath but loved to play with the bubbles. Now I give them finger paint specially made for the tub and let them play with it in an empty tub with diapers on. I put in a little water to make some bubbles. When they are done, I rinse out the tub, take off their diapers and give them a bath. It's also a fun activity after eating messy snacks!
- I save eight-ounce milk containers and wash them well. Then I put different amounts of raw macaroni in the dry containers and screw the lids on well. We shake them and listen to the different sounds each makes. It's also fun to shake them to children's music and dance around the house.
- I have a basket full of hats, headbands, small purses, scarves and toy jewelry. Some things fit; others are too big or too small. My twins love to pile on the mismatched items and run around the room.
Lisa Henshaw is the mother of boy/girl toddler twins. She is married and lives in Tampa, Florida.
