 |
I recently received a request for activities for very young children who like to put everything (paint, bubbles, etc) in their mouths. Thankfully, Lily hasn’t put a non-food item in her mouth for several months, but here are some safe activities that have been a hit with all three kids:
- Tape contact paper sticky-side-up to the table, let them add tissue paper, colored paper, or other decorations, then stick it to the window as an instant sun catcher!
- Bathe plastic toys in water – if your child still puts things in their mouths, make sure the toys are too large to fit through a toilet paper roll so that you don’t have to worry about them choking.
- Fill a spray bottle with water, add a cloth, and set them to work “cleaning” the house. I especially like doing this one outdoors when the weather is warm!
- Give them an empty box and a toy – it entertains most young children for quite a while, and they get to learn about object permanence and spatial reasoning!
- Give no-mess finger paint a try! Freezer ziploc bags work best, because the plastic is stronger.
- Remove the middle sections of your swiffer so it is just the right height for them to help clean the house.
- In the summer time, visit a local farm and pick apples, strawberries, or any other local produce.
- Turn stickers into instant finger puppets!
- Give them some cardboard and stickers and have them create a world for their toys like Johnny’s dinosaur land.
- Put some water in a bin (hint: the less water you use, the less cleanup there is!), place the bin on a towel, add a few accessories and let them play.
- Make your own play dough!
- Make a felt fashion bear for them to dress up (download templates here)
- Pour a little corn meal on a tray and let them draw in it. There’s some sweeping involved come clean-up time, but this is a great cheer-up activity in our home – and corn meal won’t hurt them if they eat a little!
- Try some of our active indoor games.
- Bring a little snow in on a tray, and let them play with it in the warm house.
- Make ziploc pudding together.
|
Perfect ideas! This was something we had to figure out with Ingrid as she was big on putting everything in her mouth until just recently. She’s almost three and still will chew on things every once in awhile, she must have a wierd sensory thing going on!!
Visit Amber Liddle … New Clothes
[Reply]
I finally remembered to buy contact paper, and the kids have been had fun with that yesterday.
Visit Ticia … Math links- clocks
[Reply]
THank you so much! I have 4 kids under 6 and it is hard for me to think of stuff they can all do!
Visit sarah … Our old brown chair
[Reply]
What a fabulous list!
Visit Jen … heart shaped mailbox
[Reply]
Great list! It’s nice to see so many fantastic ideas all in one place.
Visit Elisa | blissfulE … praying for my children
[Reply]
Thank you Mary Anne! I will be trying several of these here. You always have the BEST ideas for everything. You are such a fun mom!!
Visit Susana … Homeschool Week 25
[Reply]
Thank you so much for this awesome list!! I’ve bookmarked it in my Winter Survival Activities folder. :) Leila’s definitely getting to the age when she wants to do what the big kids are doing but there are some things that just don’t work well for a toddler. It’ll be great to have some activities specifically geared to her.
[Reply]
I love lists like this that encourage kids to use their senses and explore this big wide wonderful world!
[Reply]
[...] Smiles has this brilliant post about Activities for babies that each everything (T is one of those [...]
Great list, MaryAnne! My little guy has never been one to put everything in his mouth (we’re lucky I realise!) but the little girl I look after tries to eat everything. I have to watch her like a hawk!
Visit Ann @ My Nearest and Dearest … Valentine’s Day Discovery Table
[Reply]
MaryAnne Reply:
February 6th, 2013 at 11:08 pm
All my kids have eaten EVERYTHING as babies – and it’s always nice to find activities that work for that personality!
[Reply]