BABY & TODDLER
At Home Activity Ideas for Babies and Toddlers
Add a little variety to playtime with these parent-sourced inspiration lists for things to do with babies & toddlers at home.
What are some of your favorite toddler activities at home?
Playing with water is an awesome, time-honored sensory activity for toddlers and little kids. A water table is great when the weather is warm and the kids can splash outside, but if you are ok with a little mess, big bowls and plastic cups on the kitchen floor will do just as well. Lay out a big towel or two to try and contain the mess, but a change of clothes will probably be inevitable!
Car ramp races were big with my son when he was a toddler. Take a length of cardboard, draw a couple of lanes and set it on an angle (the bottom of the stairs works well for this). Toddlers can release toy cars at the top of the lanes and watch them race down.
Fine Motor Activities for Kids
Placing letters on a letter board. I discovered this one by accident, but I love how it keeps my 4-year-old sitting quietly for long stretches of time while he tries to get the plastic letters to stay in my felt letter board.
Peeling and placing stickers. Sticker books are great for this - we like the "paint by sticker" series, though it may be a little challenging for some little ones. My 4-year-old is awesome at it, but my 6-year-old (whose fine motor skills definitely need work) struggles a bit. I also really like the Phidal line of reusable sticker books - the quality is such that they truly are reusable!
What babyproofing tips do you have for new parents?
Sturdy stair guards at the top and bottom of the staircase are a must once baby starts moving around!
I discovered that a heavyweight hairband looped around both door handles was just as effective (if not more!) at keeping my cabinet doors shut than those cabinet latches made specifically for baby proofing. Plus, they were way easier (and less annoying) for me to take on and off, making it more likely that I'd always keep it on. This only works on certain handles, though, like pull bars and knobs.
What non-lullaby songs do you sing to put baby to sleep?
Swing Low Sweet Chariot
You are so beautiful - Joe Cocker
What are your best cleaning & organizing tips for families?
I have a full set of cleaning supplies (sponges/cloths, gloves, cleaning solutions/products) - in each bathroom and the kitchen, so whenever I have five minutes I can quickly wipe down a sink, toilet, counter, etc without needing to hunt anything down.
I use bamboo "paper" towels to replace paper towels. After I use up my pile, I wash them and reuse them. A roll lasts for 6 months!