Activities for Active Toddler Boys

My husband and I have been blessed with twinBooks are great for even the most active boys.
boys. Our boys areWe bought manyboard books for our boys and
18 months old now, and I often tell my husbandread to them for months before theyreally
that God must havea sense of humor to giveshowed an interest in them. When they were
someone twin toddler boys. Some days itdoesn'tabout 15months old they began to bring us books
seem very funny!to read to them. One ofour boys is obsessed
Yesterday, during the same 15 minute phone call,with cars, trucks, and tractors, and theother one
one son decidedto crawl up onto a chair and thenloves animals. After seeing these images over and
the dining room table, and Ifound the other one inoverin books they now are pointing them out to
his bedroom where he had pulled out all ofhisus when we drivearound town. One of our sons
dresser drawers, climbed up the drawers, andgoes nuts every time we drive by anexcavator
was standing ontop of his dresser looking downor back hoe. One word of caution, however.
into his fish tank. There isnever a dull moment inWhoeversaid board books are indestructible didn't
our home.know what they weretalking about. Our boys
During the past few months I have discoveredhave destroyed several of their boardbooks by
what my boys mostlove to do and what keepsripping the pictures off the cardboard. Most of
them busy for even short periods oftime. I havethedamage is done when they are reading to
geared my ideas toward boys because theythemselves in bed, sothese books need adult
normallyhave higher activity levels, but I'm suresupervision just like any other book.
these ideas would workgreat for girls too!Make sure you take your boys outside at least
It is well known that kids love to play withonce a day. Everymorning I take the boys for a
everything excepttheir toys, and I have definitelywalk around the neighborhood intheir double
found this to be true with myboys. Many of theirstroller. If you are a working mom, take your
favorite activities are inexpensive or evenfree.boysout for some fresh air in the evenings or on
Toddlers love music. Many babies will begin tothe weekend. Theboys enjoy the ride and mom
dance to musicbefore they're even a year old.gets some exercise too. One of mysons points
There are many great CD's outthere for toddlers.out all the airplanes that fly overhead, and that
A couple of our favorites are Wee Sing Sillyisone of the highlights of his day. I also found the
Songs and Veggie Tales. Nursery rhymes areboys a playgolf set at Walmart (for about $5).
always great too. Wehave found many CD's atThey love to run around theyard trying to hit the
yard sales or half price at stores thatsell usedplastic golf balls, and it is great forimproving their
CD's. My boys enjoy dancing to music during thecoordination.
day,and like to have it playing softly in theMy boys' favorite toys are their cars, trucks, and
background while theygo to sleep. Make sure totractors.
put your CD player up out of theirreach. I haveThey love pushing them around on the floor and
to get a shelf to put mine up on the wallmaking motornoises. You can easily find
becausemy boys can now climb up to anywhereinexpensive toy cars at yard salesand thrift
else I have found to put it.stores that will give your toddler boys hours of
They have become very fascinated with takingfun.
CD's in and out ofit and pushing all of the buttons!To fully interact with and engage your toddler,
My boys love to play with water. I bought them ayou have tofigure out their personality. One of
wading poolthis year but they were hardlymy boys loves to help momand do whatever I'm
interested in it at all. Theymuch preferred playingdoing. Whenever I ask him to help me
in a little sprinkler in the shape of aturtle. Bathdosomething he gives me a big smile and pitches
time is also a favorite time. They hardly playwithright in. My otherson has no interest whatsoever
any of the bath toys I bought them. Theirin helping me...boring!! He hastoo many other
favorite bathtoys are small Tupperwareexciting things to explore. To get his attention
containers and plastic measuring cups.I ask him to show me what he is doing and
The store-bought bath toys they do enjoy,participate in whateveris interesting him at the
however, are littleplastic cups that have holes inmoment. He loves to point at thingsand have me
the bottom so that the water runsthrough them.tell him what they are.
They also love going to the river andDon't forget that your boys love to play with
throwingrocks in the water. Just don't let themmom and dad andneed lots of love and affection.
out of your sight for asecond, or they will quiteThey love it when you play carswith them or
suddenly decide to go for a swim.read to them. Some of our favorite moments
Swimming lessons seem to have done a greathavebeen spent lying on the floor with two
job of eliminatingtheir fear of water! The boystoddlers crawling all overus giving us lots of big
also spend hours playing in asmall water fountainhugs and kisses.
we have in our back yard.