6 Ways to Occupy your Toddler Without a Screen
December is a busy time of year, with presents to wrap and holiday parties to plan. It is a time to get together with family and friends, but also a time where all the little nuggets of time you may have found before are suddenly getting filled in. Instead of winding down on the couch, now you’re in the kitchen making Christmas cookies, going food shopping, or putting up decorations. With little ones in tow, it may suddenly seem very difficult to keep up with it all. It is tempting to sit them down in front of a screen, especially since you know they might stay in one spot, not try to scale the walls. Maybe you could finish a train of thought without it going off the rails the moment you hear “Mommaaa!” or “Daddaaa!” or whatever they call you.
Every home has a unique set of caretakers, needs, and values. There is no formula for the perfect way to handle media within the home, since there are so many variables. That said, it is valuable to know the risks of allowing extensive amounts of screen time for children under a certain age. This balance is best found with the support of parents and professionals who have tried-and-true resources and ideas to share, in an effort to lighten some of the mental load.
Many electronic devices are engineered to be addictive, in the hopes they sell well. The bright lights and dopamine hits are hard for little growing brains to manage. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), until 18-24 months, no screen time is recommended, except for video chatting. Similarly, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends no screens for children under 2, and limiting screens to less than an hour a day for children 2-5. For more information on this, click here for a great resource from the American Psychological Association.
So what else can we do with the little ones? What research, observation, and word of mouth have shown is summed up in three primary reasons: the parents’ exhaustion, lack of entertainment for young children, and poor weather that prevents them from playing outside. As the cold weather quickly approaches, it becomes difficult to find ways to help them expend that energy! And the holidays are stressful enough without adding more to your plate. So, I have compiled a list of six activities for children to do from 18-36 months that are fairly simple to set up, inexpensive, will entertain them for a while, and support their learning objectives without relying on a screen.
1 - Playdough
This is one of those classic toys we had growing up, and even though it is fairly simplistic, it is wonderfully engaging. Children who have difficulty sitting still are often on-the-go so much because they are what is called “sensory-seeking,” and try to find input in less safe ways. Playdough gives them extra sensory input in a controlled way, and keeps their focus longer. If you’re worried about using it because your child is still putting things in their mouth, here is one of my favorite recipes for homemade playdough. It is made of food items, like Jello, in case they do put it in their mouth (I just wouldn’t let them eat too much of it of course!) and gives that added sensory experience by having different smells. You can find the recipe by clicking here.
You can also get cookie cutters and press them into the playdough to make different shapes. Wooden craft sticks are also good to use for cutting the dough for an added fine motor activity. To keep their attention even longer, hide little toys for them to find in the dough.
2 - Busy Boards or Busy/Quiet Books
You can find busy/quiet books in a lot of stores now that carry children’s toys, or you can make your own! The idea is that each page has a different activity, and often has velcro for the child to stick on different pieces. They often work on different fine motor activities, such as little fasteners or buttons. Sometimes they include pre-academic skills like matching shapes, colors, and alphabet activities. They are encouraged to stick with one page at a time, as opposed to flipping from video to video on a screen. It also helps them learn better since they are using tangible objects instead of swiping or dragging flat images on a screen. It helps them learn how to use their hands move their body through space. Educational games or videos on a screen are sometimes difficult for processing due to the 2-dimensional format. More information about this topic can be found by clicking here.
3 - Colander or Dry Pasta with Pipe Cleaners
Set up a colander from your kitchen, and have your toddler thread pipe cleaners through the holes. They might need a demonstration at first, but once they get the hang of it, it can engage them for while as you get the cooking done. So long as you don’t need to drain any pasta! Speaking of pasta, dry pasta penne noodles are great for threading pipe cleaners through, especially the really big noodles for kids who put things in their mouths. Just keep an eye on the wire of the pipe cleaner! If it is starting to get sharp, it may need to be replaced. Shoelaces provide a great alternative to pipe cleaners if desired.
4 - Sorting Games
Depending on the child’s age and developmental level, they may or may not understand the concept of matching quite yet. One way to engage kiddos at this stage is to help them sort by object. For example, you can dump out all the crayons and a box of plastic spoons, and give them two cups. Show them that the spoons go in one cup and the crayons in the other. You can also make it increasingly more challenging by spreading out the items or hiding them for them to seek out.
5 - No-Mess Finger Painting
Finger paint can be pretty messy, and during the holidays there is enough cleaning to do without needing to clean up colorful little hand prints on the walls too. Putting down some cellophane, dobbing on some paint, and putting another layer of cellophane on top keeps everything contained. Tape it down with masking or painters tape if you want to avoid adhesive residue left behind. Tah-dah! Mess-free finger painting.
6 - Kitchen Dance Party
I couldn’t end the list without including music! Have a dance party in the kitchen! It will get your toddler moving, and they will get to spend time with one of their favorite people - you! Learning where their body is in space is an important learning objective in development. Music is highly motivating as they figure out the ways they can move their body. Dancing is a way to share joy with each other, and you are able to get things done at the same time. Play time doesn’t always have to be a set time, it can be woven into the chores you have to do anyway. Dancing while doing mundane tasks will make it more fun for you as well!
Author: Jenni Chute, MA, MT-BC
Editor: Sonya Imperio, MT-BC
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