We have all had it happen. A neighbor or a family member drops by your house unexpectedly touting their toddler. You look around frantically. Never mind the fact that the bathrooms aren't clean, what toys do you have to occupy the kid while the adults sit down for a conversation? Never fear. Here is a list of everyday items in your house that can be used to occupy and entertain a child for at least 10 minutes.
1. Pots and pans. Chances are there is a picture of you that your mother took ages ago that shows you sitting down on the kitchen floor happily banging away on a pan. It just goes to show you that the best toys never really go out of style. Drag out that old bundt cake pan, slide the bread loaf pan across the tile, or just pull out the whole array of matching cookware and become the child's fairy godmother. Add a plastic spatula and a spoon and the kid will become your number one fan. Don't worry, pans can always be washed and honestly, when is the last time you baked a bundt cake anyway?
2. Tupperware. Along the same lines as the pots and pans, any type of plastic container also does the trick. Better yet, these can always be thrown in the dishwasher, will not break, are cheaper and most importantly, are quieter than their pot counterparts. My daughter's favorite toy in the world is the stackable Gladware containers you can buy at your local drugstore. And when she is finished, they can be washed and used for leftovers. Now that is what I call multitasking.
3. Cordless phone. Just remember to unplug the receiver and unscrew the antenna before handing it to the child. Otherwise you may end of with some very interesting numbers on your next phone bill.
4. T-shirts. Pull several of your oldest t-shirts out of the drawer and pile them up around the toddler. Let them play dress up. Be prepared though, there is a good chance they will cuter in your clothes than you do.
5. Cardboard boxes. Any type will do. Shoe box size up to appliance size. The child will have fun crawling around in them and dragging them about the house.
On the flip side of this, there are also some household objects that should never be used to entertain a toddler.
1. Cats' Whether sleeping or awake, most cats do not enjoy being made to play with small children. Ear pulling, tailing grabbing and the "child pat" are sure ways to make your usually docile cat break out the claws.
2. First additions of any books. These valuable items will become worthless with drool marks and pages torn out of them. Best to keep the child way from the library for now.
3. Television Remotes. My daughter loves to play with the remote. Unfortunately, she is also very adapt at reprogramming the satellite dish configurations. I on the other hand, am on a first name basis with the technical department at the dish company as they walk me through yet again how to get my channels back.
4. CD's and DVD's. Contrary to popular belief, these products are not packaged in child proof containers and while chances are the child is in no immediate danger from these items, the frustration they will feel coming from you when you discover that they have removed all of the disks and placed them in other containers is probably not that healthy of an environment for them to be in. Play it safe, don't let toddlers near the entertainment system.
There are many items that can be used to entertain a child without running out and buying up the toy store. Be sure to always supervise them and be ready to remove the object should it become hazardous. Rest assured that a surprise visit from the neighbor can be pleasant and enjoyable experience.
About the Author
Jill Dory is a first time mother currently learning the best ways to take care of a baby by the widely popular trial and error method of childrearing. She hopes to have all of it figured out by the time the child is 27. To see more tips and stories like the ones in this article, please click here. www.bestbabyaccessories.com
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