By Joannie Peters
During the cold and rainy season, getting outside to burn off your toddler’s energy is not always possible. Here are some ideas to keep indoor play fun and interesting.
Pine Cone Process Art
Walk outside and collect pine cones (or leaves, sticks, rocks) from nature when weather allows. Gather other materials: non-toxic paint, paper, a box or bin. Have your child choose 2-3 paint colors and squirt onto a piece of paper which you’ve placed into a box/bin. Add 1-3 pinecones. Have your child shake the box to create a painting using pinecones as “paint brushes.” Hang painting to dry. Pinecones can also be dried with the paint on them to create a colorful decoration in your home (e.g. place in a bowl to create a centerpiece or string into a garland).
Sensory Bins
Corn kernels or dried beans are cheap and easy to find in most grocery stores. You can add them to a box or bin, along with 2-3 household items (measuring cups, spoons, tongs, small plastic containers) or toys (dump trucks, plastic animals) to create a sensory bin. Limit the number of items you place into the bin – you can switch them out for different items every now and then to make the sensory bin “new again” for your little one. Offer items that allow your child to practice their scooping, pouring, and transferring skills.
Older toddlers can help create their own sensory bin. Look for dried corn that is still on the cob and have your little one pick the kernels off themselves. Alternatively, have your little one collect acorns (on drier days that allow for nature/neighborhood walks) to be used for sensory bins. We store our sensory bin fillers in old yogurt containers so we can switch up our bin every few weeks.
Other filler ideas: cotton balls, pom-poms, dry cereal like Rice Krispies, buttons, cooked (and cooled) spaghetti, shredded paper, a variety of fabric scraps, corks. Be mindful of what you are using to create your sensory bin, especially if your child is still a very oral explorer!
NOTE: It’s likely only a matter of time before your child ends up dumping the contents of the bin. Remember that cleaning up is part of the fun and learning experience! Your child is perfectly capable of helping to scoop everything back into the bin. My son likes using his bulldozer to gather up the mess.
Painting in a Bag (Canvas and Ziploc)
Squirt a few shades of non-toxic paint into a Ziploc bag, then tape to a table or window. Your little one can enjoy squishing the paint and mixing the colors without making a mess! If you’d like to preserve their masterpiece, place a small, flat piece of canvas paper inside the bag before adding the paint, then remove once they are done and let dry. One idea is to turn the canvas into a colorful photo frame: a photo can be attached using Mod Podge once the paint has dried. Hang the canvas at your child’s eye level so they can enjoy their creation and a favorite family photo at the same time!
Practical Life Activities
Little ones want to do everything you do, so why not engage them in doing things around the home that need to be done anyway? Just budget more time for each chore as you will need to demonstrate and give them time to go at their own pace. TIP: Go slow. Break down each task so your child is focusing on 1-2 simple steps)
-Water indoor plants. Use a small pitcher/cup/watering can with small amounts of water to start
-Fold laundry. Your child can help sort into piles for each family member or match socks
-Prep a meal. A learning tower / step stool allows your child access to the kitchen counter where they can help with simple steps in your meal prep process: scrub veggies in the sink; peel bananas for a smoothie; add pre-measured/pre-prepared ingredients into a mixing bowl/pot/blender; scoop seeds out of a melon/squash. And if your child is more interested in playing with a pool of water in the sink, that’s also great – provide interesting kitchen utensils so they can pour, scoop, strain, stir, while you get stuff done in the kitchen!
Pillow Fort / Indoor Climber
Take apart your couch and gather all the pillows and cushions from around the home to create a fun, new play space together! To make it extra cozy, start by lining the floor with a soft throw or blanket. Add stuffed animals and other toys as needed.
Alternatively, couch pillows and cushions can be used to create a soft, indoor climbing area. Build a cushion tunnel for your little one to crawl through. Add toy vehicles and balls for rolling down cushion ramps.
Dance to Music
Instead of children’s songs, put some of your favorite songs on and have a dance party! Explore the beat through tapping, clapping, wiggling. Experience music from different cultures or specific instruments by using apps like Spotify and Pandora.
Homemade Playdough
Make your own playdough, and let your toddler’s imagination run wild. Little Wonders has a great recipe!
Mix in saucepan: 1 cup white flour, ½ cup salt and 2t cream of tartar.
Add and mix with above: 1 cup water, food coloring, 2t oil.
Cook over medium heat and stir until mixture forms a ball, about 3-4 min. Turn out and knead on wax paper. May be stored in Ziploc plastic bag.
For even more ideas, follow accounts like @busytoddler and @teachtalkinspire, or hashtags like #toddleractivities on Instagram. This is a great way to continue growing your idea list!