Any fresh ideas for entertaining an 11-month old boy? I am a stay at home/work at home Mom?
Entertaining October 7th, 2008
MMM asked:
I am lucky enough to run my husband’s successful business as office manager from home while watching my very bright and precocious almost-walking 11 month old son. So far, everything’s been rosy and he seems ahead of the pack developmentally. However, I worry about him getting bored now when I’m working on the computer or on a business call. He is self-soothing and plays well by himself with no whining. He socializes well with other children on play dates and at the local playground. I just need some neat ideas about new things I can expose him to inside the house–things I can play at with him and things he can work on by himself. He’s not ready to draw yet, however–I tried crayons and he still wants to eat them! I am also an older and educated Mom and he’s my first child. We have tons of toys for him–I’m really looking for some more creative solutions for those periods I need to be at my desk. Hope you can help!
Someone objected, so–the father of my son is not my husband–yet. He is my fiance and we have been together for more than 5 years. We’re getting married next year. I’ll admit, sometimes I say “husband” because it’s easier and it’s what the world expects–we have 2 other children (my stepsons) who call me Mom and I handle all of their school stuff. My fiance and I feel and operate as though we are married–we are just both previously divorced and haven’t felt pressured to marry quickly–though having a child together and me having a different last name has become increasingly difficult. I apologize if my slip offended anyone. It was not intended to.
I am lucky enough to run my husband’s successful business as office manager from home while watching my very bright and precocious almost-walking 11 month old son. So far, everything’s been rosy and he seems ahead of the pack developmentally. However, I worry about him getting bored now when I’m working on the computer or on a business call. He is self-soothing and plays well by himself with no whining. He socializes well with other children on play dates and at the local playground. I just need some neat ideas about new things I can expose him to inside the house–things I can play at with him and things he can work on by himself. He’s not ready to draw yet, however–I tried crayons and he still wants to eat them! I am also an older and educated Mom and he’s my first child. We have tons of toys for him–I’m really looking for some more creative solutions for those periods I need to be at my desk. Hope you can help!
Someone objected, so–the father of my son is not my husband–yet. He is my fiance and we have been together for more than 5 years. We’re getting married next year. I’ll admit, sometimes I say “husband” because it’s easier and it’s what the world expects–we have 2 other children (my stepsons) who call me Mom and I handle all of their school stuff. My fiance and I feel and operate as though we are married–we are just both previously divorced and haven’t felt pressured to marry quickly–though having a child together and me having a different last name has become increasingly difficult. I apologize if my slip offended anyone. It was not intended to.
October 10th, 2008 at 5:09 am
My son is 11 months too and I go to school online so im at my desk too. I put him in his walker some so he learns to walk. Then I have an extra room w/ brand new carpet in it (so its clean) I scatter his toys out on the floor and he plays all by himself! He loves that room. Make sure its safe for him tho. His own room w/ toys helped me out. Try putting toys in there that he can climb up on (to help w/ his walking)good luck and have fun!
October 10th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
this may sound stupid and educational but it works and I feel will expand his creative skills. give him pots and pans, a wooden spoon, a big box to crawl into or make a tent out of sheets and tables and let him have a ball. he will love it.
October 13th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
ok well i have a few ideas if you havent tried them yet
Playskool Air-tivity Ball Popper got it for my daughter lol she loves it got it for her last year and it still keeps her busy for hours, large legos or mega blocks, and you could get a magna doodle and just take the maganets out of it and let his draw and scribble on that that way there is nothing for him to eat or swallow, theres a laugh and learn piggy bank not sure who makes it but its got big play coins with it and my little girl likes to play with it. i know you said he has lots of toys but i like getting my kids learning toys that teaches hand eye cordination and is kind of a challenge for them but not to big of a challenge that they freak out. and it keeps them busy. and christmas is getting close so maybe
October 16th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Rotate his toys. If you’re just sitting him down with the same toys everyday it’s going to get boring for him. If every once in awhile you bring out a toy he hasn’t seen in awhile, he’ll be very excited to play with it and it should keep him busy for awhile.
Like the above answer, give him some pots and pans and wooden spoons. The simplest things entertain them sometimes..I wish we were all like that!
Put him in a walker next to your desk and just interact with him every once in awhile. Talk to him while you work, clap your hands and make him copy you, sing with him, etc. Little things like that every now and then will keep him occupied.
October 17th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
I’m a Mom of three girls,and my youngest is 10 -almost 11 months old and she loves to play w/ junk,not filthy or dirty junk,just odds and ends,but I do reccomend you checking to see if you think whatever he plays with could be a chocking hazzard.
Buy him some large jingle bells and tie them together and let him jingle away!
Or let him play with your pots and pans ,and plastic food containers.
Go to the store and buy him his own set of key chains ,interesting keychains,mix um all up and let him play with them.
I know babies love to play with their parents keychains when they get there hands on them.So get him some of his own.
Good luck to you and your family!
October 20th, 2008 at 5:28 am
I know you said you have lots of toys but there is one toy that I think is worth mentioning. It’s called Castle Marbleworks by Discovery Toys. We purchased this for my son when he was ten months old. He will be four in January and it is still one of his favorite toys. It promotes brain development with tracking skills. He can play with it for hours. Recently we brought out Marbleworks, a similar toy for older kids. Same idea…tracking balls as they travel down pathways to the bottom of the toy.
Hope this helps.
October 21st, 2008 at 11:02 pm
this may sound funny but really try filling a wall of your home with mirrors, different shape ,try concave mirror, convex mirrors small mirror , big mirror just hang them very close to the floor where your son can see him walking or crawling this can easily occupy kids for hours u bet, better than all toys, at the same time you can teach him body parts showing in the mirror they love doing that on their own after sometime,
buy interactive books they like that where they can interact , jiggle and do things.
one lady rightly said to give pots and pans they too help, give them lots of vegetable and fruit to empty from one basket to another,
my daughter loves picking up little grahams from the plate and putting them in a box it keeps her occupied while i finis my chores.
hope it helps
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:26 am
I work from home as the Executive Director of a non-profit agency. It’s been a challenge to keep my boys occupied when they were infants.
A great way to keep your son occupied is to set up little play stations in your home. I’d look to Montessori play books for ideas: kitchen stations, cleaning stations, grocery store carts and pretend food. These ideas would probably work better when your son is a few months older but it is always great to think ahead.
Blocks are great at this age — you can talk on the phone while helping build tall towers. Little wooden train sets are also fun too — your son can crawl around on the floor pushing a train while you help him build a track. I love the pots and pans idea. We have a tupperware drawer for stacking and pouring water from bowl to bowl.
The most important tip is to time your computer time around his naps and time your phone calls around when he is awake. You are more flexible when you are on the phone than when you are sitting at a desk.
You also have to accept that the occasional video or Noggin television show can be your best friend. I am so NOT a TV person, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do in order to get something done on deadline.
Another idea is to find a mom in a similar situation and trade off babysitting duties for an hour or two a day so that you have some alone time to get done what you really need to get done that requires 100% focus.
It can be done — I’ve been working at home for five years now and have an almost five year old and a two and a half year old. Some days I get more done than other days, and other days I get nothing done at all. Flexibility is key. Also make sure that you have YOU time too outside your work, your children, and your home. I felt very socially isolated for the first few years working at home with an infant — so make sure that you have a social outlet outside the home.
Good luck to you!