Hazel LOVES to sit at the computer and "type" (we turn the keyboard off to avoid catastrophes). Our screen saver is a slideshow of our photos, and she loves to see them all, especially the ones with herself in them.
She likes to help clean the house. She uses her toy vacuum, and also likes to help me push the real one now. And she'll get out the little dustpan and broom and sweep the kitchen floor. 
One day I was desperate for her to be occupied and happy for a while, so I put in a Hazel video. (I made monthly video compilations for Todd while he was gone.) It stroked her ego, and I got a break. It was also so, so fun to watch cute nine-month-old Hazel and be amazed at how much she has changed so fast. 
Sometimes when I'm desperate for a shower, I'll give Hazel a cup of cold cereal and an empty milk jug. She has fun snacking while she drops Fruit Loops down the hole, making a giant rattle to shake. Small-motor coordination, folks! Cause and effect! 
She's just started to get into dress-up. There were a few days in a row she was constantly bringing me scarves and jackets, begging me to put them on her. She was adorable, waddling around the house like that. Now she wants to hang my purse on her arm every single time we go out, too. 
I covered one end of our kitchen table in paper and deemed it Hazel's "craft area." She is learning how to scribble with crayons, but also spends a lot of time taking them in and out of the box. And, unfortunately, taking bites out of them. 
I made a batch of edible playdough that keeps in the refrigerator. Hazel plays with that at the craft area, too. At first she didn't know what to do with it, but every day she tries something new. Last week, she would only pinch little pieces off and mostly just played with the tupperware. Today she was really into smashing the dough with a hand-mixer hook. 
Last but not least, I bought her a baby doll and stroller today. She's coveted every baby doll stroller she's seen at every other house she's ever been to her whole life. It's about time I got her one. She pushed that thing all over the house all day long. She is in love with it. And every time the baby doll fell out, she would say "uh-oh" and go settle her back in. 
We're outside digging in the sand and climbing and swinging whenever the weather lets us, but what else can I be doing with her at this stage? I just want a thousand great ideas!
8 comments:
My little nieces have always loved when I "apply makeup" to them. Even when they are really little like Hazel. They like they way the different sized brushes tickle their faces. You can get brushes that will work for this at the dollar store. Then let her do it on your face. No makeup is required (until they are older and demand it- lol).
Seems like you've found lots to do!
When Macey was that age we played outside everyday w/ her ride on firetruck, one of the best toys we ever got. We also started going to storytime at the library and I let Macey empty pretty much everything in our house to keep entertained.
I can't believe how big she is getting, btw! So cute.
That stroller is way cute. Watch out with the make-up though---if she knows where you keep yours she might get it out to "play" while you aren't looking and are in the shower, whoops!
My mom has a ton of ideas you should give her a call. One thing we do while watching carefully is we have magnetic marbles and magnetic sticks. We count out ten and we dump them into a huge tub of noodles or split peas and they have to search for them. Its just like a sensory table. You could also pull out shaving cream and play in shaving cream it also cleans so that is a plus. Also you can add glue to shaving cream and create little sculptures. It really is fun. Like I said you should call my mom it is pretty great!
wow! that's more ideas than i've ever been able to come up with. i especially like the milk jug idea. i'll have to try that with teague!
This age is tough, remember that one day you watch Kate, and asked me how I do this all day everyday, she was about Hazel's age. It's tough because they don't just sit and do one activity for a while they are constantly moving from one thing to the other. I hear you on the nap ,but I started to like a bigger chuck of time for myself and not having to worry about being out and about wondering if my kids where going to melt down since they missed their first nap. I only have to worry about the one and it much easier to get errands done, so there is a positive. As for Ideas you have some really great ones, I think you are doing such a great job, hang in there, this age is just really active. My daughter loved to play with sidewalk chalk outside, and she loved it when I would turn the music up and dance with her. She love bubbles too. The best activity though was just filling up the kitchen sink with water and giving her some cups and spoons and having her play in the water, it kept her busy for a lot time because she loved playing in the water. We also pretend we were going swimming and put our bathing suit on in the bath tub and pretened to go swimming, she love it, she thought is was so cool to wear her suit in the tub. I have to think of some more and get back with you, Kate was very challenging at this age, I had to be creavtive. NO worries you are doing great
Sounds like you guys are having fun!
Amen to the kitchen sink full of water. That one kept my boys busy for hours. For littler ones, it's also fun to work up a sink full of fluffy dishsoap suds and then scoop them onto the highchair tray and let them have at it. Lots of fun-- minimal mess.
We get a lot of mileage out of tents and forts around here (but maybe that's a boy thing?)
I'm also a big believer in providing plenty of unstructered time to help kids figured out how to keep themselves occupied and entertained. Granted, it's been a while since my big boys were Hazel's age-- so I'm probably forgetting how much distraction is necessary to keep them from destroying things or hurting themselves.
my goodness she is such a big girl now isn't she. I can't believe everything she's getting in to. love her!
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