Keep Your Toddler Entertained While Running Errands

I have found three new ways to keep my little guy entertained while out-and-about.  Try them!

Magnifying Glass: 
I bought a cheap magnifying glass at Wal Mart.  When he starts to get antsy I pull it out and let him examine items from my purse or whatever happens to be around us.  I am contemplating letting him use it in our yard at home.  I know there are lots of neat things he could see, but I want to keep it special, so I'm not sure what I'm going to do.

Band-Aids
I keep some band-aids in my purse and pull them out to keep him entertained.  They absolutely amaze him for some reason.  He sticks them on, pulls them off, and so on.  I guess you could do the same thing with tape, I just have not tried it yet.  **Don't think I would do this with a baby unless you're really watching them.  When my son got his 6 month shots he somehow managed to pull off the band-aid and I didn't realize it until I found it in his mouth when we got home.  I have no idea how he got it off, but it scared me to death.**

Wallet
My son's all-time favorite.  I bought him a cheap wallet (an old used one at home would be even better) and filled it with used gift cards and those fake credit cards you get in the mail.  He absolutely loves pulling them out.  He has a hard time getting them back in, but this has literally kept him occupied for a half hour or more on long car rides.  And my son is not one to stick with one activity for too long! 

Comments

[Nikki]

What a great idea! My little girl loves playing with my wallet (and pulling everything out) which is why I don't let her. I could get her her own. Hmmmm.

[Jane Anne]

My boys love magnifying glasses! What a good idea to bring one (or 3?!) along when we go out.

[Arlene]

Great ideas! Thanks for sharing these; I'll definitely be putting them to good use for my toddler :o)

[rachel K]

great tips! My kids love tic tacs. I will let my two-year-old play with an almost empty container. This works well, but who's not looking for more tips?!

[Suz]

Great ideas!
I have a toddler and I often buy him a single serve chocolate milk and let him drink it while I'm shopping (many times I have a coupon for the Nestle ones making them $.25 each)

One of my grocery stores gives cheese at the deli case, and cookies at the bakery for kids and he knows we visit one of those places before we leave the store if he's been good.

He also loves to help me load the conveyor with groceries & helps scan if we go to the U-scan. He feels big when he gets to help.