Foxy,

Regardless of whatever actions you take and I would suggest that many parents are inclined to reject well-intentioned gifts of books as judgmental (perhaps a mite unfair but usually they are in a tender place themselves), so beware, the better alternatives I reckon are:

- offer to relieve them with assistance at home. Merely showing up to take over duties and let mum have a rest is a god-send; and,

- take whatever opportunities present to take the toddler for fun excursions that give him the space and time to unload that computer in his head and process things.

Examples of the latter are sausage bbq in the park where he has things to climb and birds to feed, or building sand castles and wading the shallows of an estuary.

Women like to mother and there is a time and place for that. However in this case the little fellow could likely do with physical and mental space. Many people but I trust not yourselves try to entertain children. Whereas they should try to be in the background, only intervening where necessary.

Books.
Never read him a 'lesson' book. Just read anything fun and re-read. Poetry is good. Old is good, A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson. The rhythm and repetition are soothing and allow the imagination, freedom. Wynken, Blynken, and Nod By Eugene Field

I don't know if this is going to mean anything to you, but there is tremendous joy in the mundane, shared. He can help with cooking, you will be surprised. Even if the mashed potato has to be set aside and chilled with milk so he can do it.

otb,

You never fail to surprise me.

But this time in a good way.

What a lovely post from you and such good advice.

Thank You so much.

Bless You - you've made my evening.

I was feeling rather low, and you cheered me up
enormously.

Nice bit of interaction taking place here...

Well said, otb.

Foxy,

np

You know that the toddler is already your excuse to go and do things that you enjoyed or missed as a child, eg., going to pantomimes and so on. There are adult lines in some if you listen.

What about play dough or slime, did you ever put some real time into those? Recipes available from the Net. Waterbased paint on a brick or concrete wall or path, hose off some time later. Footprint art on paper.

Making watermelon balls, the list is endless...and cheap. As a clue, at a young age my kids and their mates helped making damper and ate it with cooled home made pea or lentil soup (sorted by them) or honey later.

Just make a list of what you want to do and he can fit in as he wishes.

otb,

Thank You.

Wonderful suggestions.

I shall definitely take them all on board.