Toddler Problem Solving

On Fridays our local Community Center has Come and Play for little ones ages 9 months through 5 years for only $5 a child for 3 months! Since we live in an area of the country that is rather gray and rainy/snowy during the fall and winter months I think this is a good way to spend $5! The Community Center gets all of their toys out in their gym and lets the kiddos go wild playing for about an hour (they try to break it down by age groups, so basically each age group gets an hour). This past Friday was the first Come and Play of the year (or as Cutie Pie calls it – Gym’s House!)

At first Sweet Pea was very hesitant to run right in and play like his big brother did. After a few minutes of me holding him and walking around showing him the various slides, mini-roller coasters, balls and ride-ons he finally left my arms and started playing. One of the first things he ran to was a soccer ball, of course (he’s such a ball-lover!) He picked it up, tried putting it into the Little Tykes basketball hoop and then started looking around for what to do with it next. He walked up to the little tunnel (you know those ones the kiddos crawl through) and started rolling it through to me, standing on the other end. I’d roll it back and he got giggling…and would roll it back. Once or twice it got stuck in the middle from not rolling it hard enough. The first time he stopped, bent down and looked through, then stood up, lifted up his end of the tunnel and wiggled it until the ball rolled to me!

Such problem solving for a little 22 month old! Loved it! I love going to Come and Play with my boys! It’s not only a good place for a mom to have adult conversation with other moms, but to see my boys interact with new-to-them toys and other kids is such a learning experience for them!