Energetic toddlers plus rainy days can very often equal exasperation – how do we keep them entertained when we’re stuck inside? Luckily, there are loads of ways to construct a fun-filled day that keeps everyone happy while making the most of the time you have together. Here are just a few ideas to try out – or use them to bounce off to get your creative side blossoming.
Indoor Picnic
Indoor picnics are great because not only are they fun, they’re also super easy! There’s very little you need to change in terms of food for the day – whatever you were planning to have for morning tea or lunch will do for the picnic. The change is in the presentation. Set up a picnic blanket and maybe a fort if you’re feeling up for it (if anyone is unsure, forts are easy – set out some chairs, drape a few sheets or blankets over them, then crawl into the space underneath). Get your food – that might be lunch, or it might just be for snack time – and set it out on special plates. If you’re wanting to do something special, you could even try baking some finger foods in the Pineapple Nibble Tray for your older children! This activity is massively customisable, so you can very easily tailor it to meet your energy levels and general wants.
Sensory Bins
This is one of those things that sounds complicated but really isn’t. The idea is to grab a container of some description (it could be a shoebox, storage container or mixing bowl) and fill it with a range of textures for your little one to reach inside and explore with their hands. Depending on the box, this could be coarse things such as sand, dry beans or rice, or maybe something with a jelly-type texture. Put small objects such as toys inside, and let your child explore! A great toy to try is a stacking toy – see if they can find all the parts and put it together! Placing a sheet down beneath the bin makes cleaning up afterwards much more manageable. Giving your child a cup to pour the filling (i.e., sand) with makes for a fun playtime, and including toys of different colours can give playtime an extra learning experience layer. This is an activity that is great for younger toddlers, as it not only helps with motor development but also gives them a great boost in cognitive development through play!
Arts & Crafts
It’s always a good time for arts and crafts. Depending on the age of your child, you can try anything from crayons and paper to playdough to markers and watercolours. Bust out those colouring books, or see what type of avant-garde creations your budding artist will dazzle you with! For the non-artists among us, if you have access to a home printer, line drawings of a host of different images are readily available – print one or two out, or simply create your own! They don’t need to be anything especially complex, particularly for younger kids. Drawing out a variety of shapes so they can be coloured in how they see fit – and maybe cut out to hang up later (by you, of course!) – can be a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.
Obstacle Course
This is one for the more adventurous tiny ones out there, but as with the ideas above, you can customise it to meet your child’s abilities. Use pillows and cushions to keep things nice and soft and create a course. This can even be done for smaller babies who can crawl but not walk – just use smaller cushions and let them explore, learning how to navigate the different obstacles in their way! You’ll need to keep them well supervised, but it’s a great way to let the kiddos learn how to test their abilities in a relatively safe environment. Even better, it allows them to burn off some of that excess energy they would otherwise spend at the park or in the backyard!
Raincoat Time
Just because it’s raining doesn’t mean you can’t go outside. If you’re comfortable with it (and it’s not too cold), put a raincoat and gumboots on and head out anyway! Explore the way things look in the rain, see if you can spot the first rainbow, or watch the way fallen leaves flow down streams of water. Jumping in puddles is a time-honoured activity that you may have done in your own childhood – and there’s nothing stopping you from enjoying those days with your own little one once more.
Storytime
A wet, gloomy day is perfect for cuddling up together and reading a book. Grab a few of your child’s favourite books, make yourself a cosy little nest of blankets, snuggle in, and make your way through. If you’d prefer not to read the same book for the fifteenth time, though, think about making up stories. If your toddler has built up a good vocabulary, try making up stories that contain blanks and let them fill them in – you never know where a story made up on the fly will take you!
Rainy days are often thought of as dreary, but they absolutely do not have to be. With a little imagination, they can make for some of the most enjoyable times and can lead to some truly special, long-lasting memories. Do you have any go-to rainy-day ideas?