Babies and toddlers learn and grow at an incredible rate, good news is the best way of learning is through playing! If your kids are playing every day you can be absolutely sure they are learning and developing.
Sometimes the weather stops us getting out or you might just fancy a cosy day at home. We have listed ten of our favourite weatherproof activities to keep little minds busy:
1. Obstacle Course
Move furniture around, lay cushions or blankets on the floor, use a basket and rolled up socks for throwing in, taped down string as a makeshift balance beam, do some activities on a spot like running, jumping or hopping. You can even add in a timer for older children, the possibilities are endless and easily adapted to suit most ages.
2. Music
This can be playing with instruments, homemade or bought, learning nursery rhymes or dancing. Generally just making some noise!
This also provides a great recycling opportunity; plastic bottles can be filled with pasta, rice, beads or whatever you have lying around for new percussion instruments. To add an extra dimension for older kids you can dye the pasta, rice with food dyes to create rainbow instruments.
Play our Musical Jumbo Elephant Wooden Xylophone for some memorable jam sessions with your little one.
3. Make your own crayons
Use up broken crayons or ones that are too small to grasp. Make sure all wrappers are removed, arrange them in a muffin tray in a single layer, and cook in the oven on 200 degrees for about 10 minutes.
Let cool, then stick them in the freezer to make it easier to pop them out. Just turn the pan over and you’ll have new cool, round crayons.
4. Art and mark making
Most children love drawing, painting and being creative? Most children want to draw, paint and be creative every day. Try to mix up the mediums they play with, wax crayons, pencils, pen, chalks. Painting can be with brushes, making stamps out of veggies and old sponges or if did activity 3, your new crayons!
Magnetic drawing pads are great as they can be reused over and over.
Our Magic Sketch Board Funny Faces are a fun and portable magnetic drawing board or anytime creativity.
5. Ice surprise
Take small toys such as mini dinosaurs, pop into a mould (silicone ones are easiest to pop out) fill with water and freeze. These can then be included in a sensory tray as little 'eggs', kids love to watch them melt and try and smash open.
You can do a similar thing for younger toddlers by mixing cornflour with water and leaving to set, with or without toys inside. Little ones can have fun doing 'fossil digs' or simply smashing the shapes!
The Freeze and Bake Poddies are excellent for making cute character shaped ice cube with enough room to hid some goodies for excavating.
6. Scavenger Hunt
Pick a theme; pattern, colour, letters or numbers and start the treasure hunt round your house. Put stuff up high and down low to get the little adventurers moving around.
The ABC Board is such a versatile toy. Not only is it a puzzle, but the 3-D shaped letters are perfect for little hands but big enough that they won't get lost in your scavenger hunt.
7. Storymaking
Make your own storyboard with toys and found objects. Act out your favourite stories. Sticker books are a great way of encouraging kids to use their imagination and make their own stories, many companies now offer reusable sticker books.
Our Woodland Animal Set provide adorable characters to help bring your stories to life.
8. Water
If my son is anything to go by pretty much all kids seem to love playing with water, it doesn't have to just be a nice weather thing. I like to use a largish storage box so it contains (some of) the splashes. We play cooking, send little figures swimming, bubbles, sink or swim, boats and so many more options.
Whether its surf or turf, our Ferry Boat with Cars are fun fun for all.
9. Yoga
Yoga for kids
If you enjoy yoga, your kids probably will as well! Although a good point to remember, they won’t be quiet and breathe! Kids often find the names of poses hilarious. There are lots of online videos aimed at kids or you can use flashcards and let them pick the poses they enjoy.
Bring a little zen into your home with our beautifully illustrated Yoga Cards.
10. Reading
Probably the most simple activity but one of my favourites. I have always loved reading and hope to pass a love of books on, fiction or non fiction. The benefits of reading are endless and helps develop so many skills. It is also a great time to get your children involved in a discussion that is sure to develop critical thinking and vocabulary.
Discover our range of books, with something for everyone!
