Toddler Fetch

Nap time around here lately for the big 2 year old has been, well...nap-less. I put him in his crib and he plays, sings, throws out all his toys and whatever clothing I haven't taped on. (By the way, I only tape his diaper.) After about an hour he starts yelling at the top of his lungs, "Mamaaaaa! Mamaaaa!" This usually makes for a pretty cranky and sleepy little boy in the afternoons- and a frustrated Mama. He used to nap for 2 to 3 hours. Ugh.

Now that it's nice outside I've taken to operation wear my toddler out for nap time. We'll call it WMTOFNT for short. Ok, scratch that...it's not much shorter. Anyway, today was attempt #1 and it worked! (Not going to celebrate too soon though, because Javen has a way of outsmarting my first few attempts at anything before I find what works with him.) Today it was a little game I'd like to call Toddler Fetch.

We have a small hill in our tiny backyard (though I'm sure it seems HUGE to 3 foot tall Javen.) I throw his ball down the hill and he gleefully runs after it to retrieve it. He then brings it back to me and asks me to throw it again, and we repeat the process for oh...about twenty minutes. He's a sweaty smiling mess. And when nap time rolls around, he doesn't put up a fight. No, he sleeps for 3 hours! Success!

Oh, and a little gardening never hurt either...

That's what works for me (for now!) For more works-for-me-wednesday tips head over to We Are That Family.