Are you a mom struggling to find time for yourself while also keeping your kid entertained? You’re not alone! It can be a constant battle to balance taking care of your child with taking care of yourself. But don’t worry, there are ways to make it work.
It’s important to remember that it’s okay to let your child have some independent playtime. This can be arranged as simply as for children setting up a puzzle or stacking blocks.
First, you can encourage them to play with age-appropriate toys or games on their own while you take some precious time to yourself.
One of the effective solutions is different types of so-called «busy toys» (boards, houses, boxes, etc.). Such educational toys are a great idea children aged 0-4 years could play with having parents together but without involving them actively in the game. The strength of busy toys – they provide an engaging and stimulating play experience and help to develop dozens of different skills. This type of toy often comes in different shapes, textures, and activities that can keep a child’s attention for extended periods of time.
For example, a busy house might have doors that open and close, windows to look through, puzzles, laces, locks with keys, switches, and many other educational games to explore. Or a busy box might have different buttons to press, levers to pull, and textures to feel. These types of toys encourage children to use their imagination and develop their gross and fine motor skills while they play.
Busy toys often feature laces, which help to develop fine motor skills, as well as colorful lights, locks, and buttons that help to improve a child’s coordination, concentration, and logic. They also include different games that promote creativity, persistence, and problem-solving skills in toddlers. It is believed that busy toys might be compared with a whole playground, which can keep a child occupied for a long time. According to scientists’ observations, it’s also an excellent way to develop discipline, attention and curiosity. Pedagogy of Montessori also highly recommends busy toys for kids, as it helps to develop skills that will be beneficial for a child’s future as an adult. By the way, you can examine some solutions of busy toys, coming to the catalog of BUSYTOPIA.COM.
Now back to the topic. What else is good about these toys? While children are occupied and «busy», moms can have some time for themselves, to do the activities they enjoy, like reading a book, having a cup of tea, or even doing their own hobby. That is, busy toys help moms to relax and recharge, which in turn can benefit the child and the whole family.
Another great option is to incorporate learning activities into playtime. This is a great way to keep your child engaged and entertained while also helping them to develop important skills. Just come up with ideas of activities to do together that allow for multi-tasking! For example, a mother could do yoga or exercise while the child plays nearby (even repeat after her!), or even do simple praxis like stretches or squats while holding the child. This is a great way to bond with your child while also getting some much-needed “me time”.
Finally, mom, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether it’s from a partner, family member, or friend, it’s important to have a support system in place. They can give you a break when you need it and help you to find the time you need to take care of yourself.
In summary, finding time for yourself as a mom can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. Incorporating independent playtime, learning activities, bonding activities, and asking for help are all great ways to find that elusive “me time” while also keeping your child entertained. Mom, remember, taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your child!