Every parent has that place they dread … inevitably once your kids cross the threshold, they lose their actual minds. Maybe it’s the car, grocery store, doctor’s office, or a grandparent’s house. Maybe for you it’s everywhere, I’m sorry friend. As for me and my family, it’s the restaurant. Take your pick on which one because my kids are equal opportunity bonkers. We don’t eat out often due to food allergies and budget restrictions. So anytime we venture out the combined energy of something new and special on top of the typical energies and antics of a 6, 4, and 2 year old at meal time….we are (sigh) a sight.
The hardest part for me is not the non-eating or the touching of the things or the endless questions – it’s keeping them occupied while we wait. It’s gotten all too easy, maybe even second nature, for some of us to slip into phone mode, even without kids around. I’m hoping we can agree that all of us, even and most especially the smallest among us, could do with less screen time. So what’s a tired and hungry and tired (not a typo, I think it deserves a second mention) mom to do? Here are some low-tech options to help keep the happy campers at your table (or car, doctor’s office, grocery store, etc) a little happier. Or at least temporarily occupied.
First of all, God Bless Melissa & Doug. I don’t know them, but if we ever met in person, I’d like to give them a long hug, and I am not a hugger. Maybe I’d weep at their feet and pat dry with my hair, who’s to say? Two of my suggestions are from their line and have been magic – MAGIC in keeping my small people busy so mom and dad can pick up on the conversation we started 5.5 years ago. I found ours locally at All Aboard Southern Crossing in downtown Opelika.
–Puffy Sticker Play Sets: I got my boys the pirate and safari ones as a car toy on our summer trip to the beach.
Am I still finding pirate sword stickers and small jungle cats around our car? Yes. Was it worth it the $4.99 investment and are they still playing with them? Also yes. The set comes with a good sized background with a different scene on each side. The stickers are reusable and there are a LOT of them. It says 42, but feels more like 100.
–Water Wow! pads: All credit goes to my Sister-in-law for introducing us to this amazing life saver. This is a spiral notebook with 4 thick pages (similar to a board book but is OK to get wet) and a small water brush pen (pen brush?) that is very easy to refill. When you run the small water pen brush over the pages they turn to color. Anyone remember those shirts that would turn color in the sun – it’s like that but way more entertaining for toddlers. I have a friend that likes to play with it to relax.
Ok fine, it’s me, I’m the friend.
I like that both of these activities use fine motor skills, imagination, and are easy to stick in your purse or keep in the car.
For older kids, I love the Amazing Alabama! coloring book from local artist Laura Murray – it has a coloring page and fun facts for each of Alabama’s 67 counties. She also has one for the state of Georgia. You can pick one up locally at the LocAL Market in J&M in downtown Auburn or on Amazon.
If you don’t have any of these or forgot them in your rush to get where you’re going – let me recommend the classic family favorites: ‘I Spy’, ‘Tic-Tac-Toe’, or ‘The Alphabet Game’.
Good luck, God speed, and if you see Melissa & Doug – tell them I said hi.
