Thursday, August 6, 2009

The Bewitching Hour--- How to Entertain your Toddler at the End of the Day


I don’t know about you, but there is a time of day where my almost three year old begins to whine and complain almost every day…we call it the bewitching hour. It is between 4:30 p.m. to -5:30 p.m. It’s almost as though she knows daddy is about to come home from work and she’ll get someone fresh to play with!

I have been thinking of ways to combat the bewitching hour, and here are some ideas I found after researching. Please include your own ideas in the comments section below!

- Create a special "time with me" seat so your child can hang out with you and do something special (such as reading books or snuggling) during this time of day.

- If you find this is the time of day where you are preparing dinner, be sure to include your child. Have them set the table or find ways for them to help you cook!

- Save a special activity that can only be done during this time of day. It could be a special toy you pull out during the bewitching hour or a special activity that your child will look forward to all day!

- End of the day whining is usually caused by one of two things: being tired or being hungry. If this is the case of your child, prepare a healthy snack that won’t spoil dinner to curb the whining attacks. Also consider letting your child do an activity that will not further their tiredness. Reading books, coloring, taking a stroll or an arts and crafts project are some ideas you might want to try.

Not allowing your child to get wound up before dinner and the bedtime routine will allow for a calmer, more enjoyable night for all. Good luck during the bewitching hour and please share any ideas you have on how you cope with end of the day whining!

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