I am a single mom with a 2.5 year old little girl..my angel!! But the girl has mass amounts of energy and is feisty!!!! I went through a divorce with her dad when I was 4 monthe pregnant when I found out he was hvaing an affair. Since than it's just been me and her!! So she goes absolutly EVERYWHERE with me!!! I love it but somtimes it's just to much and I'm trying to fill the diaper bag with practical things that will keep her busy while out to eat or waiting at appointments. I have a tupperware container full of little necklaces and stuff that keeps her busy and I als have sticker and coloring books but otherwise I can't come up with many small things that keep her entertained. I had this little tiny like 4 inch bday cake when I was a kid with 6 little candles and I would play with that thing for hours in the car and I can't seem to really find anything like that now? Any ideas? What are your daiper bag must haves?
Try getting some travel games. I know she is 2 but if you play them with her you can supervise. We would take travel connect 4, hungry hippo, even a deck of cards to play matching games. Maybe even get her a small back pack for her to carry the extra little things, like little ponies, or a small dolly.
I have a 2.5yr old toddler son and I know the feeling! Restaurants waits can get long.... We always have matchbox cars, little animal books, an alphabet flip book that attaches right on the diaper bag (or my purse) handle (bought it at Old NAvy over a year ago and it is one of his favs), puzzles, puzzles, puzzles. They have a "to go" kit puzzle that is all made from rubber (so it is QUIET!!!) and has all kinds of little pieces that fit together. It is awesome. and great for church too! I can't remember the name of it... but I will check later and send an update. I keep it in the car and it is a must have for us. Got it at Toys to Treasure if you are in Evansville area.
My daughter is 2 as well. Little dolls come in handy, the ones that are just a few inches...Happy Meal sized. Matchbox cars are great. And my daughter loves to push buttons. So this fish ring toss game has been a life saver http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/browse/processRequest.d... And Cracker Barrel restaurants always seem to have the most interesting little toys around. My inlaws are always finding great distraction toys there! The last one was a miniature magnetic paper doll. It was a mermaid. That thing is awesome! They found a pirate for my son.
Dear mom, try coloring books and box of 24 crayons, books on general, kids at that age just love looking at pictures on childrens books, special of they're read at bedtime. Also, goldfish crackers. Kids really like those and they come in all kinds of flavors and colors now
We always had lots of little books and a spiral notebook and a pen, pencil or crayon. In restaurants we could trace objects on the table in the notebook like sugar packet holder, silverware, their hands, etc.. My kids are preteens and they still love the spiral notebook to play hangman. the dot connecting game and just drawing.
My kids love to play with play dough while waiting for their food at restaurants. I buy those little party ones. I also put little forks, spoons and bowls to play with the play dough.
My daughter is now 16..but when she was this little age, we ate out and were out and about all the time. She had what she called her "guys" purse. She had all sorts of small figurines...from her birthday cake she had a Pooh set (Pooh, Piglet, Rabbit, etc)..she had a few happy meal types (but those are less durable)... she had horses and animals too..and anything else I could get my hands on. They all stood up and were about 3 inches tall. There must have been 30 of them in there at any given time. She had an old "train case" style make up bag of mine with a handle on top (square type zip case, maybe 6-8 inches wide). She would carry it with her, and pull them out one by one and line them up on a table top at a restaurant, on the little table in the Dr office....on a hardcover book from the diaper bag/backpack that I would put on my lap if in a waiting room, etc. And the best part was she made up her own stories and little games with them (voices and such like scenarios)...AND they went right into the dishwasher or soapy sink so easily!
Personally I find when other children are playing noisy, light up button type toys in such public places to be extremely annoying and rude. I like the calculator suggestion someone had, tho, for the buttons. We did that too...she had her own small one in her little make up bag purse sometimes. We made DD be a part of the solution and together we packed her little bag, or just double checked it, etc before going anywhere. It worked great most of the time. We also always had coloring and sticker stuff with us (she Had a Little suitcase bag for that too..LOL). Always! Foam stickers from a craft store (in big tubs..often seasonal..you can just put some into a zipper baggie to take a few with) are great for small motor work for young children..easier for them to get the paper backs off of themselves and feel successful.
Good luck!
How about a vreader!! Our 3yr old sons just loves his and our 1 yr old enjoys it too!! We also keep a kids digital camera in our car so they can takes pictures of all the cool stuff outside and then a lil notebook to draw!!! we sing alot of songs and talk about what we see!! Good luck and Great job mama!! xoxo
Nintendo ds, trust me its a great toy! my 4 and 2.5 year old have one.
Little portable puzzles (DS, 2.5, love them), I keep my iPod stocked with a couple of movies/cartoons that he likes (Cars, Little Einsteins, Mickey, etc...), DS loves matchbox cars. Anything with buttons (grab a calculator!), and STICKERS!!!!
If you have a cake decorating store near your house you might look there for some miniature things. They have aisles and aisles of them - just make sure they won't be choking hazards.
With my kiddos, it seemed that entertaining them best was all about something new. Obviously, you can't buy more and more new toys, but check out the dollar store. You can collect some little doo-dads for very little money, and because they are unfamiliar, they seem to keep their attention more. I always do it before long car rides. Good luck!
