The Empowered Educator

Inspiring ideas, training and resources for early learning.

Twin Toddler Afternoons

by 18 Comments

I've been lacking a little in inspiration for toddler twosome afternoon activities lately. I like to have a little something set up (an Invitation to Play it is often called) for the twins when they get up after their daytime nap. It gives me an opportunity to finish off making dinner and get their afternoon tea ready while they are busy exploring.

I usually set up a few different areas with things to explore….nothing over the top….some blocks and cars, dolly area, some ‘hidden' books from the library and one easy but fun creative activity. I do this for a few reasons…not because i am a control freak (although i know i am!) but because both girls wake up very differently and like their own space to explore and just ‘be' while they wake up. They like areas to go and discover on their own and they slowly move about to different things…i just find it easier to have a few things ready rather than dealing with the wake up grumpies or both demanding my absolute attention as soon as they are up (that usually sets a very bad tone for the afternoon if they get in that ‘just me' state…they keep trying to outdo each other and unfortunately there is only one of me!!)

I also love watching their faces as i bring them into the lounge after wake-up….big wide eyes and ‘wow mummy'….and it always amazes me that they both choose very different activities to go to first each time!

Anyway, i digress! The reason for this post was to share some inspiration that hit me last week on a rainy day. We had played with EVERYTHING so far that day and everyone including me was bored! I remembered we had a pile of egg cartons that friends keep giving us in exchange for eggs….and the toddler twosome are loving poking and threading at the moment….and holes…they love holes!(And who wouldn't i ask?) so this easy activity was born…in around 5 minutes as they chatted in their cots (thank goodness they are still in cots…i am aiming to keep them there until 3yrs btw, hehe!!!)

Egg Carton Poke and Thread!
A very, very easy activity that was a bit of an amalgamation of a few of our other favourite post and thread activities which you can see more of  HERE
I simply punched a few holes into the bottom of the egg carton, collected some straws and wooden sticks as well as our paper roll ‘threaders' , started a few off and left them on the table for the toddler twosome to discover……
Ruby loved finding the straws and had to pull them out immediately…before trying to poke them back into the holes!
Tara immediately began threading the paper towel rolls onto the straws to build a tower….
She found the wooden sticks easier….but not as many would fit on which was of course a little disappointing!
Very proud of her efforts here and Ruby in the background still fascinated by the straw! They really are so very different and i love it!
 
Ruby really enjoyed pulling the straws out and inspecting each one…..it seemed a constant source of amazement to her!
She then found another use for the paper towel rolls that i hadn't even thought of…pushing them onto the points of the egg carton! Although she is not at the same developmental stage as her sister she always finds different and just as effective (and i'm sure fun,) ways of playing with the same activity.
 I love to watch her problem solving and thinking about how she wants to do something. She doesn't always see the need to try and copy what her twin is doing, she doesn't seem to get upset when she can't manage the skill her sister is practising but she can't quite get yet. Children truly are amazing with their own personal resources and coping skills aren't they? We are privileged to be able to watch this as parents i think!
This was another easy activity born in a moment of rainy day desperation! We have a lot of cardboard boxes that Daddy brings home from work at the moment and we use them in a lot of different ways but today i made them into little tables and left a bucket of foam shapes (that i found in that previously mentioned bucket of Miss Teen's old toys and things!) I also left some coloured paper on the boxes……
Both girls loved taking out the pieces and examining them and then lining them up on their paper ‘tables'……they then moved to every little piece of the mat…but it kept them occupied and happy for quite awhile so i wasn't too worried about little pieces of foam everywhere! 
In fact Tara turned it into a game after  awhile and began ‘packing up' for mummy ….
Bless my little neat freak…a girl after Mummy's own heart!!! 
Ruby liked the foam shapes but actually enjoyed sitting on her big sheet of cardboard that Daddy again brought home from work and drawing with her oil pastels under the table cubby! 
I love oil pastels for toddlers…the colours are so bright and easy for them to draw with. I got these child friendly ones very cheaply from Spotlight! 
Do you like to set up a few little things for your toddler to play with after nap time or do you think it's a bit too much? I'm interested in your thoughts as always. For me this way works to keep both girls distracted and happy immediately after waking….for a little while anyway…then we head outside….hopefully!

Warm Wishes…

Comments

  1. Amanda says

    I think setting up activities as you do is a fabulous idea, I need to do it more often 🙂 Love your egg carton game, will try it with Grace. I love the way each of your girls interpreted what you had set up and explored in a different way, amazing to see their own individual personalities at such a young age. Having activities for kiddies after their naps is great because as you say, it allows you to have that block of time to sort out tea and know they are happy and occupied without having to switch on ABC2 🙂 xx

    Reply

    • Jode says

      Thanks Amanda…i do love that they are so different and can show that in so many ways! I hope Grace enjoys the egg cartons!!

      Reply

  7. andie jaye says

    i’ve never seen that egg carton activity before! i love it…looks like they did too! such a good mummy to not care about the foam mess all over the floor. 🙂

    Reply

  8. The Monko says

    i love that egg carton activity. I think Goblin would enjoy that – might go hunting for an egg carton in the recycling bin in a minute. Thanks for linking this to Kids Co-op. I’m pinning this to the co-op board

    Reply

  9. Happy Whimsical Hearts says

    So many of your activities use stuff we have lying around the house! It is so great 🙂 Love the egg carton one. Oh, and Little Miss Q is loving threading things into old spice/herb containers!! Thanks for that one x

    Reply

  10. Ali says

    The egg carton threading idea is fabulous. I looked at the first photo and thought my 23 month old is going to love that.

    Reply

  15. Chanel Larsen says

    Oh gosh this is awesome – thanks so much for posting it. I have 20 month old b/g twins who I need to do this with and set up activities for them to find! I have very little imagination so seeing this is brillant

    Reply

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