{"id":1276,"date":"2010-04-08T03:08:00","date_gmt":"2010-04-08T03:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/characterinkblog.com\/day-ninety-eight-the-how-tos-of-playpen-time-for-toddlers\/"},"modified":"2015-06-05T15:14:22","modified_gmt":"2015-06-05T19:14:22","slug":"day-ninety-eight-the-how-tos-of-playpen-time-for-toddlers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/characterinkblog.com\/day-ninety-eight-the-how-tos-of-playpen-time-for-toddlers\/","title":{"rendered":"day ninety-eight: the how to\u2019s of playpen time for toddlers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cSoon it was time for Jakie to play in his play pen, so Josiah and I got to play together. Next thing I knew, we were in trouble! Mommy came into the room and said that it looked like a tornado went through. We did it again! We got too many things out at one time. We had stuff all over the living room: Legos, cars and trucks, Duplo people, books, and stuffed animals. It took us FOREVER to clean it up—even with Kara\u2019s help. Josiah and I had to each do an extra fifteen minute chore with Mommy because we forgot the rule about getting out too many things at one time. \u201c*<\/span><\/strong>

<\/span><\/strong>

<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Yesterday I described the benefits of room time and\/or play pen time for toddlers and preschoolers (for children AND mom!). Today I will explain how we went about having a daily play pen time for toddlers. (And tomorrow, we will give tips on having the daily room time for preschoolers.)<\/p>\n

When our babies started playing more and doing more \u201ctoddler\u201d types of activities, we provided many enrichment toys and opportunities for them. I mentioned in earlier posts** about you, the parent, deciding when the baby goes to bed and gets up, when he takes naps, etc. I also described how we helped our little ones love learning and books early on. One way that we did this was to sneak into his room in the morning before he awoke and put a toddler-safe basket of \u201cbaby books\u201d in his bed for him to look at when he first awoke (until we were ready to get him up). Another thing we did was teach our toddlers to play quietly and contentedly in their play pen or crib\u2014thus, \u201cplay pen time\u201d (or \u201ccrib time\u201d if you prefer not to use a play pen).<\/p>\n

Tips for Play Pen Time:<\/p>\n

1. Create a \u201cbusy basket\u201d of items that the toddler only uses during his play pen time. (I will be reviewing some products for this busy basket this weekend, so stay tuned!) You might want to alternate the items in this tub or just get out one or two per day, however your space and budget limits dictate. (I was an avid garage saler\u2014and I also spent more money on books, toys, and educational pursuits for my children than I did clothing, home d\u00e9cor, and personal items (like jewelry, make up, etc.) combined! I can buy those things later; my kids were only little for a short time.)<\/p>\n

2. When you need the second-most-uninterrupted time of the day (I used naptimes for the most interrupted-free times), place the toddler in the play pen or crib with the busy basket or one or two activities from the busy basket. (We personally used play pen time for toddlers and room time for preschoolers during our morning read aloud time since that was the time that nobody was available to run and get the little one out of whatever he or she might get into\u2014and the time that we wanted to be the most free of distractions.)<\/p>\n

3. Set the timer for ten minutes (or fewer if he or she is not used to playing alone). I recommend that if this is all new, you help your toddler start playing with the activity, getting him or her interested in it, etc. Then tell him to play for a few minutes until you get back. <\/p>\n

4. At the end of the time, go in and help your toddler learn to put the activity back in the basket\/tub, working with him as needed and take him out of the bed\/playpen. Praise him if he played well, etc. <\/p>\n

5. Note: If he cries, you might want to go in and check on him and tell him to play with the blocks for a few minutes, then go back out.<\/p>\n

6. Increase the time by a few minutes each day until your toddler can play well all by himself for thirty to sixty minutes. <\/p>\n

7. Note about using the bed for play time: We never had a problem using the crib for the toddler\u2019s playpen time since it was a completely different atmosphere than bedtime. He knew when we got the busy basket out that it was play time\u2014and when he laid him down with blankets; no toys; and his lullaby tape, praise music, or story audio, it was sleep time. It probably depends on when you begin it.<\/p>\n

The older kids and I have fond memories of Josiah and Jonathan\u2019s room time and play pen times especially\u2014mostly because they were so incredibly cooperative! We used to have Jonathan have his room time in the same room we were reading in\u2014but on a blanket in the corner. He had to keep all of his activities on that blanket and play quietly, then he could remain in and listen to our morning reading. At the same time, Josiah was a toddler and had his room time in a porta-crib (pack and play?) in the room we read in. It was actually quite comical, but if he screamed or fussed, we would pull his porta crib into the other room and shut the door. When he got quiet again, someone would pull him back in with us. And this continued\u2014he eventually quieted down and played nicely because he didn\u2019t want to be in the other room all alone. <\/p>\n

I\u2019m smiling as I type this as I have this picture of one of the girls zooming Josiah\u2019s play pen through the doorway, telling him that \u201cwhen you\u2019re ready to be quiet, you can come back in with us.\u201d Wowsie\u2026those were sweet, wonderful days.<\/p>\n

*For the complete story of \u201cJonathan\u2019s Journal, follow this link: https:\/\/positiveparenting3-6-5.blogspot.com\/2010\/03\/day-seventy-eight-introducing-jonathans.html<\/a><\/p>\n

**Links to only baby and toddler posts: https:\/\/positiveparenting3-6-5.blogspot.com\/search\/label\/babies%20and%20toddlers<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cSoon it was time for Jakie to play in his play pen, so Josiah and I got to play together. Next thing I knew, we were in trouble! Mommy came into the room and said that it looked like a tornado went through. We did it again! 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