How to keep Toddlers happy for hours!

The age-old question, but one that is simply answered. Yes, they may enjoy that $50 dollar toy you got them - for five minutes.

Toddlers are awesome. The simplest thing will keep them happy for hours on end.

~ One great trick is to tape the cardboard roll from a roll of absorbent paper towels to the wall.

Simply place a bowl underneath and show them a couple of times what happens when you drop a soft ball or pom-pom down the pipe. It disappears.

How this can be so entertaining remains a mystery. But the fact is - they'll love it.

~ Another great idea for keeping toddlers entertained, and help them hone their fine motor skills while they're at it, is to simply provide a colander and some pipe cleaners.

Put the colander bowl side down on the floor, and thread a few of the pipe cleaners through the holes.

It's great if there are different sized holes that hold the pipe cleaners in different ways, some to let them slide through and others to hold them tight.

You can tie knots in the pipe cleaners on the inside of the bowl to make sure the don't come away from the colander. This is a fantastic game for toddlers that seemingly amazes them for hours.

~ Toddlers LOVE talking on the phone.

Whether that's because they love doing what they see us big'uns doing or whether they have some genuine secret kids business - we're not sure.

However with a couple of household items you can make a phone that your toddler will love to chatterbox on all day.

All it takes is a small box, a recycled panadol box or match box is great for this. Simply paint it up, a nice solid colour.

Then add some 'number buttons' in white. You're set to go! Make two and play chat with your little one.