| My husband and I have been blessed with twin boys. | | | | back yard. |
| Our boys are | | | | Books are great for even the most active boys. We |
| 18 months old now, and I often tell my husband that | | | | bought manyboard books for our boys and read to |
| God must havea sense of humor to give someone | | | | them for months before theyreally showed an interest |
| twin toddler boys. Some days itdoesn't seem very | | | | in them. When they were about 15months old they |
| funny! | | | | began to bring us books to read to them. One ofour |
| Yesterday, during the same 15 minute phone call, one | | | | boys is obsessed with cars, trucks, and tractors, and |
| son decidedto crawl up onto a chair and then the | | | | theother one loves animals. After seeing these images |
| dining room table, and Ifound the other one in his | | | | over and overin books they now are pointing them out |
| bedroom where he had pulled out all ofhis dresser | | | | to us when we drivearound town. One of our sons |
| drawers, climbed up the drawers, and was standing | | | | goes nuts every time we drive by anexcavator or |
| ontop of his dresser looking down into his fish tank. | | | | back hoe. One word of caution, however. |
| There isnever a dull moment in our home. | | | | Whoeversaid board books are indestructible didn't |
| During the past few months I have discovered what | | | | know what they weretalking about. Our boys have |
| my boys mostlove to do and what keeps them busy | | | | destroyed several of their boardbooks by ripping the |
| for even short periods oftime. I have geared my ideas | | | | pictures off the cardboard. Most of thedamage is |
| toward boys because they normallyhave higher | | | | done when they are reading to themselves in bed, |
| activity levels, but I'm sure these ideas would | | | | sothese books need adult supervision just like any |
| workgreat for girls too! | | | | other book. |
| It is well known that kids love to play with everything | | | | Make sure you take your boys outside at least once a |
| excepttheir toys, and I have definitely found this to be | | | | day. Everymorning I take the boys for a walk around |
| true with myboys. Many of their favorite activities are | | | | the neighborhood intheir double stroller. If you are a |
| inexpensive or evenfree. | | | | working mom, take your boysout for some fresh air in |
| Toddlers love music. Many babies will begin to dance | | | | the evenings or on the weekend. Theboys enjoy the |
| to musicbefore they're even a year old. There are | | | | ride and mom gets some exercise too. One of |
| many great CD's outthere for toddlers. A couple of | | | | mysons points out all the airplanes that fly overhead, |
| our favorites are Wee Sing Silly | | | | and that isone of the highlights of his day. I also found |
| Songs and Veggie Tales. Nursery rhymes are always | | | | the boys a playgolf set at Walmart (for about $5). |
| great too. Wehave found many CD's at yard sales or | | | | They love to run around theyard trying to hit the plastic |
| half price at stores thatsell used CD's. My boys enjoy | | | | golf balls, and it is great forimproving their coordination. |
| dancing to music during the day,and like to have it | | | | My boys' favorite toys are their cars, trucks, and |
| playing softly in the background while theygo to sleep. | | | | tractors. |
| Make sure to put your CD player up out of theirreach. I | | | | They love pushing them around on the floor and |
| have to get a shelf to put mine up on the wall | | | | making motornoises. You can easily find inexpensive |
| becausemy boys can now climb up to anywhere else | | | | toy cars at yard salesand thrift stores that will give |
| I have found to put it. | | | | your toddler boys hours of fun. |
| They have become very fascinated with taking CD's | | | | To fully interact with and engage your toddler, you |
| in and out ofit and pushing all of the buttons! | | | | have tofigure out their personality. One of my boys |
| My boys love to play with water. I bought them a | | | | loves to help momand do whatever I'm doing. |
| wading poolthis year but they were hardly interested in | | | | Whenever I ask him to help me dosomething he gives |
| it at all. Theymuch preferred playing in a little sprinkler in | | | | me a big smile and pitches right in. My otherson has no |
| the shape of aturtle. Bath time is also a favorite time. | | | | interest whatsoever in helping me...boring!! He hastoo |
| They hardly playwith any of the bath toys I bought | | | | many other exciting things to explore. To get his |
| them. Their favorite bathtoys are small Tupperware | | | | attention |
| containers and plastic measuring cups. | | | | I ask him to show me what he is doing and participate |
| The store-bought bath toys they do enjoy, however, | | | | in whateveris interesting him at the moment. He loves |
| are littleplastic cups that have holes in the bottom so | | | | to point at thingsand have me tell him what they are. |
| that the water runsthrough them. They also love going | | | | Don't forget that your boys love to play with mom and |
| to the river and throwingrocks in the water. Just don't | | | | dad andneed lots of love and affection. They love it |
| let them out of your sight for asecond, or they will quite | | | | when you play carswith them or read to them. Some |
| suddenly decide to go for a swim. | | | | of our favorite moments havebeen spent lying on the |
| Swimming lessons seem to have done a great job of | | | | floor with two toddlers crawling all overus giving us lots |
| eliminatingtheir fear of water! The boys also spend | | | | of big hugs and kisses. |
| hours playing in asmall water fountain we have in our | | | | |