1. Blocks and other building materials. Just be prepared - knocking down the tower is just as much fun as building it!
2. Books of all kinds. Our kids enjoy being read to, and also looking at the pictures on their own. They either make up stories, talk about the pictures, or quote what they remember of the actual story. And they are always begging for "just one more book!"
3. Music - especially action songs, silly songs, and classical. This includes playing instruments - rhythm instruments, recorders, kazoos, toy guitars or trumpets. Build them a simple wooden stage and let them give you a show!
4. Nursery rhymes or Bible verses. Toddlers love to memorize things, and this a great way to keep them occupied in a confined space, like the car.
5. Cars, balls, and baby dolls. Old classics for a reason! And don't be a bit surprised if your girl likes playing cars and balls, and your boy likes playing baby dolls. After all, they see Mommy driving and playing catch with them, and they see Daddy taking care of babies.
6. Dirt.Seriously. Need I say more?
7. Cooking supplies - either toys or hand-me-downs from the adults in the house.
8. Swinging, jumping, sliding, racing, running, tag, exercises, stretching...
9. Imagination! Kids this age are just learning how to play with other kids, and the give and take in their imaginary games is so fun to watch. Start them on a story, suggest they are an animal, let them go wild!
10. Imagination! It's that important - it gets two numbers! Kids this age are also just starting to make up worlds of their own, and anything - including fingers - can be props for play. In our house recently, a broom was a weed-eater, an excavator boom, a vacuum, a hose, a horse, and a broom, all in the space of about five minutes. Another morning, a spoon was a tiger hiding behind cereal bushes, and two pieces of popcorn were people walking along a path.
11. Art. This could be as simple as coloring with crayons, but kids this age also often have the fine motor skills needed for painting and gluing. We always have crayons, markers, colored pencils, pens and pencils, a variety of paper/coloring books, and stickers where the kids can reach them, and they are allowed to use them anytime, although only in designated areas of the house. There are very few days we don't have artwork spread across the coffee table!
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