Ok, so the U.K has seen some glorious weather in recent weeks so maybe rainy days spent at home with your toddler have been far and few between. But lets be honest, as much as we all love the sunshine, our British summer is usually short lived. It’s been known to take a turn at any given time and without jinxing it, those rainy days may be just around the corner.
It can be a tough job coming up with new ways to keep your toddler entertained. It feels like their little eyes always seem to be wandering onto the next thing but I think we can all agree that the saying “they’re climbing the walls” feels realer than ever on a rainy day. Your toddler might be getting bored of their toys, their favourite nursery rhymes might not be cutting it either, so maybe they are just in need of something new.
We know how to keep your toddlers comfortable but we are also here with 8 super fun and easy toddler activities for you to try which should hopefully make your next rainy day at home that little bit easier…
Good old cardboard box
Sometimes it’s not the most expensive toys that create the most fun for our toddlers. Ever noticed how your little one will choose household objects like pots and pans over their actual toys. It’s the same kind of thing with a cardboard box. There are lots of things you can do with an empty cardboard box to create fun games and activities for your child but mini target golf will be a great place to start.
Turn a cardboard box upside down. Cut four opening holes next to each other on the side of the box and label each opening with a colour and number. Use child-safe mini golf balls and have endless fun of getting the balls into the holes. A great colour coordination game for you both to enjoy!
Get busy at the fridge
While you are in the kitchen, fridge magnets are a great way to busy those little hands. If you already have a few, try some new ones, in animal, letter and shape form. This will be a chance for your child to familiarise themselves with the names of colours, shapes and animals and will be a good hand coordination task for them. Cooking to do? Your child will love the look and feel of their new magnets which will keep them occupied while you crack on!
Day time baths
Baths don’t just have to be before bedtime. A bath will be a great way to pass the time on a rainy day, whatever time it is. For some extra bonding, you could even join your toddler and bath together. Gather all their favourite bath time toys and have fun splashing around!
Get moving
Dancing, working out or simply jumping up and down and being silly are all good for the soul, especially on a rainy day stuck indoors. Turn on the radio, or YouTube your favourite home work-out video, whatever it may be, just get moving! It will do both you and your toddler wonders on a rainy- especially if they love music too!
Hand print crafts
Using child-safe finger prints, try hand print crafts to bring lots of messy fun to your rainy day at home. You could do these prints to get super organised for christmas cards for relatives. Simply print their hands and/or foot prints onto some card or paper in different colours. If you have the space why not get really messy- you could put down paper and let them run around the paper leaving their colourful mark as they go along.
Paint potatoes or egg shells
If you like the idea of getting messy after your hand prints, try and do some potato or egg shell painting. After cutting your potatoes into shapes, the potatoes will be really easy for your toddler to handle. Using different colours and painting onto the potatoes or egg shells will be a chance for you to practice colour names with your toddler too.
Sort the toys out
Has sorting through your toddlers’ toys been a job you have been putting off for ages? Make it your mission to get it done on your next rainy day inside the house. Being productive won’t only make you feel great but your toddler will love searching through their old and forgotten-about toys to rekindle with.
Let’s bake!
Baking on a rainy day doesn’t have to be a thing of the past. Baking now you’re a parent with a toddler can be done too. Rice Krispies cakes or fairy cakes will bring tonnes of mess but tonnes of fun too!
Chocolate Rice Krispies cakes step by step:
What you’ll need:
• 60g/ 2 oz unsalted butter
• 3 tbsp golden syrup
• 1 x 100g bar milk or dark chocolate
• 90g/ 3 oz Rice Krispies
1. Melt the chocolate in small bursts in the microwave or in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water
2. Add the butter, cut in to small pieces, stir it in till melted.
3. Add the syrup, stir.
4. This is the bit they’ll love- Add the Rice Krispies and stir in to the chocolate mix it all up.
5. Help them to Spoon the mix in to the cases.
Enjoy!