Please give me some ideas for cheap things to do with 2.5yr ds

[LittleBlondeNinja]

Anyone have any cheap ideas for stuff to do with 2.5 ds - ive lost all motivation and want to do anything and need a kick up the arse
please help

Nature pictures - collect leaves, twigs, acorns etc - anything - to stick on paper
Play doh (using various implements eg spoons, forks etc, to leave patterns rather than modelling) Or look up how to make salt dough
House football (soft small blow-up beach ball is good for rainy days and they are so light they don't cause damage)
A shoebox with a lid - toddlers love collecting small toys in it
Soft play isn't expensive, most are £3-4 where I live (worth it for tiring them out and possibly getting a nap out of it afterwards)
Swimming at local baths
Jigsaws - look on Ebay for cheap. Mine did these over and again at this age. It's good for their development too.
Toddler groups
Duplo - again Ebay for 2nd hand - it's an investment as will use over and again.
Picnics on the floor of the lounge
Dancing sessions with a singalong CD or tape
Put all the chairs on their side on the floor of the lounge to create a "maze"/den. Cover with big blanket or duvet cover. Put their soft toys in there and help them make a "bed" for the toys in the den.
Mine loved trying on necklaces and bracelets given half the chance :)

Awesome ideas thank you so much

I take my children round the local garden centre at this time of year. it has a huge shop and sells Christmas lights and decorations, they love it Doesn't cost a penny.

Messy play - shaving foam and glitter
Salt dough ornaments
Swimming
Free galleries
Drawing
Painting
Helping with shopping
Baking

Love the nature picture idea, I'm nabbing that 1 x

I recently got out the largest baking tray I own, put some water in it & then DD got out her plastic play people & they all went swimming. This was enhanced when I remembered one of our Duplo sets includes a slide so they then had a slide into the "pool". Tips - put a towel under the baking tray & done use Happyland or other platic figures which have a hole in.
A week or so later, DD was still playing with this on a daily basis when I got the ingredients out for baking & noticed the flour was out of date. So, we emptied the water out of the tray, put the flour in and, hey presto, the plastic people are now at the beach.

Library
Chalk drawing outside
Park
Garden centre
Pet shop
Bus/train journey
'Painting' walls with water

Know someone, not me obviously, who has resorted to going to the local caravan showroom and looking at them all

Dens and carpet picnics are popular here. When mine were younger they liked playgroup and free library sessions. One of our children's centres does swimming for £2 per family and that includes a drink and a snack for the child and adult so might be worth checking yours out

Good ideas!!! Love um nabbed em all!

I made a tent out of a duvet cover and three chairs in the living room today. My 3 year old adored it. He also loves salt dough - make Christmas decorations to give to grandparents.

Splashing in puddles in wellies, collecting conkers, feeding ducks are always winners.

Look up the imagination tree website - some fantastic ideas there.

Oh yes, on dry days a pot of water and a paintbrush in the garden keeps him amused for hours!