Easy Indoor Activities for Lazy Moms like Me! (with Preschoolers & Toddlers)
February and March drag on! The cold weather feels like it will never end, the kids have gone totally stir crazy, and you’ve run out of ideas. So here are some ideas for indoor play with preschoolers and toddlers! Hopefully some can add to your arsenal of entertainment!
Indoor Water Play
Simply fill a tote with water, set it on towels, and play. It’s like taking a bath without the naked kids or poop accidents! Basically any hard toy without batteries can become a bath toy. Check out fun bath toys like the Nuby Bath Links to use in your water tub.
Play table
Build a basic play table like ours for hours of fun with beans, gears, suction cups and other toys! More contained and easier on the bum than the floor!
Indoor Obstacle Course
Find random household objects and create an obstacle. Over, around, under, and between can be challenging for little minds and get out some extra energy. Plus painter’s tape works great to make shapes and lines on the floors without damage. You can either play along or act as a human timer to get them to race the clock.
Bath play
Take a bath. But promise you won’t wash their hair or make them scrub behind their ears. It’s smaller than a swimming pool, but a bath tub can be a great place to play! My 4 year old loves to bring in random toys, we just have a rule that they can’t be electronic or have important stickers.
Indoor swing
If you have a good sized basement or other room, hang a swing. Or bring parts of your outdoor play equipment inside. Maybe even make some construction paper clouds and create an outside world inside.
Take apart toys
Seriously, my kids love watching and “helping” me dismantle toys. A mini fork lift turned into a drilling truck when my son dismantled it a bit. The insides of toys, particularly electronic toys with batteries removed, can be quite interesting. And a great educational opportunity. Make sure you can either put them back together or don’t care if they go in the trash when you are done though.
Local play area
Some towns have non-restaurant indoor play areas! They may be a bit hard to find, but some churches and other public organizations have areas filled with toys and play equipment for a small fee. Check facebook, google, or ask around. Or hit a local fast food or mall play area to get out of the house.
Trip to the dollar store
My kids love walking down the toy aisles at the dollar store. We talk ahead of time about only getting to pick one toy each, then they take their time switching and switching and switching again until they finally decide on a toy. And I get to pick up some snacks and craft items.
Kitchen experiments
There are lots of experiments you can do with household items. Like vinegar volcanoes, milk swirling, and seeing what floats and sinks. Google for ideas and have fun!
Homemade playdoh or cloud sand
Find a recipe for homemade playdoh or cloud sand and let the kids get their fingers messy helping. They’ll enjoy helping pick colors, and then can play with the results.
Photo shoot
For an older kid, hand over your camera and let them go crazy. Or get a kid-friendly camera like the Intova Duo (review coming soon!). Pose for pictures, suggest toys and other props, and be prepared to delete a lot when they are done. My 4 year old has actually taken some great pictures of us and his sister!
Crafts and Painting
Dig out random craft bits and stickers from the closet and see what happens. Whatever you have will do. A piece of paper may look ridiculous when it’s done, but it’ll be fun.
Styrofoam Cup Play
Combined with string, stickers or markers, styrofoam cups can become farms, doghouses, pyramids, drums, ball toss, or so much more.
“Redecorate”
Let the kids help you move around pictures, hang their own artwork, or move around rugs and small furniture. Or maybe they could rearrange their toys.
Indoor picnic
Lay out a blanket, bring out picnic type food, and eat on the floor. It’s exciting to be off the table for a meal. Our picnics often happen in front of a fun tv show or movie. It’s also fun to get an empty ice cube tray and fill each cubby with a different little snack, like raisins and pretzels. Then the kids have lots of food options and a fun way to hold them.
Moms and dads, any other ideas?
LaTanya Thornhill says
Potty training my son was relatively easy. Can’t wait to see how it goes with my daughter
Michel Wolffe says
Outstanding post, you have pointed out some good points, I besides believe this s a very great website.
Autoliker says
This site is my inhalation, really good layout and perfect articles.
Instagram Free Views says
I’m still learning from you, but I’m making my way to the top as well. I absolutely liked reading all that is posted on your site.Keep the stories coming. I loved it!
simple keto diet plan says
Glad to be one of many visitors on this amazing website : D.
link building says
I believe this website contains some very excellent information for everyone : D.
phen375 user reviews says
I really appreciate this post. I?¦ve been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thx again
weight loss samples says
Hey, I think your blog might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your blog site in Ie, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, wonderful blog!
new york seo says
This web site is really a walk-through for all of the info you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and you’ll definitely discover it.
click here says
I like what you guys are up too. Such clever work and reporting! Carry on the superb works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my website 🙂
baise says
Some really nice stuff on this internet site, I like it.
free iq test with instant results says
Hi, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your website in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, fantastic blog!
Barrie Garuti says
There is noticeably a bundle to learn about this. I assume you made sure nice points in options also.
the forest ultimate cheat menu says
I appreciate, cause I found just what I was looking for. You’ve ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye
bague homme diamant says
Very interesting subject, appreciate it for putting up. “The reason people sweat is so they won’t catch fire when making love.” by Don Rose.
AVON says
I really like your writing style, excellent info, thank you for posting :D. “I hate mankind, for I think myself one of the best of them, and I know how bad I am.” by Joseph Baretti.
free ring of elysium hacks says
An attention-grabbing dialogue is worth comment. I think that you should write more on this matter, it might not be a taboo topic however generally people are not enough to talk on such topics. To the next. Cheers
how to download fortnite on windows 10 says
Nice blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog stand out. Please let me know where you got your design. Thanks
madden mobile hack coins says
Wow! This blog looks just like my old one! It’s on a completely different subject but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Excellent choice of colors!
Click here says
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself? Plz reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks
this link says
Thanks for another informative blog. Where else could I get that type of info written in such an ideal way? I have a project that I am just now working on, and I’ve been on the look out for such info.
Baixar Filmes Torrent says
I appreciate, cause I found just what I was looking for. You’ve ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye
Result Nic.in 2019 says
Ich kenne einige Leute, die aus Kanadakommen. Eines Tages werde ich auch dorthin reisen Lg Daniela
Buy Oxycodone Online says
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself? Plz reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks
inventhelp reviews says
Great V I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your website. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs as well as related info ended up being truly simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Quite unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, website theme . a tones way for your customer to communicate. Excellent task..
inventhelp product development says
Thanx for the effort, keep up the good work Great work, I am going to start a small Blog Engine course work using your site I hope you enjoy blogging with the popular BlogEngine.net.Thethoughts you express are really awesome. Hope you will right some more posts.
inventhelp review says
Somebody essentially lend a hand to make severely articles I would state. That is the first time I frequented your website page and so far? I amazed with the analysis you made to make this particular post incredible. Great activity!
mcent browser unlimited points says
You made some good points there. I did a search on the issue and found most individuals will approve with your site.
InventHelp Innovation says
I used to be very happy to seek out this net-site.I needed to thanks on your time for this wonderful learn!! I definitely having fun with every little bit of it and I’ve you bookmarked to check out new stuff you weblog post.
disk drill activation code 2.0.0.334 says
Thanks for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do some research about this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I am very glad to see such magnificent information being shared freely out there.
Navigieren Sie zur Seite ... says
It is really a nice and helpful piece of info. I’m glad that you shared this useful info with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.