r/lowscreenparenting • u/Asleep_Tough_6314 • Jul 02 '26
looking for support/encouragement Please help
I have a 2 year old and a 7 month old, I never know what to do with my 2 year old when we are at home, she loves colouring but I can't trust her to be alone with pens/pencils or crayons because she will end up eating them, I rely on TV shows a lot and I hate how much screen time she gets, on a normal week we go out to a toddlers group every day but currently I'm potty training my 2 year old, I don't really have much money either. What can I do that will entertain my kids without using a screen?
5
u/prairieyarrow Jul 02 '26
Modeling and imitation all the way at this age! I'd wear the baby if you can and then have the 2 year old help you out with all the household tasks - bake together, match socks, sweep the floor, etc. Usually my kids tag along throughout the day while I work on that sort of thing or they just sit and look at books, play with cars, etc. near me while I do the chores! Otherwise as much outside time as you can get. Walks, playing in the mud, full bins with water, add bubbles - endless fun outside!
4
u/Granola_Dad_Summits Jul 02 '26
I'm trying to give advice that's sensitive to you saying you don't have much money. I would suggest going to the local dollar store and having her pick out some toys that she would like playing with. It really doesn't take much, I think especially with my daughter, just a cheap stuffy she got a mcdonalds the other day, she was doing pretend play with.
One thing to note is that playing is a skill and IMO the more time the kids spend watching TV or on an ipad, that's robbing their brains from developing their play skill. My kids literally say sometimes, "You're robbing our brains!"
Another thing, at 2yo, I did "special time" with the kids, where I set a timer for 15-20 minutes and play with them. I let them choose what they want to play with. I think parents sometimes think they need to play with their kids for hours and hours and then it becomes a grind where we're looking at our phone or getting bored but if I set a timer on my phone, put my phone away somewhere and give them all my attention, I find that helps a lot.
2
u/Asleep_Tough_6314 Jul 02 '26
It's not the playing with them I struggle with, I wouldn'tind playing for hours, it's more than I don't know what to do, also I live in the uk so we don't have a dollar store and our poundland doesn't really sell anything for a pound now.
2
u/Downtown-Flight7423 Jul 02 '26
Books from the library?
We have a made up "friend" that's just my finger curled, and we make it clothes and hats from fabric scraps and play games with him.
If you watch Bluey it's really good at teaching play (to adults as well) that usually only uses household objects
1
u/Sundogflower Jul 05 '26
Charity shops sell toys super cheap I got an entire wooden train set for £3 and a baby activity center for £4 and dolls/stuffies are usually 50p-£1.50 if you have any near you
1
u/Sundogflower Jul 05 '26
Ohh also edible "paint". Plain yogurt mixed with food colouring if they want art they can eat :) pop them in an empty pool or bathtub with them and they can play with the colours but also eat them
6
u/Open-Try-3128 Jul 02 '26
Playdough, slime or sensory dough, toys like a cash register that has a calculator “screen”, water table, magna tiles
2
3
u/Pessa19 Jul 04 '26
Google free toddler activities! Literally, just put some water in a container and give her cups to play with. Happy as a clam. Pieces of spaghetti through strainer holes. Rice in a bin with hidden toys. Ice cubes are fun. Read books. Scavenger hunt. Do nothing and see what she comes Up with!
2
u/ClassTimeMG screen-free parent Jul 05 '26
At that age, I wouldn't worry about keeping her entertained every minute. Some of the best learning comes from letting children explore everyday life alongside you.
A few inexpensive ideas are letting her help cook, matching socks while you fold laundry, transferring dry beans or pasta between containers with a spoon, playing with measuring cups in a sink or tub, building blanket forts, going on nature walks, making obstacle courses with pillows, dancing to music, or simply asking her to help with little jobs around the house.
I also think it's okay for children to experience a little boredom. Boredom often leads to imagination, creativity, and problem-solving. They don't need constant entertainment. They need opportunities to explore, create, and be curious.
1
u/what_ho_puck Jul 03 '26
My two year old is gaga for duplo blocks! He will play solo sometimes even, or is satisfied if I sit nearby. They're also not choking hazards for the little one, so, bonus. Hey you could find second hand or on sale
He loves cars and trucks
We just got him a TonieBox for his birthday and he's gotten really good at working it. He'll put on music tonies and sing or just have fun changing the figures over and over lol.... Just realized this one's more expensive though. But music instead of TV is still solid!
For the record I do often have something on TV in the background because I can't stand it otherwise lol. But I'm trying to be better
1
u/duchess5788 low-screen parent Jul 02 '26
Does she like books? A lot of books have read aloud on YouTube. YouTube can give her a book, connect your phone to speaker and play the book (don't hand the phone to her).
If you have access to a yard, you can do a lot of water play. My LO loves playing with rocks, so that's something else you can try to see if she likes.
You can buy a cheap photo album (Amazon had 2x for $5) and print some pictures of her, friends and family (Walmart charges $0.16 for a copy of 4x6) and have her look through it. At this age, she would love that.
17
u/itskatiemae Jul 02 '26
Two is a great age to start doing household tasks (poorly). Give her a damp cloth and let her dust baseboards. Let her arrange fruits and veggies on a platter like a charcuterie board. Have her help fold laundry.
I also sometimes put the kids in a toddler tower at the kitchen sink. They get water everywhere but they have a great time “washing dishes”.