Entertaining a 13 Month Old

I'm a big fan of NOT entertaining children. <Grinning> As in: that's not my job.

I should add, my son is NOT an independent child, but a social butterfly. Only at 8yo is he able to "go play" by himself for 15-30 minutes.

Anyhow... that aside. Boredom breeds creativity. And I have a life to lead. So kiddo would come along with me. Helping with chores, reading books, swimming, whatever I was doing he'd either help or do them with me. Of course I'd play with him, a lot, but I never* felt that my job was to keep him entertained.

* Ahem, I did until he was about 6 months old. And then I realized that I could either become a 1 woman TV set, or go about my life and have fun WITH him... or go back to work and put him in daycare. I chose to go about my life instead.

One thing that made my life soooo much easier when my son was that age was to basically have a huge area completely baby proofed so my little one could run, explore, etc without worry. We had a routine and that seemed to make the days go smoother and made me feel less like "what do I do now"? We had certain days we went places to play or storytime, etc for her, certain days for shopping/errands, housecleaning, etc.

Do you have any local SAHM groups you could join? I've been in one for six years now and we have weekly playdates, trips to splash parks, story times, children's museusm, etc.
I have a 14 month old, but she also has two older brothers to help keep her busy! But, the strangest things keep her entertained. She is really good and doesn't put everything into her mouth. The other day she played with a box of bandaids for like 15 minutes. She took them out one by one and put them back in. Sometimes I put her in her highchair and plop some baby food onto the tray (different colors). She smears this around and some ends up in her mouth. Her first painting experience.

Let's see... Stickers! I put a few on her arms and she kept herself busy peeling them off and then sticking them back on. When I put some music on she stands up and dances for a while. She loves playing peek a boo with baby blankets. She throws them over her head and sits still until we say, "Where are you?"

I have a cupboard in the kitchen that she can open herself. I keep plastic bowls and cups for her to play with when I'm cooking. I have a book by Trish Kuffner called: The Toddler Busy Book. It has really great ideas.

You don't have to 'entertain' a baby... at that age... they can easily get over-stimulated and over-tired... which both prevents them from NAPPING. Over-tiredness/over stimulation, actually makes it harder for a baby to fall asleep....

She is so young... just wait until she is like 2,3,4 years old. THEN you will have to 'entertain' her. And have daily runaround time too.... like a young wild colt.

You CAN take her outdoors. Why not? They need to explore and get dirty.... that is how they learn about their world.
My kids at that age, we'd go in the yard, I'd let them touch and smell the plants and ants.... and we'd lay on a blanket and look at the sky and I'd 'talk' to them and converse with them. Many fond memories.

All the best,
Susan

Do you have friend with children of similar age? Playdates are wonderful and can really help socialize your little one. Also, Local librarys often offer a storytime group for toddlers. At home, mix in lots of toys, esp. ones that can really captivate your daughter - Toys that make music, playdough, crayons, books, sidewalk chalk are great. Just keep trying, they are trying to discover this new and exciting world too.

basic things are fascinating at that age. Figure out how to contain the mess as best as possible and let your "little scientist" explore. Everything is totally new to her!

Besides the tupperware, anything tactile is good. maybe add some Cheerios or other safe edible to the tupperware. Try setting her up at the sink with the water dribbling out and have it stopped. Give her some pouring utensils and put some towels on the floor.

Yes you may have a little mess, but she can even help you clean up afterwards. Kids grow up fast and this like so many other fleeting things is a stage that one day will be memories. Your figuring out how to make them happy will give you great memories to look back on. :o)

Learning how to find the "happy place" with every stage of development will go SO FAR with your parenting journey that you've just started.

Hi M.
You have no idea of all the ideas and thoughts you raised in this grandmother's mind, but I do want to share a few and if you want you can write me and we can talk more.
We used to go to Toms River when I was a child so even that brought back memories.
I loved one nap because I didn't feel like I was always putting the kids down for a nap or waiting for them to wake up. She entertains herself, but you appear to sound bored so you are taking her places and trying to do things with her. That is really not necessary. What you should really be trying to do is build that attention span. Find something she likes and let her do it for as long as she is happy. Is she walking? Then she will love the new perspective that the world has as she stands so walk. Is she loving to crawl? then crawl because that builds the connections in her brain to read well and fast. Does she like to climb? Then allow her to climb working her large muscles. What about scribbling? working her small muscles. What about water play with the heat of summer? Kids even tiny ones usually like to splash in water from bathtub to sink to basins under the shade of the tree. Have you put on kid's CD's? nursery rhymes or kid songs --- even if she doesn't sing them you can. Takes away some of the boredom you feel. Hey you both or just she can even dance, march, or play real or pretend instruments(tupperware or kettles and a wooden spoon) with music. It doesn't matter whether it is morning, noon or night to do these things. Toys of course add another element to her play. She can begin to build with blocks, show her how then let her explore. At 1 they build high, but watch for her to start building lengthwise. Snap together blocks add eye hand coordination, show her how then let her explore. Hope you get the idea.
Stop thinking you can do the dishes, mop the floor, or whatever housework you do and take time to just play & watch her. She will enjoy it.
Reading to a 1 year old is more like showing them pictures to build their vocabulary, but don't discount how important that is.
Remember-- doing the housework while the kids are still growing is like plowing the snow while it is still snowing. not an exact quote of the rhyme but you get the idea.
God bless you and let you see this job of mothering as one you can do sitting down and enjoying your own little one