Independent Play and Fine Motor Activity for Toddlers

I am sure every one of you can relate to the day when you just have to write that long email or take an important phone call without hiding in the closet (and praying for the signal not to be lost) ... or just want to have a cup of coffee without having somebody riding on your back and wiping somebody's nose with your shirt (well, OK, a napkin).

My little man is pretty good at occupying himself most times, EXCEPT for the moments I REALLY NEED him to be busy by himself.

Today was such a day. I knew I will not go through the phone call if I won't make him something special, different activity that he hasn't seen it yet.

Here is what I did to set up a fine motor activity

I kept this cardboard box from the pan I bought a while ago (yes, cardboard is treasured in our house) and layed out some Mega Blocks on top. Marked them around and cut them with crafting (or regular) knife.

It took about 5 minutes to set up and cut the mega block shapes in the box, but it was totally worth it.

And I got this ugly looking box, yet very useful toy for our fine motor activity.

Next time, when I have more than 5 minutes to spare I would try to 'squeeze' little bit more out if this box shape matching activity. For example, I would color the sides of the cut out shapes with markers with the colors of mega blocks. That way a toddler can practice color matching as well.

I will be honest with you, my little boy did get frustrated couple of times in the beginning while learning how to fit the mega block through the hole. But as soon as he figured it out that the little one goes in a little hole and the big one goes in big one, he was 'hooked'.

He explored other options with this diy "fine motor activity toy" by finding different ways how to play with it. He was putting the blocks through open side and taking them out through the cut out holes. Well, whatever it works.

Bottom line. Did I get the stuff done, or not?

I did. And I didn't.  I did make a phone call, where I didn't need to hide anywhere, but I rushed to finish up with it because I wanted to take some pictures and enjoy my little toddler playing.

It's like one of those moments when you can't wait for the day to be over and your kids to be in bed, but then 1 hour after they are deep in sleep, you miss them and go to bed to just stare at them and wish you could play with them then.