| My husband and I have been blessed with twin | | | | boys. We bought many |
| boys. Our boys are | | | | |
| | | | board books for our boys and read to them |
| 18 months old now, and I often tell my | | | | for months before they |
| husband that God must have | | | | |
| | | | really showed an interest in them. When |
| a sense of humor to give someone twin | | | | they were about 15 |
| toddler boys. Some days it | | | | |
| | | | months old they began to bring us books to |
| doesn't seem very funny!Yesterday, during | | | | read to them. One of |
| the same 15 minute phone call, one son | | | | |
| decided | | | | our boys is obsessed with cars, trucks, and |
| | | | tractors, and the |
| to crawl up onto a chair and then the dining | | | | |
| room table, and I | | | | other one loves animals. After seeing these |
| | | | images over and over |
| found the other one in his bedroom where he | | | | |
| had pulled out all of | | | | in books they now are pointing them out to |
| | | | us when we drive |
| his dresser drawers, climbed up the drawers, | | | | |
| and was standing on | | | | around town. One of our sons goes nuts |
| | | | every time we drive by an |
| top of his dresser looking down into his | | | | |
| fish tank. There is | | | | excavator or back hoe. One word of caution, |
| | | | however. Whoever |
| never a dull moment in our home.During the | | | | |
| past few months I have discovered what my | | | | said board books are indestructible didn't |
| boys most | | | | know what they were |
| | | | |
| love to do and what keeps them busy for even | | | | talking about. Our boys have destroyed |
| short periods of | | | | several of their board |
| | | | |
| time. I have geared my ideas toward boys | | | | books by ripping the pictures off the |
| because they normally | | | | cardboard. Most of the |
| | | | |
| have higher activity levels, but I'm sure | | | | damage is done when they are reading to |
| these ideas would work | | | | themselves in bed, so |
| | | | |
| great for girls too!It is well known that | | | | these books need adult supervision just like |
| kids love to play with everything except | | | | any other book.Make sure you take your boys |
| | | | outside at least once a day. Every |
| their toys, and I have definitely found this | | | | |
| to be true with my | | | | morning I take the boys for a walk around |
| | | | the neighborhood in |
| boys. Many of their favorite activities are | | | | |
| inexpensive or even | | | | their double stroller. If you are a working |
| | | | mom, take your boys |
| free.Toddlers love music. Many babies will | | | | |
| begin to dance to music | | | | out for some fresh air in the evenings or on |
| | | | the weekend. The |
| before they're even a year old. There are | | | | |
| many great CD's out | | | | boys enjoy the ride and mom gets some |
| | | | exercise too. One of my |
| there for toddlers. A couple of our | | | | |
| favorites are Wee Sing Silly | | | | sons points out all the airplanes that fly |
| | | | overhead, and that is |
| Songs and Veggie Tales. Nursery rhymes are | | | | |
| always great too. We | | | | one of the highlights of his day. I also |
| | | | found the boys a play |
| have found many CD's at yard sales or half | | | | |
| price at stores that | | | | golf set at Walmart (for about $5). They |
| | | | love to run around the |
| sell used CD's. My boys enjoy dancing to | | | | |
| music during the day, | | | | yard trying to hit the plastic golf balls, |
| | | | and it is great for |
| and like to have it playing softly in the | | | | |
| background while they | | | | improving their coordination.My boys' |
| | | | favorite toys are their cars, trucks, and |
| go to sleep. Make sure to put your CD | | | | tractors. |
| player up out of their | | | | |
| | | | They love pushing them around on the floor |
| reach. I have to get a shelf to put mine up | | | | and making motor |
| on the wall because | | | | |
| | | | noises. You can easily find inexpensive toy |
| my boys can now climb up to anywhere else I | | | | cars at yard sales |
| have found to put it. | | | | |
| | | | and thrift stores that will give your |
| They have become very fascinated with taking | | | | toddler boys hours of fun.To fully interact |
| CD's in and out of | | | | with and engage your toddler, you have to |
| | | | |
| it and pushing all of the buttons!My boys | | | | figure out their personality. One of my |
| love to play with water. I bought them a | | | | boys loves to help mom |
| wading pool | | | | |
| | | | and do whatever I'm doing. Whenever I ask |
| this year but they were hardly interested in | | | | him to help me do |
| it at all. They | | | | |
| | | | something he gives me a big smile and |
| much preferred playing in a little sprinkler | | | | pitches right in. My other |
| in the shape of a | | | | |
| | | | son has no interest whatsoever in helping |
| turtle. Bath time is also a favorite time. | | | | me...boring!! He has |
| They hardly play | | | | |
| | | | too many other exciting things to explore. |
| with any of the bath toys I bought them. | | | | To get his attention |
| Their favorite bath | | | | |
| | | | I ask him to show me what he is doing and |
| toys are small Tupperware containers and | | | | participate in whatever |
| plastic measuring cups. | | | | |
| | | | is interesting him at the moment. He loves |
| The store-bought bath toys they do enjoy, | | | | to point at things |
| however, are little | | | | |
| | | | and have me tell him what they are.Don't |
| plastic cups that have holes in the bottom | | | | forget that your boys love to play with mom |
| so that the water runs | | | | and dad and |
| | | | |
| through them. They also love going to the | | | | need lots of love and affection. They love |
| river and throwing | | | | it when you play cars |
| | | | |
| rocks in the water. Just don't let them out | | | | with them or read to them. Some of our |
| of your sight for a | | | | favorite moments have |
| | | | |
| second, or they will quite suddenly decide | | | | been spent lying on the floor with two |
| to go for a swim. | | | | toddlers crawling all over |
| | | | |
| Swimming lessons seem to have done a great | | | | us giving us lots of big hugs and |
| job of eliminating | | | | kisses.Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer |
| | | | and mom who is the author of |
| their fear of water! The boys also spend | | | | |
| hours playing in a | | | | What's for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing |
| | | | more than 250 quick |
| small water fountain we have in our back | | | | |
| yard.Books are great for even the most active | | | | easy dinner ideas. |