10 activities to keep your toddler busy and you sane!

Being a stay-at-home mum is wonderful but it has its challenges.  Coming up with things for us to do every single day is something that I struggle with.  As Miss E gets older I can see she is wanting more attention and needing more things planned for her.

There are lots of posts like this out there, and I'm no expert, but I thought I would share some simple activities that I have found useful to help me get through the day and week without going too crazy!  If we do one or two of these a day I feel like we've had a good day!

Some of these are fun little activities to do at home and some are things you can do away from home, because let's face it...it's nice to get out of the house every now and then!

Activity One

Play dough! I found this great play dough recipe on pinterest after a friend pointed me in the right direction.  I had never made play dough before, but this was so easy and is so soft that I don't think I will use any other recipe.  I don't have any good pictures to show you so I am just going to borrow one from the lady on pinterest and you can go straight there and get the recipe from her! :) (recipe here)

click here for her website

Activity two

Painting.  I have blogged about this before, but it is something that Miss E loves doing.  The recipe is super easy (click here for recipe) and perfect for when they "accidentally" get some in their mouth.  I find it's best to do this outside, but I know some people who set their toddler up in the high chair and cover the tray with newspaper and let them go nuts with it.  Whatever you can handle I say!

Activity three

Painting with water.  If you can't hand the messy paint then this one is PERFECT! We do this far more often than real painting and Miss E doesn't even seem to know the difference.

Grab a brush and a bowl of water and let them get to work.  E likes to "paint" the outdoor table (this works well because the water shows up on the wooden furniture) but she has also "painted" the fence and the concrete before.

When she is finished she thinks it's fun to drink the rest of the water out of the bowl...

Activity four

Water based play.  This one is simple but be prepared for things to get a bit wet.

Fill a tub with some water and bubbles and throw in some toys and sponges and let them get wet! Some bottles or containers to pour water into are always extra fun so make sure you have some of those handy.

 

As they get a bit older you can show them how to clean with the cloth.  Put a few cars in the water and do a "car wash".  They will LOVE it!

Activity five

Nature collage.  We really enjoyed this one and as she gets older I think she will enjoy it more.

Take a walk around your home or at the park and collect "bits of nature" for your collage.  It's okay if they choose things that won't stick to the paper, you can talk to them about that as you do the collage.

We used PVA glue and regular computer paper.

Now the collage hangs nicely on the fridge and Miss E walks past every now and then and pulls somethings off!

Activity six

Gluing and shapes learning activity.  You could really do anything using the same concept but since Miss E is still quite young I thought I would just start with shapes.  But be adventurous! Plan something based around anything your toddler is in to. 

Just plain old crepe paper, glue and computer paper.  I drew a few shapes, scrunched up the crepe paper into balls and let E stick them on to the shape (which I had already put glue on).  She was a bit more interested in the glue than sticking things to it, but she got the idea eventually.
  
The older they get, the more helpful they will be too.  This one is great for fine motor skills.

Activity seven

Dancing!  Turn the music on and just dance! It's great when a toddler doesn't know that you are a lousy dancer! Have some fun together and enjoy being silly.

Activity eight

Visit the park.  Sometimes it's nice just to be outside.

We are lucky enough to have a park (not this one) within walking distance.  These days I let Miss E walk (rather than take the pram).  We spend just as much time getting there as we do playing at the park, but that's part of the fun.


It's also a great way to meet other people and for your toddler to play with other kids (if they don't get to do that very often).

Activity nine

Go to the library.  We don't do this as often as we should, but it is always fun when we go.  The library we go to has a little play area (which is what we usually do).  We often sit and read a few books on the nice comfy cushions, but it's probably about time that we actually borrowed some to bring home!

Activity ten

Go outside!  Sometimes the best activity can simply be spending some time together outside.  Go for a walk, weed the garden, play in the dirt, ride bikes...

Nothing gets rid of the crazies like some good old sunshine!

"sew" much more

Sew many delights has turned into more about 'delights' and less about 'sew', so I thought I should catch up on the 'sew'.

I am surprised by how much I love sewing.  I really thought it would be a phase that came and went, but alas, it continues! Maybe it's just a long phase...

My mum gave me my sewing machine for my first Mother's day (thanks mum! Although, I'm pretty sure I should have got her a present, not the other way around...)

This is my little sewing nook.  Many a nap time has been spent here trying to come up with new ideas or to quickly finish something off.  In an ideal world one nap time should be all I need to sew something beautiful, right?!?  REALITY check!  Many frustrations have been had in front of these two machines.  My best/worst friend (the quick-unpick) is always right by my side.

I am developing an addiction fabric - hopefully it doesn't get out of control...too much :)

I inherited this pile from my Aunt this week.  I'm so excited! I LOVE looking at fabric and dreaming about all the things I wish I actually knew how to sew! ha ha!  Maybe one day.

Some days I don't feel like sewing at all, but most of the time I love to sit down and CREATE!

Food Friday

Things have been quite busy around here so I haven't had much time for blogging.  I managed to squeeze some baking in during the week though, so Food Friday has made it this week...

Spinach and Cheese Scones

Ingredients
250g Frozen spinach (thawed, chopped and drained)
2 1/2 cups SR flour (sifted)
1 tablespoon caster sugar
50g chopped butter
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
3/4 cup milk
extra flour for kneading

Preheat oven 240 degrees celcius / 220 degrees celcius fan-forced.
Sift flour and caster sugar into a medium bowl.  Rub in the butter.  Stir in grated cheese and chopped spinnach (I always forget to chop it!).  Stir in milk and mix to a soft, sticky dough.  Turn dough onto floured surface and knead lightly until smooth.  Press dough into about 2cm thickness and cut round shapes (a glass works well if you don't have a cookie cutter)  Place the scones, just touching, in a pan lined with baking paper.  Bake for about 15-20 minutes depending on size and your oven.  Serve warm.

TIP 1
This recipe says it serves 16 but I usually get about 10.  I cook them for about 16 minutes at 220 degrees celcius (fan-forced).

TIP 2
You can freeze these scones (uncooked) for up to one month.  Bake from frozen and add an extra 10 minutes to the baking time.  - I haven't tried this yet, but if you do and it works, let me know!

Wrapped around her finger!

It would seem our precious E has me wrapped around her finger.  Not even her little finger...it's her index finger (that one is a whole lot stronger).

I was putting her to bed the other night and as usual, sang her a song.  When I had finished she waved her index finger at me to indicate that she would like another song.  Oh, okay then, so I started to sing our "bedtime song" - go to sleep, go to sleep etc.  To my horror she screamed and waved that finger some more.  It seems she doesn't like the "bedtime song" anymore.  Perhaps she knows it signifies that it's time for sleep! 

So I picked a different song.  "The Wheels on the Bus" seemed to be a better choice.  As I finished the first verse, she waved some more for the next verse.  Hmmmm.

Five verses later...I put her in her cot.  Then in her little voice she whispered "pair" (meaning prayer).  So we said a prayer.  THEN, out came the finger again for another song! Really?? But how can I say no? That finger is strong (I am soft) and she knows EXACTLY what she is doing! Cheeky monkey!

Finally after 3 "pairs" and half a dozen songs I left the room.

Food Friday

A somewhat "healthy" date loaf recipe.

I love date loaf, and remember mum always making it when I was a kid.  This isn't her recipe though...sorry mum :)  This one is a bit simpler.

Ingredients

1 cup chopped dates
1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar
60g butter or margarine (chopped)
1 cup boiling water
1 3/4 cups sifted SR flour
1 teaspoon bicarb soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Simply put the chopped dates, sugar and butter in a heatproof bowl.  Add the boiling water and mix until the sugar dissolves and the butter is melted. Add the vanilla essence.
Add the sifted flour and bicarb soda and mix until all combined.
Pour into a greased loaf tin (not a very big one, this isn't a big cake) and bake for 30-35 minutes at 180 degrees.  Every oven is different so check if it is cooked before taking it out of the oven.

And there you have it, quick and simple "healthy" date loaf recipe!

a day OFF

This week my husband surprised me by giving me a day off.  The BEST surprise!

I was presented with this lovely card and chocolate bar (because I am a marvellous creation...aww)

and this Royal Decree.  (He is fun like that)

With babysitting arrangements taken care of, he planned some activities for me so I wouldn't be tempted to stay home and clean!  He knows me very well.

First stop - Thai Foot Spa.  This was AMAZING!  When you wake yourself up with your own heavy breathing (that moment before you start snoring) you know you are relaxed! I could have stayed there all day.

Next stop - Lunch with Mr Incredible.  I can't remember the last time we had lunch together by ourselves.  It was so peaceful.

Last stop - The beauty salon.  Just to make me feel beautiful.

I managed to squeeze in a few hours of sewing as well!

I had some time for reflection on this day off.  Being a mum is a tough job.  Even though I only have one child (those of you with 2, 3, 4, 5... children - you are AMAZING!) there are some very hard days.  I always feel guilty if I spend time and money on myself and generally don't. So this was the best surprise my husband could give me!

Mums - you need to look after yourselves!  If you haven't had a "day off" in a while....or ever...go and have one! I don't think we always need to spend money and do extravagant things, but just having a little time to be you helps you to be a better you!  They're my thoughts anyway.  :)

If we could only do this more often - 

“How beautiful is it to rest and then do nothing afterward”  Spanish proverb

I feel rejuvenated, ready to tackle the next 18 months....although I'm hoping I get another "day off" surprise before then ;)

Food Friday

A winter warmer - Thai Green Curry (chicken)

This is a favourite in our house.  I used to make it once a week, but I got slack and hadn't made it for a while...until last night...

 

It is so EASY!

You will need this:

Follow the directions on the jar for a very delicious green curry.

I like to make it my own.  This is how I usually make it (I have had to tone down the curry spice for E. For some reason she doesn't like it spicy :) so this is a mild version):

Ingredients

Chicken breast (usually about 300 grams)
1 small onion
1-2 tbspn Valcom green curry paste
2 tbspn fish sauce
2 tspn Castor sugar
2 x 400ml cans light coconut milk/cream
broccoli
green capsicum
zucchini
peas
3 cups basmati rice

Slice the chicken breasts and the onion and chop the vegetables.  I will usually use any green vegetable I have, so don't be scared to use other vegetables.

Cook the rice now.

Heat some olive oil in a pan (about 2 tablespoons).  Cook the onion for 30 seconds and add the curry paste and stir for another 30 seconds or until fragrant.  Don't burn the paste!  Add the chicken and cook until just cooked.  Add the coconut milk, fish sauce and sugar and bring to the boil.  (I use two tins of coconut milk to reduce the spice.  If you like it spicy, and without much sauce, just use one).

Add the vegetables and simmer for 10-15 minutes.

This quantity will feed our family of 3 for two meals with some left over.

Enjoy!