Activities to Help Bond and Connecct with 2.5 Year Old?

Just being with her is enough. My daughter was happy just lying on the couch with my and watching her favorite tv program when i was too sick from being prego.
Sometimes i took her to the pool and had her wear a life jacket to make it easier. It would wear her out and felt sooo good to chill out even in the kidde pool. Then we get home it was nap time in my bed.
When she was younger i would take her to the mall to smell candles and play at the play area, so we continued to take trips to the air conditioned malls when prego for lunch out and some

This is not a specific recommendation, more of a general overall advice.
Once you get home, can you take 5 minutes to change clothes, freshen up and mentally regroup? Once you're mentally "ready," go on with your normal evening schedule but really, really try to BE in the moment. Make jokes about making dinner and have fun with bath time. Let her be silly and laugh and talk with her every evening. Allow time for a book reading before bedtime. I guess what I'm saying is that it's not as important WHAT you do with her as HOW you do it. Know what I mean? I remind myself of that ALL the time when I get too "duty oriented"!

JMO but I think reading with your child is one of the best ways to connect with her, and it has the added benefit of helping her cultivate her imagination and learn to love books and reading. Sharing books that were favorites from *your* childhood can be an especially sweet thing to do together because it gives you a natural context for telling your daughter about your own childhood and what you were like when you were her age (my girls are 8YO and they both still find it fascinating to hear mommy read books from mommy's childhood). This would also be a great time to check your local library for some of the many wonderful picture books that incorporate the theme of becoming a big brother/sister (ask your local children's librarian - they're wonderful :-)).

Hi S. - It sounds like you're doing a great job with her now. One thing you didnt really mention is to talk and sing with her. Talk to her about the baby coming and how she is going to be a great big sister. Even if she doesnt understand everything you say, your affirmations over her will make an impact. Also, dont forget to carve out some special time just with her after the baby is born where she can have your undivided attention. It isnt easy to do but it's worth it.

Try making snacks or deserts together after dinner. For example, my boys love fruit, so I will lay out the different types of fruit on the table and we work together to make a fruit salad for snack/desert. I have childrens plastic knives and they will cut up the banana (not very pretty I should add, but they are eating it so who cares) and strawberries, etc. They even help wash it and clean up. It is one of the few things we get to do together since I work two jobs. Sometimes it is as easy as making icecream sundays or just standing at the pantry to figure out what we are going to snack on. The key is that we do it together. Sometimes we even make games while sitting at the table.....like finding things that are specific colors, start with certain letters, I spy, adding, counting, etc. None of it really takes a lot of energy, just a little creativity and planning when you are at the grocery store! :-)

Good luck!

You don't have to solidify. You are solid as a rock momma.
You have gotten some great advice. My addition would be to involve her in the everyday stuff you already have to do. I know what you mean by getting through the night, but let her help. When you make dinner put her and her play food in the kitchen with you. When you fold laundry give her a pile of washclothes to fold. Let her be a part of the new baby experiance. When you two sing together, new baby will be bathed in both your love. We have kids cds in the car that we sing along to. We spend a lot of time at the park and we go for walks. You'd be surprised what a big deal walking around the block is to a 2 yr old. I know some women do pregnant yoga with thier little ones.

You would like to solidify your relationship with your daughter before the new baby comes. I would say the relationship is solid since birth. You don't agree? Your child is 2 1/2 years old. You don't need a ton of creative things to do. It sounds to me like you are trying to do more than is necessary for a child this age. A child just wants to be with her mommy. A walk outside holding hands, sitting on the couch reading a book and maybe taking a nap together. Enjoying a popsicle together...blowing bubbles, finger painting. You got all the right ideas so why are you concerned it isn't enough? Dancing, singing is wonderful. These "activities" simple as they are will make memories for your child.

I have 3 children and before the next child was born, I bought a simple gift for the older sibling, wrapped it up, and presented it to the older child(ren) as a gift from the baby. It might help if you select something you know your child would love! And make it small and simple and in return, take your 2 1/2 year old to the store and allow her to select something simple and very inexpensive (book, teething ring, bib, small toy...you get the idea) that will be for the baby just from the big sister. You can explain to your daughter how much the baby will love and appreciate anything she selects but let her pick it out. These are special memories you are making and they don't have to cost a lot of money...or time. I understand how exhausting pregnancy is. I've been through it 3 times but the quality time spent with your child is more meaningful than any activity you might present.

Okay, I didn't work, but I was pregnant in the summer while I had an almost 2 year old and it sucks. I basically kept us busy, busy, busy. It seems almost counter-intuitive, but if we were someplace where I could sit, supervise, interact from a chair, things were GREAT! Going to the pool in the late afternoon/evening is great..it's nice for you to feel bouyant and I'm sure she'll love it. You could also go the mall and let her explore and play in the play areas, yes you'll have to walk, but 2 year olds are slower than you think when they're busy checking things out, the park, even McDonald's or something with a play place--oh one of our favorites was going to Barnes and Noble and playing with the Thomas the Train table, they have one in every BN, in the kids area. I know you want to bond, but these things will make you bond and you'll be doing special activities that you could even continue after the baby comes and she'll remember the times you spent there. Good luck. I know what a tiring time this is!

While I agree with most of the other posters - simple is the best route, I also know that sometimes you just need something to pass a rainy day and have zero ideas. :) Have you ever read the magazine Family Fun? You can get an annual subscription pretty cheap and it is full of darling (and simple/easy) ideas of crafts and other things to do with little ones. I love it and am never disappointed. My kids think I'm the most creative Mom ever. :) Have fun!

Read to her and snuggle. I'm a big Dr Seuss fan, and they have books of all sort of reading levels that she'll love to hear and want to see the pictures over and over. What ever you come up with, be sure you make time for it once the baby is here. You're not done with her just because a sibling comes along and she is going to need some reassurance once you have another bundle of joy that she is still your special girl.

Have you thought of activities out of the home? I conduct a Musikgarten class for toddlers from my home and it is a wonderful, nurturing, bonding, fun learning experience. The classes acknowledge the bond needed between parent and child, and it demonstrates activities, songs and games you reinforce at home. The children come to class with something new to do, new instruments to explore every time and gives you ideas on how to have fun at home with a take home CD including activities, poetry, listening to various sounds and music to sing and dance to. It's a great one on one time and doors are always open for new family additions as well. Some moms take part in the class to continue to have one on one special time with their child.
Feel free to contact me for more information and a day to try out no charge. Hope you enjoy your time together!

Read, Read and read some more. The is one of the best things you can do for her developement. My girls always liked the sing along videos also. Great pick up for you when you are tired. Dance, laugh and relax....At that age they really don't need a lot of activities to keep them happy..Anything you do together will help you to bond..even napping...

Read to her. Take her places just for you 'two'. Go to a book store, each one of you get a drink and go read together.

When I was pregnant and tired (my daughter was 2 when my son was born), I would sometimes just sit with her and watch cartoons. I think the quality time being together was enough for her!

Sit on the floor and play baby dolls. Do puzzles.

I think at her age, anything you do will be quality time

Are you cooking dinner, enlist her help in pouring the food, setting the table, etc. Let her play in the sink with water and soap and some dishes and let her wash them.

Do you recycle? Take the items, clean them out (if they had food in them) and create art projects with them.

Scrapbook together - give her a glue stick, some stickers and pictures. My daughter loves to do this. And you can make pages for the new baby!