Boredom Busters & Play Ideas for Toddlers & Preschoolers
here are some fun ideas for toddlers and preschoolers for during the day during we need to stay at home! Pull out 1 or 2 ideas each day to keep up the fun.
- Popsicle Bath: Let your child take a bath while eating a Popsicle – mess is contained & the kids are happy.
- Decorate Boxes: Go big – use paint, stickers, construction paper, crayons, markers. Store it and play again tomorrow.
- Pillow Lava: Put every pillow and cushion on the floor for a “pillow lava” experience.
- Draw on a large Coloring Page: Roll out a large piece of paper and draw your child their own personal GIANT coloring page.
- Make Play Dough: Make some homemade play dough with your child. Let them be a part of the process.
- Wash the Toys: Fill a large container with tear-free soapy water. Have your child wash their plastic toys in the bin.
- Toy Parade: Tape lines on the carpet and set out some tiny toys to have a giant parade.
- Creation Station: Let your child cut and glue recycled materials you probaly have a ton of amazon boxes in the attic right! – explore, tinker, create.
- Dance Party: Put on Pandora or use Youtube 80 mix tapes Crank up the tunes, add in some glow sticks, turn off the lights – make this a real kid party.
- Random Painting: Invite your child to paint with random paint brushes: foil, Q-tips, cotton balls, sponges.
- LEGO Bath: Play with legos in the bathtub! How fun the kids will enjoy this!
- Make a Box Road: Cut open a cardboard box and draw a road in with magic marker. Bring out all the cars, blocks, animals (and even Dinosauers) and make a town.
- Toy Hide & Seek: Pick a toy to play hide and seek with (puzzles are great). Hide the pieces for your child to find.
- Playing Card Games: With cards, have your child sort by color, suit, & number. Teach them Go Fish If older, play War.
- Make a Fort: Be epic! , read books in the fort, bring in toys.
- Paint in the Bath: Cover the walls with paper and let your child paint will in a dry bathtub. Easy cleanup!!
- Sensory Bin: Make a sensory bin in a storage container. Fill with kitchen tools and a base (rice, cornmeal, leftover cereal, or oats).
- Make Paper Airplanes: Learn how to make paper planes and teach your child. Have races.
- Car Races: Have car and ball races on the floor – keep track of the winners.
- Play with Ice: Experiment with ice. Fill a bin with ice and add water. Ladle the ice, mix, scoop, and smash it.
- Paint Your Recycleables : Grab the recycling & let your child paint it – egg cartons, boxes, etc.
- Bake Cookies: Bonus points: Open the cookbook and pick a NEW recipe.
- Color Bath: Collect plastic toys and object – all one color. Dump them all in the bath for a color themed experience.
- Bubble Foam: 2:1 tear free bubble bath/body wash to water – 1 cup soap + ½ cup water. Mix with a hand mixer or blender to “stiff peaks.”
- Paint the Toys: Let your child paint some of their plastic toys (then have them wash them off in the bath).
- Cut & Glue Bin: Let your child practice cutting and gluing by making a collage on paper.
- Send Cards and letters: “Write” letters and make pictures for grandparents, family and friends – actually mail them!
- Pouring Station: In a bin or dry bath tub, let your child scoop and pour water into and from various containers.
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