| Well, you probably would agree that we are | | | | encourage deliveries all over the house. After delivering |
| experiencing unusual weather and in Australia it has | | | | the mail, the toddler could dress up and help the toys |
| been raining a lot this year. Many parents may not | | | | open their mail. |
| whine, because it is lovely sleeping weather for | | | | *Bubble blowing and chasing the bubbles around. |
| toddlers and wrapped babies! But many parents are | | | | *Indoor play centres, where mum can have a coffee |
| pulling their hair out with energetic house-bound | | | | and the toddler can get tired. |
| toddlers! According to the weather man, we are going | | | | *Wait for a break in the rain and dress the toddler in |
| to experience alternating months this year of wet and | | | | puddle wear (from Mothers Direct-Australian |
| dry weather. Since I am always encouraging 'wearing | | | | Breastfeeding Association) and gum boots. Then let |
| out' your toddler in the preparation for sleep, I have had | | | | them run and jump in puddles. |
| a lot of phone calls and emails asking for ideas on how | | | | *If it's hot you can still go swimming even if it's raining, |
| to achieve this when it's raining. | | | | after all you are going to get wet anyway. |
| So here are some of the ideas I have been | | | | Knowing that the preparation for sleep influences the |
| suggesting: | | | | quality of sleep your toddler experiences will help you |
| *No TV! just music for dancing (the wiggles/playschool | | | | to be realistic about how long your toddler will sleep. If |
| music CD etc) or at home kindy gym type activity. | | | | they are not interested in a day sleep and starting to |
| There are a specific cd's aimed at home dancing | | | | look like they will cope with not having a day sleep at |
| exercise for toddlers and young children. | | | | all, maybe a rest with stories on the lounge or in bed |
| *In an appropriate room play games with balloons/soft | | | | will suffice. |
| balls, chasing, kicking, hide and go seek, trying to see | | | | You are the expert on your toddler and will know how |
| who can keep the balloon in the air the longest. | | | | much sleep your toddler requires during the day to |
| *create cubby houses from the dining room table and | | | | enhance their night sleep. Remember to lower your |
| blankets/sheets, encourages crawling. | | | | expectations of the day sleep when we are traveling, |
| *Use a spring out tunnel in the lounge room and | | | | visiting, shopping or are not in a position to ensure the |
| encourage the toddler to crawl through it to play with | | | | active play and rainy days can be treated as similar |
| different activities at either end. You could have farm | | | | days. Also plan carefully what your toddler eats to |
| animals at one end and jungle animals or people | | | | avoid unnecessary sugar, colours and preservatives |
| figures at the other end and suggest a game where | | | | that excite and energise them! |
| the toddler encourages the different toys to visit each | | | | Tip: The one activity that does help the toddler to wind |
| other. | | | | down and recognise that they are tired before bed is |
| *Use large boxes to create cars, planes, ships, cubby | | | | sitting still for some stories. Aim for 2-3 books over |
| houses, shops, a city, police cars, fire engines. Add | | | | 8-10 minutes. Lie the toddler back on your chest and |
| some dress ups and encourage journeys around the | | | | hold the book up so they keep lying down and can still |
| house to complete missions. | | | | see the book! Encourage this position for all three |
| *Create a letter box from a nappy box (paint it red or | | | | stories and if the toddler becomes fidgety and wants |
| cover it in red paper) and give your toddler your old | | | | to wriggle away try to distract them with the story. It is |
| junk mail in old envelopes. Address the envelopes to | | | | the total length of time sitting still for the stories that |
| your toddlers toys and have the toddler dress up and | | | | makes the difference to how tired they 'feel', don't |
| be a postman. When addressing the envelope use a | | | | think that 3 books with a jumping, active toddler on the |
| different colour for the first letter in the name of the | | | | lounge will do the same thing!! |
| toy to encourage learning the sounds of the letters | | | | (C) 2008 Natalie Ebrill All Rights Reserved Worldwide. |
| (phonetics) to help with reading. Get creative and | | | | |