Ideas to entertain a two year old in line

[Barb]

Anyone have any good ideas to entertain a two year old with little to no patience while standing in line???? I know there are some cute ideas in the kid's Birmbaum guide. But I think we're going to need lots more help!

 

[stingmom]

When we took our kids for the first time, we expected the line waits, so I purchased the "cheap" hand-held pocket games; packing each one in it's own ziplock bag in case of rain. I packed LOTS of small, portable travel snacks (raisens, granola bars, fruit snacks, Dum-dums) and a mini magna-doodle. Basically any thing I could thing of they enjoyed playing that I could get in a "mini" size. (Even those keyring etcha-sketches.) Not sure if yours is jut turning 2 or amlost 3, but those are my ideas. Almost forgot BUBBLES!! You can the "mini" bottles that you can wear around your neck, and not so much to spill either! HTH Have FUN!!

 

[TammiMcMan]

We're a family of almost all adults and we have little patience for waiting in line. Thank goodness our cell phones have games installed on them.

For a 2 year old, bubbles and spray water bottles are great ideas. Also hand held games like the Magna Doodle and Leapster are good for making time pass quickly.

 

[BabkaGal]

Hi!

Simple things that will hold his attention are great. I like bubbles, mad libs (maybe a little too young for him), silly putty, little moveable figures, and plenty of pipe cleaners so he (or you) can make fun animals and shapes.

Hope that helps!

--Babka Gal

 

[julia & nicks mom]

On our last day in the Magic Kingdom we went into a shop to have our Pal Mickey looked at and I can't remember which one it was off hand -

anyway they had books and one of them was my first 1000 words with Disney Characters - we bought it for my DD and I wish we had bought it earlier in the week - she spent the whole day looking at it and it is still one of her favorite books

you can buy it at Amazon ahead of time - which is WAY cheaper than the parks

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0786834099/002-0120111-7807239

 

[luvthatduke]

and plenty of pipe cleaners so he (or you) can make fun animals and shapes. Hope that helps!
--Babka Gal

BabkaGal, you're my new best friend, at least for today!!
I have never heard of the pipe cleaner idea,
and being that my just turned 2 DS still can't have
anything resembling a choking hazard (silly putty, small parts, etc.)
I'm gonna go out this week and buy some pipe cleaners!
DH will LOVE doing this in line with DS!! (me, too!)

 

[princessh]

This might be a little expensive, but there is a new Video Now Jr. for younger kids. The only thing that will keep my little one still is the Wiggles! They have videos with Blues Clues, Dora, Sesame Street. We are planning on using this on the plane, and while waiting in line! Good luck!

 

[Acklander]

Anyone have any good ideas to entertain a two year old with little to no patience while standing in line???? I know there are some cute ideas in the kid's Birmbaum guide. But I think we're going to need lots more help!

We play eye spy while waiting in line. Usually there are so many different things while waiting in the line that you can keep the game interesting.

 

[suevee]

I am a grandma who always travels with a story book, a few small packs of crayons and little tablets in my purse. Children love their own small notepads. Modestly I might add I have prevented a few breakdowns in long lines with my supplies.

 

[allisonwonderland]

I dont have kids but I do remeber my mom keeping a little bag of "goodies" like that in her purse,,and one of my favorite things in there was the pipe cleaners....I had soooo much fun just playing with them.She had sparkly ones and diff color ones too...wow..I had forgotten about that,,,,,,thanks for the memory.

 

[momshark]

I agree w/ Acklander, eye spy. It is free and you don't have to carry anything around.
Also, we look for hidden Mickeys.
And play rhyming games. Some come out really funny. Sometimes your line neighbors get involved. Hysteria ensues....
I, myself, am know to talk to complete strangers everywhere I go. I hate seeing everyone standing in line, going back and forth, back and forth in the line and not looking happy about anything. It's sort of like being on an elevator - everyone staring at the ground. So, I add a little compliment here and there, smiles emerge and we are chattering away. Kids play with each other and learn how to relate to strangers for a short period of time.

 

[princessh]

I also picked up a neat coloring pad that came with crayons and a hook to hang from a belt loop or bag. They have ones with the princess, Toy Story, and Mickey. They were only $4.50. I picked up two to put in my sons easter basket.

 

[henrylovespooh]

My first suggestion if you can pull it off is to get to the parks first thing in the morning so you can avoid as many lines as possible. And then later in the day, use Fastpass. That worked great for us. We never waited more than 5 minutes for anything last week.

Bubbles are good and in case of emergency, but be warned that your kids might try to chase the bubbles and get out of hand (mine do!). I had small containers of play-doh I got at Walmart for use in case of emergency, but thankfully I didn't need them.

 

[TrickyFish]

I agree with the idea of crayons and a small note pad. You can tell her/him to draw what s/he did that day and later scrapbook them, or at least keep the book, to look through later and keep as a memory for when they are older!

 

[jenr812]

Great thread! I love the pipe cleaner idea and the bubbles.

 

[Disneydreamer315]

I dont wait in line, I use TourguideMike (yes, I am a rabid fan)!

 

[SnowWhite]

Is he really that good? I read about it but wasn't sure if it was as good as it says it is. I definately want to avoid lines as I AM travelling with a very impatient 2year old!!

 

[Schmeck]

Bubbles in line? Not a good idea at all. Bubbles can sting if they get into someone's eyes, and some people (my daughter included) are allergic to some of the ingredients that can be in the bubble mixture. Also, when accidently spilled, or dumped out, they make a slippery mess. Playdoh can be messy, and can stain clothing. And spray water bottles? Yeah, like a 2 yr old isn't going to get everything and everyone near him soaked?


Plastic kaleidoscopes (sp?) can be fun, especially with all the colorful stuff at WDW. They sell them at all the dollar stores now. But I second the idea of utilizing fastpass, getting there early, and spending a lot of quality time in line talking to the kids. Just engage the kids in conversation - talk about the parks, the characters, the people in line, etc. Count out loud, sing the alphabet, look for all the colors of the rainbow, play I Spy, look for opposites, etc.

 

[MidNite]

I bought 2 cheap ($.99) calculators from Big Lots today to let my boys play with while in line. They just love to push buttons

 

[Deb & Bill]

Bubbles in line? Not a good idea at all. Bubbles can sting if they get into someone's eyes, and some people (my daughter included) are allergic to some of the ingredients that can be in the bubble mixture. Also, when accidently spilled, or dumped out, they make a slippery mess. Playdoh can be messy, and can stain clothing. And spray water bottles? Yeah, like a 2 yr old isn't going to get everything and everyone near him soaked?
...

ITA on no bubbles. Please leave your bubbles at home or in your resort. Please don't use them in line. Thanks, Smeck, for bringing this up.