Stuck at home? These ideas will keep you and your little one entertained
What do you do with your little bundle of energy when it’s raining, or when you can’t face leaving the house? You need our handy list of indoor activities! Pick the ones you fancy trying and get ready to have some fun together at home.
1. Play hide and seek
Who doesn’t love a game of hide and seek? For younger toddlers, put a twist on the game by hiding their favourite teddies around the house and looking for them together. You can shout “hot” when they’re close and “cold’ when they’re not. Give them hints: “You’re getting hotter!” or “Freezing!” For older toddlers let them hide somewhere downstairs (so you don’t lose them) and enjoy pretending not to find them!
2. Set up your own soft play
If you don’t have the energy to go out to a soft play centre, make your own. Gather your sofa cushions and make an obstacle course with mini towers and landing pads. Tell your toddler the floor is hot lava and see if they can avoid touching it.
3. Make time for tea
If you fancy something more chilled, set up a tea party with their teddies and plastic cups, complete with tablecloth (a towel will double up nicely for any spillages). Why not make yourself a real cup of tea to sneakily drink at the same time? You may even get to enjoy it while it’s still warm!
4. Unleash their inner artist
There’s something therapeutic about getting arty with paints and your tot will love making a colourful creation. Don’t worry if you have no brushes handy: at this age you can use pieces of potato, sponges and even fingers to make prints. You could even add dots of food colouring to a tray of shaving foam and let them enjoy mixing up their own colours. If you can’t cope with the mess, try a water doodle mat instead.
5. Dance like no one’s watching
The brilliant thing about dancing is that toddlers love it, and it gives you a workout, without even realising. Put your favourite music on the radio or TV and have a bop together. Studies even show it can help reduce stress and let’s face it, being with a toddler all day certainly has plenty of challenges! Or make some music yourselves – try an interactive musical toy or mini instrument.
6. Bitesize screen time
You certainly won’t be the only parent who finds screen time a saviour for days stuck indoors. And ‘it absolutely doesn’t make you a bad parent’, say Sophia and Gem at Toddlers Teens and Between.
There are plenty of toddler-friendly apps, websites and channels designed to educate and entertain little ones and give you both a well-earned break from each other: you can’t go wrong with a bit of CBeebies. Just try to avoid using screens too close to their bedtime because blue light stimulates the brain and disrupts sleep, and we don’t want that! There are no UK guidelines for screen time among babies and toddlers yet, but the American Association of Pediatrics recommends a limit of one hour per weekday for over twos, and three hours per weekend day.
7. Bake a treat
Nothing passes the time better than a delicious baking session. And you both get something yummy at the end of it, so it’s a win for everyone! Toddlers have a limited concentration span so pick short and sweet recipes such as chocolate crispy cakes, cookies, fairy cakes or even microwave mug cakes. Give them their own bowl and spoon to mix something so they stay involved while you do any tricky parts.
If cabin fever sets in and you can’t stay inside a minute longer, here are three easy outdoor ideas that won’t be spoiled by a downpour.
1. Jump in puddles
If the rain’s kept you in for too long and doesn’t look like stopping anytime soon, grab their wellies and a puddle suit if you have one and get out there. Toddlers will love splashing and jumping in puddles and they’ll burn lots of energy in the process.
2. Hop on a bus
Shelter at your nearest bus stop and let them wave at the bus driver to stop. Then enjoy the ride to your local shops and back. They’ll love people watching whatever the weather and you may even find the sit-down relaxing!
3. Visit the supermarket
There’s nothing dull about a trip to the supermarket for a toddler. Arm yourself with snacks and wheel them round in the trolley. A great place to start is the fruit and veg aisles where they’ll love seeing all those colourful and unusual-looking items. You may even get some inspiration for tonight’s tea.
