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