Rainy day activity ideas?

[Roxyrocks]

Hi all,

Just wondering what you all do when it's absolutely miserable outside so a walk/trip to the park is well and truly off the cards.

I have a 2 year old and 3 month old so don't feel I could do soft play as I don't feel comfortable letting 2yo go around the soft play alone while I'm with baby.

Currently struggling with behaviour at home which I think is down to boredom despite plenty if books, colouring, toys, TV etc.

Thanks

A puddles walk. Mine were tiny altogether. Getting wrapped up, heading to the corner shop or round the block now for 40 minutes will save youd sanity and make everything a thousand times easier. Prioritise it and think of the peace you'll get because of your hard work.

I found this book quite good when mine were that age https://www.amazon.co.uk/Siblings-Busy-Book-Lisa-Hanson/dp/0881665304 , it doesn't seem to be in stock but might be somewhere second hand. It's just loads of activities which don't take much to set up/do, and can be done with a toddler when you have a baby as well. It's not reinventing the wheel -playing shop, playing library, playing post office, singing, throwing balls - but it's like having a recipe book, sometimes its good just to have some ideas rather than trying to think of another thing to do!

Check out Five Minute Mum on Instagram - loads of ideas that are super quick to set up and tidy away and don't need anything complicated

She also has a website fiveminutemum.com/games-and-activities/play/little-ones

And several books which are all brilliant! But that won't help you today 😊

I often find a den helps. Activities that are boring become magically more exciting when done in a den. And I can usually swing it that once the den building is done my role is to sit in the den.

I used to run a bath for my toddler for a long 'waterplay' session.

Also used to have a day time bath 😂 lots of bubbles and I'd put some toys in he wouldn't normally have in the bath.

Anything in to bake with?
Pasta necklaces

Consider indoor activities like building forts, baking simple treats, or having a dance party. Engage your 2-year-old with hands-on crafts, and involve them in baby-friendly activities too.

Baking
Painting
Absolutely second the puddles walk if you've got waterproof coats, trousers and wellies.
Train set, if you have one?

I would also drive to a big hypermarket style supermarket. They have trollies for babies and toddlers. The toddler used to enjoy 'driving' round looking at things, especially the Christmas decorations. I'd buy them a biscuit or similar and get things I needed.

Definitely echo den-building. It can be as simple as a blanket across two chairs, or an airer and the edge of a table - you can get plastic clamps to hold things, but clothes pegs and some reinforcing paper tape work just as well unless it's a really heavy blanket. I help with a 7 and 3 year old and turning entire rooms into blanket fort/dens is still a regular activity. And having a picnic in the den, or chilling watching a tablet for a bit, is much more fun than doing so sat on a sofa.

Get a bowl of warm soapy water and a towel plus plastic farm animals or cars and set up a washing station.

Junk modelling/decorating with whatever cardboard and plastic tubs you have to hand.

Any toys that haven't been played with for a while? Break out the train set or duplo or whatever and try to reignite their imagination for it. Or if they play with toys in the same way and same place, try something new - take the train set to the bathroom and build it there, or what about setting up a midnight snack themed tea party in their bedroom.

2 yo here. So far we have coloured in a sticker chart and made pancakes together. I'm not convinced he needs a nap today, but I'm putting him in bet for some downtime! I forsee a movie later on (I don't usually give him screentime, but today is one of those days I think)

Honestly I had 3 under 3. You'll find everything easier if you just get out.

Cushions off the sofa for "sofa soft play"
Build a den
Obstacle course round the house
Build the biggest Duplo or block tower before it falls over
Baking
If you don't mind messy play - some cocoa or hot chocolate powder mixed with water in a tray for "mud" then another tray or bowl with soapy water in, a load of plastic animals and you've got at least 15 minutes of amusement
YouTube for cosmic yoga or miss Linky
Got any balloons? Blow a few up.
Daytime bath

Or just put the TV on and have a hot chocolate and a biscuit.

Currently the area I'm in and I'm guessing the OP is similar has red and Amber warnings for wind and rain so "getting out " isn't always a feasible option!

I second advice above for activities. I also did some coloured rice and playdough yesterday which helped kill some time!

Spider safari is popular here. Give the 2yo a torch and set them off spotting spiders around the house.

Car picnic

Cosmic yoga

Hide and seek

Either cosmic kids yoga or Danny go on YouTube

Bakeing with toddler during baby nap (I like doing biscuits as they can kneed and use cutters, cake just ends up with them stood while I measure everything)

Long baths, with bubbles

Basic crafts - put glue on page/card & give cut up coloured paper to stick on, stickers, paint if your brave

Playdogh

Duplo

Musical instruments (our box has shakers, xylophone, wooden recorded & drum)

Build a Fort - two dining chairs with blankets over

Go to library

Get out if you can. I find fresh air does wonders for behaviour and everyone's mental health. Obviously not if it's dangerous, but if it's just wet, even a 15 minute walk round the block to stomp in puddles can make the world of difference. Or if you have a garden get out there in wet weather gear for a short period every day.

I'd also try and get out somewhere inside if possible. You could look around for playgroups and other toddler activities. The library is always good. A supermarket or even better a shopping centre/mall place where they can walk miles/go up in the lift/looking a toy shop/get a drink somewhere etc.

At home, I absolutely agree with PP who said do something you do all the time somewhere different, makes an unbelievable difference. Stuff in the bath is always good, particularly farm animals or toy cars that can be washed.

Another thing that works well is to give the toddler a treasure basket (the kind you'd make for a baby, but with age appropriate stuff). If you have a bag with lots of pockets this can work really well, put a different thing in each pocket. Or put things in boxes/bags/wrap them and then put them in the bag. Things like a tape measure, a torch, a bracelet, a calculator, a pencil and paper, a box of raisins, a toy he hasn't seen for a while, a compact mirror, some stickers, if you have any party bag crap around it's always good. Just let him discover everything, take it out look at it, put it back etc.

Yeah. I do this. Hide small bits and pieces so that I can produce them when there's a quiet time.