Your toddler depends on play to help him learn language, develop problem-solving skills, discover more about the world around him and, yes, burn energy. But what happens when you’re stuck inside on a rainy day — or, worse, if the family has to quarantine for an extended period of time?
No matter why you’re at home, keeping your little one entertained is a unique — and exhausting — challenge. As if caregivers didn't already have enough to do, toddlers need a steady stream of stimulation so everyone can stay happy, healthy and sane.
But you can only watch Blippi so many times and old-standbys like puzzles and coloring books lose their luster after a while. So if your patience is waning and you're fresh out of ideas to beat that cabin fever, turn to these creative ideas for some fresh inspiration:
Make rainbows
Have your child sort cereal by color to create rainbow art. Finish it off with a cloud made from crumpled paper or cotton balls.
Create sensory bags
Use zippered plastic bags and duct tape to create squishy bags full of stimulating textures.
Tape together a pom-pom shoot
For a fun DIY toddler activity, attach empty toilet paper and paper towel tubes to poster board using washi tape, creating a slide for pom-poms and other small toys.
Start some colorful explosions
Put a twist on a classic science experiment — combining vinegar and baking soda to spur a foaming reaction — by adding food coloring.
Let kids "cook"
Give kids a piece of bread and a small cup of colored water (dyed with food coloring), and let them paint their slice. It’s a great hands-on activity that fosters creativity and enhances fine motor skills.
Create a Jell-O treasure hunt
For sensory play, whip up a batch of jiggly Jell-O and hide some small figurines inside. Let kids indulge in toddler fun by digging for "treasure."
Make crayons
All those stray nubs of crayons? Unwrap them, place them in silicone molds and heat until they melt together to form new, multicolored ones. This DIY toddler activity is especially great for celebrating holidays since you can create themed crayons.
Create a drop box
Save empty packages of wipes to make a custom container. Toddlers will love opening and closing each lid and taking items in and out.
Stir up toddler-friendly slime
Create a bouncy slime toddlers can squish and mold to their hearts' content. Save slime in an air-tight container so your tots can engage in the fun whenever the mood strikes.
Practice counting
For an easy at-home activity that’ll help teach numbers, encourage older toddlers to count the chocolate chips in a dozen (paper) cookies.
Build sensory bins
This DIY toddler activity takes a little bit of prep work, but the payoff is well worth it. Simply fill a plastic storage container with rice, lentils and an array of textured toys and craft supplies for some tactile fun.
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