Gifts for Toddlers
Sometimes it's hard to figure out what to gift to a toddler. They're not a baby anymore, but they're not quite ready for “big kid” toys either.
In this post I've rounded up a few of the best gifts for toddlers!
MY FIRST FLYBAR
My First Flybar is so perfect for toddlers for several reasons:
1. It's like a “big kid” toy, but it's still easy enough for a very young child to operate.
2. It's perfect for getting out all of that toddler energy!
3. It can hold up to 250 pounds, which means mom and dad can sneak in a turn because they won't be able to resist (I couldn't!)
My First Flybar works like a pogo stick, but it sits flat on the ground so that it's not difficult to operate. The handle is attached to flexible tubing that can stretch to whatever height your child is.
It also squeaks when you hop – how cute!
My 4 year old is getting this for Christmas, and I know he is going to love it!
I have a discount code to share with you for My First Flybar – order here and use the coupon code fly10off2015=14 to get 10% off.
POLI CUP
My kids love getting new cups! (And I like it when they get one because they always drink a lot of extra water for a few days afterward!)
When I saw the Poli Cup, I wanted to get one for my daughter because it looks like it addresses a lot of the common issues every mom has with sippy cups.
1. The valve does not come all the way out of the cup, meaning it has the potential to get lost. But at the same time it's easy to clean.
2. The flow of the liquid is completely adjustable, from a very slow flow for active toddlers, to an easy flow for thicker drinks like smoothies.
I also like that it's made in the USA, as that is something that is important to me when making purchase decisions.
The cups come in a variety of cute nursery rhyme designs. SHOP HERE.
I SEE ME BOOKS
Toddlers will be thrilled to see themselves appear as the star of a book or to see their name on a gift!
I See Me offers oodles of choices for personalized gifts for kids. You can choose from books, puzzles, ornaments, coloring books, placemats, and more!
I got personalized coloring books for my nephews, which I will pair with a pack of crayons for a perfect gift!
Browse around and see what your favorites are!
Diaper Bag Essentials for Toddlers
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Huggies®. All opinions are 100% mine.
New parents often go to great lengths to make sure they're ready with all the diaper bag essentials for their newborn.
But as they become comfortable with their routine, they sometimes forget that the routine has to change a little as their child grows!
I can't count how many times I've had to rescue a mom from a messy situation because she wasn't prepared with what she needed in her diaper bag. Don't be the mom who's not prepared!
Have these diaper bag essentials packed and ready for your toddler!
1. Diapers
Of course, what good would a diaper bag be without diapers? When you have an active toddler, you want to make sure you have high-quality diapers that are going to be comfortable for long periods of time.
We got Huggies® Snug & Dry Ultra Diapers at Walmart.com and have found them to be great for keeping our daughter dry for long periods of time. The unique quilted liner locks away wetness better and the Leak Lock System with its quick-absorbing layers offer up to 12 hours of protection!
2. Wipes
You can never have too many baby wipes. You'll use them for far more than diaper changes. Washing your little ones hands before eating on the go, cleaning up spills in the car, and wiping sticky faces are just a few of the things you'll need them for.
3. Diaper Disposal Bags
The older your toddler gets, the worse those diapers are going to stink! Make sure you have a place to put the dirty ones while you look for the nearest trash can. You really don't want to leave a dirty diaper sitting out in the car!
4. Snacks
A hungry toddler is a grouchy toddler. Make sure you're always prepared with something to feed your little one!
5. Cup
Your toddler needs plenty to drink throughout the day. Make sure you're prepared with a full cup in the diaper bag!
6.Blanket
Sometimes you'll be out during nap time. If your little one will need to snooze in the car or stroller, make sure you're prepared with a blanket.
7. Change of clothes
Diaper blowouts aren't usually as much of a problem with an older toddler, especially if you're using high quality diapers like Huggies® Snug & Dry Ultra Diapers (available exclusively at Walmart.com.) However, your active toddler will find lots of ways to get dirty, whether it's jumping in the mud puddle or being a messy eater. Make sure you have clean clothes in the bag.
8. Pajamas
Many times you'll find yourself out later than you intended. Keep pajamas in the diaper bag and you can get your toddler into a fresh diaper and pajamas before you head home so they can go straight to bed.
9. Lovey/pacifier
If your toddler has a special animal, blankie, or doll, be sure to keep it in the diaper bag when you're out. If they get tired, you'll be glad to have it with you. If they still use a pacifier, make sure to have one (or two or three) with you also.
10. Toys
Chances are you'll end up somewhere that is boring to your toddler. Make sure you have a way to keep them occupied.
11. Hand sanitizer
If it's gross, your toddler will touch it. Be prepared.
You can buy the Huggies® Snug & Dry Ultra Diapers exclusively at Walmart.com.
Can you think of any other items you've learned to keep in the diaper bag?
Video: Teaching a Toddler to Count (A Little Peek Into Our Day)
Today I'm giving you a little peek into our homeschool day as I work with my toddler on counting to 20.
I have moved all of my homeschooling posts to christianhomeschoolfamily.com. You can go here to read this post at the new site.
101 Independent Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers – 50% Off!
Little ones hanging on your legs while you try to make dinner?
Bored toddlers destroying things while you try to homeschool their older siblings?
You need this eBook! Find 101 ideas (actually I've included a few extra!) for ways to captivate your child's attention using simple household materials that require little to no setup on your part.
Through December 13, get 50% off when you use the coupon christmas50 at checkout!
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(If you're reading via email, you will need to click through to the blog post to purchase.)
Travel Tips for Toddlers
Last year I would have told you I am no expert on traveling with little ones. I would still say that I am not an expert, but being a missionary on deputation has afforded me lots of practice! We are gone every weekend and many weeks in between. Next year we will be gone for several months at a time.
When we began this journey I asked several missionary friends for suggestions. Many of their tips have been lifesavers as we travel the country with four little people. Some areas are still being tweaked to find out what works best. These are a few of my tips for traveling with toddlers…
1. Keep Your Routine – even when away from home. I know that it is not always possible, but stick to what is “normal” as much as possible. Observe the same nap times. Eat the same foods. Keep the same bedtime routine.
2. Bring Favorite Items. There are enough “strange” things on any trip – a different bed, a new house or hotel room, and possibly a different climate. Try to keep some things the same. Liberty is attached to her blanket. We bring it on every trip. Elaine and Nolan are older and have lots of favorite “friends”, so they have to select one friend to bring in the car. We also bring a couple of family favorites for bedtime stories. This gives the kids something familiar in an unfamiliar environment.
3. Switch Things Up. We have several different entertainment items to keep the kids happy in the car. But we try to keep them varied so that the kids don’t get bored of any one thing. We use a DVD player, books on CD, reading chapter books aloud (I love my Kindle because it takes up so little space), independent playtime (with items from their backpack), family games such as “I Spy”, Bible stories from Daddy, singing, and nap time. We do one thing for a little while, and then move on to another. During nap time they can't hold any toys and they have to close their eyes and stop speaking. They almost always fall asleep.
My bigger kids are allowed to pack their own little backpacks, but I limit the number of toys. I usually let them have “five small toys”. They usually pick things like zoo animals, Little People, etc. and play make believe in their car seats. I have found that crayons/markers/stickers are not good in the car for little people. I spend most of my trip retrieving them from the floor. For drawing, Magna Doodles work great!
4. Travel at Night. It may be helpful to travel at night when your little people will naturally sleep. You don't have to plan as many stops, so the traveling goes faster. We have done it several times for very long trips. It is hard on Mom & Dad the next day, though!
5. Stop frequently. We stop about every three hours, and usually for an hour. By the time we change diapers, take a potty break, eat lunch, and let the kids run off the wiggles, it is usually an hour. But then the kids are much more content to get back into the car. We have found it very helpful to pack a lunch and stop at a park, playground, or rest stop to eat. This gives us fresh air and more room for the kids to run around, and it’s much easier on our wallet!
Packing Tips:
1. Pack Light. Almost everywhere we go there is a washing machine. I usually pack three days of clothes, and then wash. This means less stuff to load and unload into the car, and it is also less items to keep track of at the home/hotel where we are staying. For a family of six we can travel with only two suitcases, a bag of shoes, and a family toiletry bag. It means less to get ready, too. I can have us all packed in about two hours or less!
2. Prepare for Accidents. We have two kiddos in diapers, and one potty training. I keep an extra outfit and socks in the diaper bag for these kids. That way if there is an accident on the road, we don’t have to unload the whole suitcase.
3. Stay Organized. I bring along a laundry bag to set up in our destination home. This keeps the suitcase organized. I pack the “little” stuff for each person in a Ziploc bag with their name on it. All undies, socks, ties, belts, hair bows, etc. go into that person's bag to stay organized. I bring a mesh laundry bag to put dirty socks into, so that they are not lost in the dirty laundry. When you’re only packing for three days, it’s hard to lose a pair of socks!
4. Pack a Community Bag. Since there are six in our family, we have found a “community bag” to be helpful. All of our shoes go into one bag. This keeps dirt out of the suitcases and makes it easy to keep track of everyone’s shoes. We also have a family toiletry bag. All toiletry items for the whole family go into one bag, and then there is only one bag in the destination bathroom, instead of six individual bags. This makes it easier to be sure we have everything packed, too. I can easily glance through the toiletry bag to know we have all the necessary items, and my husband knows he only has to worry about loading one bag into the van.
Do you travel often? What do you do to make it fun instead of stressful?
15 Self-Directed Activities for Toddlers
With the homeschool year about to start, I am once again faced with the question of “What do I do with the little ones?” I need them to stay occupied so I can help the older ones with their schoolwork, and I need something that will hold their attention for a good while.
I have three criteria for the activities that I choose:
1. They aren't expensive or extremely time-consuming to make
2. They aren't too babyish for my 4- year-old but not too hard for my 2-year-old
3. They won't create a big mess.
Here are some ideas that meet all of those qualifications.
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| Popsicle Stick Puzzles |
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| Popsicle stick color matching |
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| Build a cupcake |
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| Building with velcro and craft sticks |
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| Pipe cleaners and a spice jar |
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| Button practice with felt |
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| Clothespin Color Match |
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| Weaving with pipe cleaners and a cooling rack |
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| Practicing shapes with stickers |
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| Popsicle Stick Shape matching |
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| Pom poms and tweezers |
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| Printable Sewing Cards |
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| Block puzzles |
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| I spy book |
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| Magnetic items and a cookie sheet |
If you want even more ideas, you'll want to check out my newest eBook! You'll find a selection of ideas that isn't too hard for you to set up for your children but will keep them occupied for a good while! Take a look here!
