Water Table
Build a water table by getting local supplies or used wood. Buy a utility tub or use a big Tupperware tub and enjoy hours of fun in the sun without getting your little ones fully wet or having to do the whole sunblock fight! Use bath toys or kitchen items for some water fun!
Use heavy & light items to do “sink or float” games
Multicolored items & shapes help your little one identify and use their cognitive skills!
*(Always have an adult present when there is water around)
No time, money or space to make a water table? Plastic rope tubs or buckets can work! Setting up two rope tubs is fun as we play "sink or float" games and the kids don't have to crowd around one little water table. Big glass containers or jars let your child see what's going on in the water while playing games. Have your child guess what objects may float. Check in your local stores, I normally hit the kitchen isle for new containers or jars to try our water games. Jars & containers work well inside on a study table top on rainy days or in the winter. Stock up on fun toys at the dollar store that your kids can hold, drop and are able to get wet.
Chalk
Chalk is a easy way to introduce coloring & motor skills to your little one. If your not ready to introduce paints & markers just yet this is safe & clean!
If you don’t have a drive way look at yard sales or consignment sales for old chalk boards. If you still can’t find one go to your local craft store and buy a can of spray chalk and “up-cycle” a old piece of wood.
Practice ABC’s, numbers & shapes or let your kids imagination take color with out wasting paper!
Bubbles
Bubbles are great for kids especially two under 2. Weather your stuck inside on a raining day or in your yard, bubbles are an activity that both children can take part in. You don't have to worry too much with the problem of sharing. All you need is a good blower & a wand! You can make them with household items such as old wire hangers & dish soap!
Lucky Ducks
Take a few rubber ducky's from a party store and label the bottom to match a few pairs either with numbers, colors or shapes. Find a container, bucket or even a small baby pool and drop them in! Watch your children problem solve and use their pairing skills to find a mate! Many different games can unfold using rubber ducky's. One child or more can enjoy this water activity while identifying and testing their memory.
Dress Up
Clean out your closet & let your children play with old hats, shoes and clothes. Pair a funny story or far away land with the clothes in a book that brings your children favorite characters to life! Have your kids dress you or each other for pretend play.
Puppet Shows
Besides providing an excellent opportunity for imaginative play, puppet shows can help kids express themselves orally & helps them think creatively. It shows them different dialog and if you incorporate animals its a great way to have them learn about the environment. Help start your little ones out by either Mommy & Daddy hosting the play & then have your kids join. You can also have them retell the story they just viewed. We like "helping" puppet acts or "sharing" stories as our kids quite haven't mastered sharing! Melissa & Doug have cute puppets but some crafty Mommy's may choose to make there own. All my kids would get is sock puppets if I were to make their own!
Books Sales & Consignment
Bring your children with you in search of new treasure! There are some great books out there that are gently used or music to be played again! Check your area libraries for “book sales” where they open their doors to the public for sales of books, movies & music. Yes we still "Rock" VHS at our house! My husband makes fun of me but when he see our $1 VHS instead of $20-$30 for kids Blue Rays he gets it! Plus we got all our favorite Disney movies that may be in the dreaded vault.
Consignment is a great way to save money on gently used kids clothes and other baby items. Also a great way to make some extra cash on the side!
Take your gently used items to a children consignment for trade, store credit or sometimes cash! Have an old baby swing that still in great condition? Consign it for store credit towards summer kid clothes! Having 2 close together is hard when buying clothing. Consignment has saved my family money and helped us dodge retail.
Swap Spot
I love the swapping idea! Not only are you reusing an item but you are saving money too! Check local Mother/Baby boards for swapping meets or host one of your own! I have yet to host my own swap spot as my kids are super attached to their toys still but think it could be fun to try or a good play date idea!
You can have a theme such as a book swap meet or toddler toys. You can meet some Moms in your area, catch up with friends & give your kids new items to play with!
Clean old your kids toy bins and donate some toys. Try swap/donating with others families. We have recently made donating toys at Christmas & Birthday's a part of teaching our children giving and receiving. Our local Church has a "Giving Tree" where we draw a family in need name to give and share with at Christmas.
Treasure Chest
Rewarding good behavior without food or candy! Encourage sharing, helping others or simple clean up time with out yelling or threats. When your child makes a positive choice choose to reward with a positive action! I found a cardboard chest at a local party store and put some goodies that interest my kids. No food or candy for us but up to you. (Ex. super balls, stickers, rings & gold coins) Stickers work well if you don't have a chest yet. Give out stickers for sharing & being a good listener.
Dance Party
Need to get some energy out and your stuck in the house? Whether your waiting for Daddy to come home or it's a rainy day dance parties are so much fun! It's gets your little ones off the couch and allows them to shake it! Doing different rhythms and speeds helps your kids learn tempos and different directions. If you say dance fast they have to express how someone would dance fast. Try freeze dancing too or which sibling can wiggle the fastest? Having a remote or someone on the "stop" button and watch the laughs then the music stops!
Nature Explorer
Kids love bugs, birds & the sun shine. Take them for a little nature walk or into your back yard for a afternoon of discovery & questions. You can set up a little lunch with bug catchers and magnified glasses on a table. You can also try and make some nets out of cheesecloth. If you wish to keep it a little more simple you can make spotting scopes out of house hold items and pick up outdoor things like leaves or branches and talk about colors and textures. Incorporating seasons and weather is fun too! Play"Whats that Sound?" and see if you can hear tree's blowing, birds singing or other sounds around your house. Have your children look at each others "finds" and talk about what is different about them.
Music Lesson
My kids love music! Creating your own music makers or slowly building your own little band helps with their creative side & cognitive development. Singing and playing musical instruments encourages a child memory, physical development, and socialization. Create a family song or story you can take turns acting out sounds, speeds & rhythms. If Mom can't carry a tune you can have you Ipod in the background to create the mood or inspiration! Have your kids take turns. Play each instrument and switch when the music stops.
My Favorite:
Sibling Photo Shoot!
Sibling have a incredible bond from lovey dovie to "No that's mine" in a second! As your children grow they will enter different stages of their lives together. Connected forever showcase their ages and time frames in their lives together. You can make it as serious, sweet or funny as you like. Using props or favorite items of your children help the photo's express how similar or different they are! Share with family & friends!
Capture at least one family photo per year and talk about your family dynamics with your children. Go over your family tree and life stages from time to time. Revisit baby pictures and past trips, helps with a child's memory and family appreciation.
Ball Pit Pool
This idea comes from a friend who had us over for a play date last year. The play date host had a blow up pool (soft sides for getting in & out of) and had it filled with multicolored balls. All the kids at the play date enjoyed the ball pit so much that we added one at our house! I purchased a medium size blow up pool (and pump) and filled it up! We found a bag of balls at a local toy store. The balls stay in the pool for easy clean up and the kids help if some balls spill out.
Starfall
A great learning website that a Teacher friend shared with me & my kids.
http://www.starfall.com/
Target Dollar Bin
Balloons
Something simple as blowing up some balloons on the living room floor or kids bedroom can turn a boring day inside into a fun balloon time! Add some different colors & music to make your own party!
