https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 05 May 2026 02:44:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-need-distracting-independent-activities-for-my-toddler#post-1551742 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 16:11:51 +0000 bunnylove08 1551742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: When we take DD to the store she likes to help put things in the cart. We hand her things that will not break and she turn around and drops it in the cart. </p> <p>We also give her items to distract her with like a giant plastic egg filled with eggs. She carried that around in the cart with her until we had to pay then she screamed bloody murder when we pried it out of her hands.</p> <p>But i see you survived your trip! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-need-distracting-independent-activities-for-my-toddler#post-1551709 Mon, 07 Apr 2014 15:52:49 +0000 twoofeverything 1551709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: HA! Take pictures! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-need-distracting-independent-activities-for-my-toddler#post-1549543 Sun, 06 Apr 2014 19:31:26 +0000 78h2o 1549543@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone for the suggestions. She did really well with some of the ideas above in the play yard, and it was warm enough out that I could out the water table on the desk, so that helped too (though she climbed into it &amp; took an impromptu bath)! </p> <p>@sera_87: @hilsy85: @rrachael: We managed a tantrum-free shopping trip thanks to stickers, snacks, and helping me put each item on the check out belt. She was about to lose it at the end, but she loved helping me put things on the belt and the cashier was a real sport about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-need-distracting-independent-activities-for-my-toddler#post-1549534 Sun, 06 Apr 2014 19:26:18 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1549534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO loved magazines. She would "read" them tear the pages etc.</p> <p>Worse comes to worse give her a roll of toilet paper! I've never seen a kid not like playing with that and you could just throw it out afterwaRds! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-need-distracting-independent-activities-for-my-toddler#post-1549394 Sun, 06 Apr 2014 17:03:15 +0000 chopsuey 1549394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: my kids are into lego duplos and megabloks lately!<br /> DD is 3 and DS is 15 months old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-need-distracting-independent-activities-for-my-toddler#post-1549271 Sun, 06 Apr 2014 14:33:30 +0000 sera_87 1549271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@78h2o: if shopping alone with him - I honestly start him off in the cart and if he wants down he pushes the cart with me. He also helps me grab stuff off the shelf (I'll lift him) and for the check out line it's back into the cart with his Eebee baby video. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-need-distracting-independent-activities-for-my-toddler#post-1549168 Sun, 06 Apr 2014 12:42:34 +0000 Greentea 1549168@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Great ideas! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-need-distracting-independent-activities-for-my-toddler#post-1549112 Sun, 06 Apr 2014 11:38:06 +0000 hilsy85 1549112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Snacks? That usually works when he is Inthe stroller. Yummy things like freeze dried fruit, goldfish, mini pancakes, etc. </p> <p>At home what about a pot, a whisk, and some water? My Lo looves mixing things in a pot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-need-distracting-independent-activities-for-my-toddler#post-1548815 Sat, 05 Apr 2014 22:29:14 +0000 78h2o 1548815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rrachael: I've tried stickers with mixed results, but not in the last month. Maybe I will try that again, thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-need-distracting-independent-activities-for-my-toddler#post-1548810 Sat, 05 Apr 2014 22:21:16 +0000 rrachael 1548810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you ever given her stickers? I randomly bought a pack of plastic/raised stickers at rite aide {in the stationary section} right before taking my 15 month old on a flight, and they kept her busy for 45 minutes! She just kept peeling them off, playing with them on her fingers then trying to get them back on the paper. It was awesome. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-need-distracting-independent-activities-for-my-toddler#post-1548805 Sat, 05 Apr 2014 22:13:56 +0000 78h2o 1548805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@twoofeverything: I'm envisioning the following.<br /> Round 1: giving her a box of tissues, a roll of tp, and some catalogs.<br /> Round 2: giving her a pile of cups, paper plates, bowls, tupperware, shoe boxes, etc.<br /> Round 3: giving her a paintbrush, bowl of water, and paper bag.</p> <p>She is going to be thrilled. </p> <p>Now I just have to figure something out for the store! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-need-distracting-independent-activities-for-my-toddler#post-1548800 Sat, 05 Apr 2014 22:07:07 +0000 twoofeverything 1548800@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids (16mos) put everything in their mouths, so I was scared to try it. I was desperate, though...I gave them a roll of toilet paper and put them in the bathtub (to contain the mess...and them). Worked like a charm! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-need-distracting-independent-activities-for-my-toddler#post-1548791 Sat, 05 Apr 2014 22:01:44 +0000 78h2o 1548791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How do you guys shop with your toddlers? Do they just sit in the cart?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-need-distracting-independent-activities-for-my-toddler#post-1548783 Sat, 05 Apr 2014 21:56:32 +0000 78h2o 1548783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: she started resisting carriers about 6 months ago. I guess I could try??? Though we have a bjorn and she's probably too big?? 27 lbs, 34"? I feel like she might just scream the whole time, but nothing could be worse than the other night at the mall when I majorly struggled to carry her (due to her resisting).</p> <p>ETA: Yeah, looked it up and it's a no go. :( I knew I should have gotten a Ergo! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-need-distracting-independent-activities-for-my-toddler#post-1548779 Sat, 05 Apr 2014 21:52:05 +0000 78h2o 1548779@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@matador84: she still puts stuff in her mouth, otherwise I'm sure she'd love the burying in rice/beans idea. I think she's too young to match. She gets mad at the shape sorter. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-need-distracting-independent-activities-for-my-toddler#post-1548775 Sat, 05 Apr 2014 21:50:36 +0000 78h2o 1548775@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DillonLion: oooh, that's a GREAT idea. She'd probably love that!!!</p> <p>@cmomma17: good idea!</p> <p>@beachbee: yeah, maybe I will put together a bin full of tupperware, cans, and paper goods. </p> <p> @cmomma17: the catalog is a good idea, though she still puts paper in her mouth. If I'm right there though, it should be ok. Unfortunately, she's not really into remotes and keys anymore. She does love pens and other office supplies she's not supposed to play with while I'm working... maybe I can put together some stuff that's safe enough for her to get into. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-need-distracting-independent-activities-for-my-toddler#post-1548769 Sat, 05 Apr 2014 21:45:17 +0000 matador84 1548769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Tupperware container with rice or beans and various cups/figures to bury?<br /> Do you have blocks or different objects? Outline them on paper and match them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-need-distracting-independent-activities-for-my-toddler#post-1548766 Sat, 05 Apr 2014 21:42:37 +0000 MamaMoose 1548766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you have an ergo you could use for shopping? Even if she struggles she can't hurt herself or get away from you and your hands are free to shop. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-need-distracting-independent-activities-for-my-toddler#post-1548747 Sat, 05 Apr 2014 21:25:32 +0000 DillonLion 1548747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bowl of water, paper bag, paintbrush for "painting" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-need-distracting-independent-activities-for-my-toddler#post-1548745 Sat, 05 Apr 2014 21:23:40 +0000 cmomma17 1548745@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pulling tissues out of a tissue box? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-need-distracting-independent-activities-for-my-toddler#post-1548744 Sat, 05 Apr 2014 21:22:24 +0000 beachbee 1548744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>do you have any paper plates/bowls/cups/napkins? my LO can spend a good 45 minutes on her own just stacking, unstacking and restacking the bowls and plates, putting the cups in a line, pulling apart the napkins, etc. it ends up being a pretty good mess, but if you keep her in the play yard you should be able to contain it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-need-distracting-independent-activities-for-my-toddler#post-1548728 Sat, 05 Apr 2014 21:04:00 +0000 cmomma17 1548728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about adult stuff she's usually not allowed to touch? Car keys, tv remote, etc?<br /> Have time to throw together a sensory bottle or bag?<br /> My LO also likes ripping or crinkling paper so I will sometimes give him a catalog to go to town on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/help-need-distracting-independent-activities-for-my-toddler#post-1548723 Sat, 05 Apr 2014 21:01:13 +0000 78h2o 1548723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I need to get a lot accomplished around the house tomorrow and run some errands as well (with my 16 mo LO in tow). She hates shopping with a passion and is fairly impossible to take anywhere. I need to think of some good distracting activities to keep her seated in the shopping cart. I would resort to apps or screen time if she cared about it, but neither interests her.</p> <p>At home, I have an octagon shaped play yard I could put her in while I pay bills, etc., but she will scream unless I give her something cool to play with in there. Any ideas? </p> <p>She loves putting on her own pants and trying on shoes - that will usually buy me 10-30 min.</p> <p>She also loves it when I give her a bunch of tupperware containers - she will spend quite a while putting on all the lids.</p> <p>Any other ideas? </p>