How to keep a 16-month-old entertained... even just for 20 seconds

Grandma has had the most genius revelation lately. She devised a little game for S to play, during which time she gets to sit back in the comfortable recliner and closes her eyes. Let me tell you, with a 16-month-old running around looking for trouble, sitting back is classified as mission impossible. Yes, even for mere twenty seconds.

A while ago, a friend of mom's gave S eight cloth blocks to play with. S has since taken great pleasure causing destruction to a carefully stacked tower of blocks by chopping it down decisively in one sweeping motion. One day Grandma placed a block on top of her own head in an attempt to avert a near-disaster meltdown, which she succeed. S got so fascinated with the look and sensation of something on top of her head that she kept pointing to her head so Grandma could put a block there as well. To make it more interesting, Grandma started counting from 1 to 10. If S keeps the block on her head for more than ten counts, everyone has a big cheer and a round of kisses.

Nowadays when Grandma gets too tired she would sit in the recliner, help put the block on S's head and start counting. S has exhibited patience unknown to toddlers' her age (S's mom firmly believes so), and would stand absolutely still for twenty seconds. She has a big smile on her face, eyes gleaming with pride, and listen to grandma count from 1 to 20. The key to the success of 20-second of hard-earned peace and quiet is that you must appear enthusiastic after the end of the count, jumping up in joy is good, but if you are too tired, a big "Wow" and a round of applause will do.