I don’t know about you, but the struggle is very REAL at the moment in finding things to keep the little one focused on homeschooling, creating fun playtime opportunities, time to relax, time to play as a family, as well as working my usual 9-5 job from home. Ekk!
The internet has become so full of amazing ‘how to make’ posts for parents (thank you so much!), but often they involve lots of resources and ingredients. As someone who still can’t get a small bag of self raising flour, I feel your pain. But, not to worry, with over 50 years of play experience Little Tikes has pulled together these brilliantly simple top 10 tips to keep kids busy – whatever the weather AND using little resources too! So that’s the next couple of weeks covered then.
Open the back door if the sun is shining, let that fresh air in and get little one’s into the outdoor spirit or get creative inside.
1. Get closer to nature by creating your own family treasure hunt in the garden. Involve children by asking them to come up with their own reward to keep them engaged. You could even make it a weekly or monthly treat!
2. For warmer days water is perfect for giggles in the garden. Fill Tupperware containers with water, collect different sizes of paintbrushes and get little ones to draw shapes, animals and write their names on the patio. Add some food colouring to the water for added excitement Or let imaginations run wild with water table fun. Set up challenges, make waves and watch the hours pass by!
You can even create a theme like we did with our Fairies Magical Potion Station.
3. Let little tikes put their social skills to practice as they play shops for the morning. Roleplay is an essential part of development and it’s even more fun when mum and dad get involved!
4. Keep active whilst improving children’s mobility and co-ordination with a family sports day. Set up a relay of games and pick from a series of fun sports including a running race, a wheelbarrow race and a game of football. Adults and children can take it in turns to be the judges and contestants to mix up the fun!
5. Make maths fun by counting, multiplying, dividing and subtracting using different things from around the house. Toys, teddies, cushions, spoons. Let kids pick the props and get counting!
6. Let your little one take the wheel in their very own car. Use blankets to create the shape of the car on the floor, use a cushion as a steering wheel and let imaginations run wild as kids (and the whole family!) head off on their own adventure.
7. Let children expand their imagination and have fun creating their own special fairy garden. Children can have lots of fun exploring in the garden to find twigs and leaves to make a fairy kingdom!
8. For a calmer activity get kids to write their own story. Grab some paper, a selection of pens and let the creativity flow! You never know, it could be the next best-seller!
9. Den building is ideal for indoor or outdoor play. Create a cosy den filled with pillows, blankets, toys and magazines. It’s great for children to create their own private space and create that parent-child bond when building it! Parents can also encourage children to unwind and relax with colouring and activity sheets whilst playing inside.
10. One childhood game that has been passed on through generations is hide and seek! No matter how big or small, everyone can have fun counting to 20 and finding a spot to perch in. What’s more – toddlers can practice their counting skills!
We love these fun little activity sheets that you can download and print from the Little Tikes website. From colouring sheets, spot the difference, counting games and word searches – there’s even an activity certificate for well-behaved little tikes!
These also double up as a great way to award younger school aged children for doing all their school work each day. Thank you Little Tikes!
WILD is now out in Spanish!
WILD – Our debut children’s picture book
Dad blogger Ross Good from The Stented Papa is the official storyteller for WILD!
Happy book birthday WILD!
These look like so much fun!
My toddlers favourite activities around the house is hide & seek and den building. But we’ve also been spending a lot of time in the garden this past week. We even had a teddy bears picnic in the garden.
#DreamTeam
Great tips and I love how so many families are now investigating learning through play probably more than they ever did before #DreamTeam
Such lovely ideas. We live Little Tikes, our farm play areas are full of their stuff. #DreamTeam
Great tips! While the weather holds (we’re going into winter) – we’re getting in as much backyard fun as we can #Dreamteam
Thanks for the wonderful suggestions – I think we are definitely starting to get bored with colouring everyday. I’m going to get some paint brushes and let her use them in the garden like you suggested. The fairies magical potion station sounds fun too! #DreamTeamLinky
I think it is so important to keep their bodies and minds active while not in school. Hope you are all having lots of fun together #dreamteamlinky
These are fab. Mine are a bit bigger now but still love water play and pavement chalk! Thanks for sharing. #dreamteam
Gosh my kids had so much Little Tikes stuff when they were younger. Sturdy and long-lasting – plus so colourful and fun x #DreamTeam
There are some great tips there. We love little tikes stuff here. Our garden is full of it #DreamTeamLinky