11 Ways to Keep Your Toddler Occupied this Winter
Find a Local Kids Gym! I enrolled my daughter last year when she stopped going to daycare and I went from working mom to stay at home mom. I wanted to make sure we had a place to go on those really hot days and then during the dreadful winter. This is probably the best investment I made. I pay monthly and she can attend a class a day. They have various classs from gym, art, construction, dance, etc. It’s fun to meet other moms there, in fact we met one of my really close friends at the gym! When all else fails, we go to Romp n Roll!
Go to all the Museums. I usually save all the fun museums and interactive play centers when Baba is home on the weekends. It’s a perfect Saturday outing and a little family trip. Safa cherishes them and enjoys exploring new places. We’ve probably went to most of them in CT and will definitely visit them all before we move back to NJ this summer. I will be uploading a CT Indoor Activity guide soon and I’ll be making one for NJ as well and update it as we explore more.
Visit the Library. I have one word for you: FREE! The library will always have something going on especially for babies and toddlers. Arts and crafts, storytime, playgroups and some even have yoga! Before I had Musa, I was taking Safa weekly to a storytime/playgroup class and she loved it. Afterwards we would read in the children’s section which also had a little play area too. Recently we haven’t gone with out newest addition. I do plan on starting to visit the library again now that I somewhat have a handle on two kids!
Enroll them in a sport. If possible check out some local classes: swimming, tumbling/gymnastics, soccer, and dance are just some examples of what’s out there. The only con is that they can be pricey. In the spring, I’ll be enrolling Safa in a gymnastics class because I’ve noticed she’s apprehensive when it comes to her body. I’m glad she’s not jumping off of couches, however, I do want her to be comfortable and aware of her body.
Art and Crafts Box. I made a cute arts and crafts box and filled it with art supplies all from Target and the dollar store. Feathers, beads, Pom poms, stickers, markers, googley eyes, the list goes on. It’ll keep them busy especially on a snowy day. To be more creative, have pre made projects based on letters that they can do. I did a letter of the week with Safa and it totally helped her know all her letters.
Indoor at home Gym. Kids need physical activity! Make a fun adventure course at home. Pillows, balancing, hopping, crawling under chairs, swinging and adding a puzzle or something will keep them busy. I did it a few times and she totally loved it. It can get messy, but easy to clean up! For other physical activities, she also loves Yoga and dancing videos for kids on Youtube.
Make Mommy Friends. Now this one, really is for you. We love our kids, but sometimes you need some adult conversations! Try to make some friends that have kids that are similar age and will play together. It’ll really make you feel more sane and have someone to share toddle tales with!
Monthly Subscription Box: We just received this and Safa definitely enjoyed it it. I signed up with Kiwi Co. Every month they send you a box with activities and a small project. These are great especially when you really can’t get out in the cold.
Go to the Mall. If I need to take a trip to the mall thankfully most malls are so kid friendly. Many of them have family areas now and nursing friendly rooms. They even have indoor kid gyms and carousels. I’ll use it as a reward at the end. I get my shopping done and at the end, kids get to enjoy some playtime!
Games: Now that Safa is 3, it’s easier to play games with her. Hide and seek, tag, memory game, and puzzles are just a few we play on those stuck at home days.
And if all else fails, Pinterest and Instagram are your best friends. My favorite account is “Busy Toddler” on Instagram that could keep your toddler occupied for weeks. She has really simple and easy ideas to keep your kid busy. I did a sensory bin with Safa and she played with it for 30 mins!! Pinterest also has some great ideas.
