It’s hard to believe it’s been almost six weeks since most of us have been “safer at home”. While some states (including ours) are starting to lift their “safer at home” orders, I have a feeling our little family will be practicing distancing and preventing as much contact as possible for quite some time.
We’ve found lots of ways to stay busy at home, (though don’t get me wrong—boredom, toddler frustration, and stir-craziness definitely ensues here on the regular) and I wanted to share them with you! You might notice that most of what we play with serves more than one purpose—play AND development or learning! This post does contain affiliate links, and purchases through those links may help me earn a small commission. Click the images to shop each product on Amazon.
Sensory Play
Sensory play is not just great for keeping your littles occupied, but it has many benefits for development! “Research shows that sensory play builds nerve connections in the brain's pathways, which lead to the child's ability to complete more complex learning tasks. Sensory play supports language development, cognitive growth, fine and gross motor skills, problem solving skills, and social interaction.”
Water Beads
Water Beads are good for TONS of squishy, bouncy, colorful FUN! A little goes a long way, and I doubt you’ll find yourself buying more than one container of water beads. Just one tablespoon of dry water beads combined with three cups of water makes a huge tub full once they’ve soaked! We love them in our sensory bins, water table, and the bath tub!
Kinetic Sand
Kinetic Sand has an amazing texture! It’s gritty like beach sand but holds its shape when you form it… and somehow also melts through your fingers when you let it! My husband and I find ourselves running our fingers through it and playing long after the boys have moved on to something new!
Mad Matter
Mad Matter is similar to Kinetic Sand, but it’s lighter… it almost feels like foam once you shape and model it. We like the bright and fun colors, and use it as an alternative to Play-doh.
Let it Snow
Let it Snow is one of the most interesting textures I’ve ever felt! This “snow” expands instantly when you add water. It’s squishy and fluffy, and even though you can’t use it to build a snowman, it’s lots of fun to play in! Plus, it’s not nearly as cold as real snow.
Puzzles
We are currently OBSESSED with MudPuppy puzzles. They really have something for all ages (yes, even grownups!) and I’ve been so impressed with the quality. The artwork is great, and each puzzle has a solid colored back that helps you identify which pieces go with which puzzle in the case of a mix-up. I’ll share a few below, but you can shop lots more here.
4 in a Box
Each box contains four different puzzles, ranging from 4 pieces to 12 pieces. Ben asks to do these transportation ones at least once a day, and he can do them all pretty well with a little assistance.
Puzzle Pairs
These may seem super easy for older toddlers, but they’re actually pretty challenging! The pieces all fit together in the same way, so it’s more about finding matches! Jack and Ben are 2.5 and need help making these appropriate. I like to give them a piece and then two or three options to look at to find the match.
Pouch Puzzles
Yes, these are perfect for on-the-go, (which we obviously aren’t doing right now!) but I LOVE the pouches for storage! The boys can easily grab one, do the puzzle, and clean it up again. I can really appreciate a toy that comes with its own storage solution.
They have lots of options for older kids, too. I can’t wait until we are ready for My VERY LONG Puzzles, Puzzle Sticks, and Magnetic Build-It Puzzles!
Fine Motor Skills
Honestly, who knew developing fine motor skills could be so much fun?! I love activities and tasks that take concentration… because that means they’ll be at it for longer, which means I might actually get a task done around the house or knock out more than half an email reply.
Poke-a-Dot Books
Stories and fine motor work?! We love these books for working on single finger isolation, and the boys love hearing the “buttons” POP! Like anything Melissa & Doug does, they’re cute as can be, too.
Learning Resources
Counting, stacking, sorting, grabbing, building… If Learning Resources makes it, there’s a chance we own it or it’s on our wishlist! Their toys are colorful and fun and pack an educational punch. They have some really great S.T.E.M. resources, too!
You can shop their products by age group: under 2 | 2–4 | 5–7 | 8+
I could go on forever, but I’ll save it for another post! What’s been keeping your kiddos occupied lately? Leave a comment and let me know! We are constantly adding things to our wishlist!
