Help my child is going nuts when my attention is taken off of them! I can't talk on the phone, cook dinner, or just take a break from attending to them.
The good news is- Toddlers who need your attention are SEEKING communication skills which is great for development but can make a mama feel crazy.
Here are some ideas:
Plan short times throughout the day where you give your child a lot of you attention and your "whole face". Games including tickling, simple songs, lap games, and teaching your child to play with toys are all great ideas.
It is okay to play with your child until they seem a little tired of you.
Get your child busy before you slip away to do other tasks.
Always make sure you can hear and/or see your child when doing tasks.
Pick 2 toys that you ONLY bring out when you will be busy. This should be a toy or activity your child can do independently.
This is not a time to present a new item that will need your attention and help with.
Busy Bags are typically easy items for a child that keep attention.
A puzzle or special toy you keep out of sight during the day and only bring out during these times are great ideas.
This might be the only time your child gets a little "tech time". Though we know that ZERO is the amount of hours a toddler is recommended to have, using a device or TV for a short time might distract your child so that you can do tasks.
I personally use a hand signal-
3 fingers up (to make a "W" and wiggle with fingers) and say "wait" when I need a moment. I do not recommend this when you need more than a moment. The idea here is this means "wait" and then you can have my attention.
You can create a sign or picture that your child can bring you when they need to get your attention for a moment. Afterwards, get child busy with an activity before returning to your task.