Boredom Busters for Toddlers & Preschoolers | Ideas to help parents keep kids occupied & having fun - Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant and Potty Training Coach

While I do believe that children should be given the opportunity to use their imaginations and create their own fun, I also believe that there is a time and a place for structured activities that parents give their children to do.

Not only do these activities engage our children, but they’re entertaining and educating them as well.

In my 7 years of being a mom, I’ve found that my kids are so much more well-behaved and cooperative when they’re given directions and provided activities to do.

Here are some tips to help your child break the boredom and take a brain break:

1. Get outside: Visit a new playground, explore around your neighborhood, find a nature trail. Expect your kids to get messy! Send them outside in PLAY CLOTHES and let them explore and get dirty. Designate certain clothes for outdoor play and exploration.

2. Sensory bins: You can gather ANY materials around your house and put them in a bin for your kids to play with. Hand-eye coordination is HUGE for toddlers and preschoolers and sensory activities help meet the needs of these experiences.

3. Positive screentime:
– Cosmic Kids Yoga

– Koo Koo Kangaroo

These are two great YouTube channels that are engaging and get your kids MOVING! Not all screentime is bad. We need to break that stigma. If you need to know that your child is safe and not getting into anything dangerous while you’re cooking dinner, there’s nothing wrong with a little positive screen time.

4. Subscription boxes for kids: I love the idea of subscription boxes for kids. They’re brand new to your child every month and you have ready-to-go activities when you’re in a pinch and need something to occupy your child. These boxes are educational, fun, and engaging. Your child will never be bored!

THE PRESCHOOL BOX: https://www.shareasale.com/a-getmerchantcode.cfm?merchantID=80791

Tips:

1. Set reasonable expectations for your children. Don’t expect them to keep sensory bins neat and tidy. And don’t expect them to sit for a full hour, doing a subscription box activity. Some activities may only get 20-30 minutes out of your child and others may get longer! Take what you can get.

2. Enjoy watching your child enjoy these activities, even though you’re busy! Yes, you’re giving your kids these activities to do when you need to get other things done around the house/work, but make sure you take some time to enjoy the activities with your kids too.

3. Set ground rules and give positive reinforcement. If you’re giving your child playdoh or something that may be messy, explain that they need to keep these items in their designated area. Remember that you are going to have to repeat the rules several times before your child remembers, but it’s important to also give positive reinforcement when your child is doing a great job.

If your child is still sleep-deprived, you may need to implement sleep training strategies.

Not sure if your child is ready for sleep training? Take the quiz to find out!

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If you’re ready to start sleep training, let’s set up a time to chat! Some things to think about when deciding when you want to start sleep training your baby:

Ensure it’s the proper timing- make sure your baby isn’t sick, you aren’t traveling, or you don’t have any big life changes coming (new baby, moving, switching jobs/childcare, etc.).
Be prepared to put in the work. Consistency will pay off in the long run. Sleep training isn’t an overnight success; it takes many nights and dedication to help your baby learn to sleep.
Create a plan or hire me as your sleep consultant for one-on-one help.