Engaging Your Toddler with Everyday Tasks: Prepping New Clothes for the Wash

I know how hard it can be to get tasks done around this house with a fussy/tired/clingy toddler. Unfortunately, the only way to solve this is by creating engagement for them while you get stuff done. And when they don't want to be alone, that means they need a task from the chore you are trying to get done. For me, this meant getting new clothes ready to go in the wash.

Recently, I purchased a bunch of new clothes for my little one. I wanted to removed the tags, peel off the stickers, and put them in the laundry basket. My little girl, however, just wanted me. So, I gave her two tasks, peeling the stickers and putting the items in the laundry basket. And it worked!

Firstly, she was engaged by peeling the sticker. She has explored stickers and tape moderately in other situations. But this was another way for her to explore and experience stickers, how they work, and places to find them.

Secondly, she was engaged by placing the clothes in the basket. Toddlers already like to put things in and pull things out. Needless to say this was an easy task she could accomplish without help.

I put these two tasks together in order after I clipped and removed the tags. Like an assembly line. In this way she got to learn task order and patience as I would not let her put things in the basket until after the stickers were removed.

After she put each item in the basket she clapped and I gave her lots of praise for her good efforts. In the end, I'd say the task went smoothly and not necessarily any slower than if I had done it all myself.

I saved us both from a headache of trying to separate her from me and my task to something 'more interesting', which in the end saved me time.

Every child is different and every moment is unique. This strategy is not going to work every time, but I hope this gives you mama's an idea of how you can turn a task that you don't think a toddler can engage with you on into something they most definitely can.